Pretty day out today, Carla pulled some Begonia corms out of the basement – they were eager to get going, already sending shoots out – and transplanted them.

Her green houses are doing fine, she has a small heater she places in them and then ‘kinda’ monitors them before going to bed and after getting up and around to make sure the temperatures are okay.  Sends the electric bill up a bit, but not as much as one might think.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Acts 17:10-12 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

¹² Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

“Explain the Scriptures by the Scriptures.” – Clement of Alexandria

God is not going to tell us to do something that His Word condemns. 

However, many of manipulated the truth to appear that God approves their actions.

Too many people think that “God mellowed out” when He sent Jesus to walk and teach among us.  Providing Words of wisdom that some would say contradict the Bible.

Yet, when we delve into what Jesus said, we find that He enlarges on the Word, not takes away from.  While certain traditions were changed, as the sacrifices the Jews had to perform in order to get sins lifted – they were changed only by actions, in this case, of course, by Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection – BUT the reasoning of the Old Testament still stands.

By reading the Old Testament, we get a better understanding of Who God the Father is – Jesus confirms that in His messages and reinforces His messages by miracles and healings.

God is still God, He changes not.

Jesus is still God, He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

To understand the relationship between the two of them we can see how often Jesus deferred to the Father, prayed to Him and OBEYED Him even to the point where He accepted His torture, humiliation and death of the cross.

It behooves us to delve deeper into the scriptures when we are told that Jesus changed God’s Word and then examples are given.

I have seen photos of placards trying to show that Christ didn’t speak on a given sin, therefore it is not a sin.  -  But Jesus made it clear that sin was still sin, and that we still must abide by God’s Word.

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

Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

We cannot discard the Old Testament and understand who God is and who Jesus is and the roles they play in our lives.

Jesus grew up as a Jewish man.  He taught from the Scriptures and He confirmed that in searching and knowing them, we would find understanding.

We have the benefit of both Testaments where the people who listened first hand to Jesus did not.  We have the honor of reading and learning from those that walked with Him.

From those that knew the Old Testament and found that what He taught was truth.

We can learn a lot from the Old Testament, we can see how God wants us to be and Jesus confirmed that as He taught.

In both Testaments we see both the fallacy of man and the great love that God has for all of us.

When we hear something about the Bible and an interpretation of the scriptures that is different from what we have been told before, we need to examine the scriptures in prayer and supplication, asking God for the guidance necessary that we do not perpetuate false doctrines. 

Nor jeopardize our own spiritual well-being.

Later, Art :-)

Nice day out there today.  No wind, but plenty of sunshine and the temperature is just right.  Little concerned this morning when I looked out and saw frost on the cars and a 31 degree temperature – didn’t hear the windmills in the orchards ( they turn them on to keep the air moving and frost off the buds ) so I imagine things are okay there.

Some of the animals have chosen to go outside and find a place to nestle down and enjoy the fresh air.

Blaze is going out and explaining to the world that he is king of all he surveys – unless one of the cats is in the way.

1 Corinthians 3:7-9  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

⁸ Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

⁹ For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.

My daddy can beat up your daddy; a taunt that has been thrown by children of all generations.

My team is the greatest; we have the skills and ability to take down anyone that challenges us.  What almost every sport’s fan says of his chosen team.

Through the years I have seen people grab the credit for something they had no part in creating.  Some were managers who took their subordinates ideas to a higher level and claimed it as their own.

I have also seen people in interviews, when asked the question, “why should we pick you for this position” give an answer as to why their opponent shouldn’t be given the position, rather than talked about their own abilities and accomplishments. 

One man boasted to me that he had told his perspective bosses that another man was unqualified and listed some of his faults – I asked him if that was true and he said, no, he never met the guy.  Never did trust him – even before that conversation – and he was one of my supervisors.

One day he was staring at me, I asked him if something was wrong.  He said, no, I just can’t figure you out – I could well believe that.

Far too many people want credit for work done.  Some are entitled to the credit while others only claim it.  But even those that are boasting tend to want to elevate themselves over others and often use accomplishments to not only succeed, but to keep the other person from succeeding.

Then of course when we are on the receiving end of the climber who takes credit for our work, it can make us angry – and we may not be too charitable in our conversations with them.

But Paul makes it clear here that every Christian is a worker for God.  It doesn’t make any difference to Him what we think we should ‘earn’ or receive credit for – He is looking at our heart and knows whether we are doing something for Him and His Kingdom, or just to look good to others.

I was reading Gideon’s story in Judges the other day.  Here was a young man, least in his household in a family that was not high up in the society of the area – not someone we would think could lead an assault on a large army.

Of all the people, many who had proven leadership ability and/or military skills, that God could have chosen, He chose this young man who had no credentials.

Undoubtedly, that is just one of the reasons God chose him.  If God had chosen a great warrior then that person could claim the victory instead of giving the glory to God.

God looks at the heart of His people.  He can choose to empower anyone.  AND He uses each of us to spread the Gospel and His salvation, sometimes using our abilities and sometimes elevating us to a higher level that we would never have thought possible.

How often has a person witnessed to another, strove to show them the blood of Jesus’ cleansing power, only to feel rebuffed – then days, weeks, months or even years later found out that someone led them to Christ?

If we are the former, we are saddened that we didn’t get our message across to them.  We may doubt ourselves and wonder if we should continue witnessing – when what we were doing was preparing the ground, helping to break down the resistance of the non-believer and allowing the Holy Spirit to work within him.

Both those that witness and those that eventually get that person to accept Christ, have done their job.  It isn’t a matter of chalking up a win for the latter, it is a matter of both following the Spirit of God’s direction in working with that sinner.

God isn’t looking for people who want to beat their chests and tell how great they are, God is looking for people who will obey Him, no matter how simple or difficult the task is – there is but two victors, the sinner who accepted Christ and God.

We are but a tool in God’s hands, as the shovel cannot claim it turned the dirt, so we cannot claim we saved a soul.  We are just doing what God wants us to do – and that gives us great Joy and comfort knowing we are obeying Him.

Later, Art :-)

Pretty day, looking through the window.  I see blue skies and the tops of Mt Hood and My Adam, the bottom is surrounded by clouds.

It is spring though, the temperature is in the 50’s and the wind, she is a blowin’.

Carla is about done with her tomato plant ‘relocation’ from small containers full of seedlings, to the yogurt containers (just finished punching holes in the ‘new’ containers) so they can start thriving on their own.  She thinks she only has about 200 this year.

I don’t want time to go by too quickly, but I have to admit my mouth is already watering for those Toasted bacon, tomato and Swiss cheese sandwiches on sourdough bread.  And, no, grocery tomatoes will never do.

Psalm 40:2-3 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

³ And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Blue skies smilin’ at me

Nothing but Blue skies I see

--

Blue days

all of them gone

Nothing but Blue skies

From now on

As I opened the blinds this morning, that is what I saw, blue skies and immediately this song popped into my head.

It is a song about someone who is in love and all the world lights up around them.  The singer sees the world differently; love so wells up within her that everything appears beautiful.

Being in love with another person can open our eyes to such pleasure, we constantly think about them, being away from them is painful and being next to them is just like this song –Nothing but Blue skies from now on – we are on cloud nine, everything appears stunning.  And we are happy.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth,

Like most of you, I can remember when Jesus met me at the altar and my heart was lifted up.  The joy I felt through the tears and struggles was incredible – Jesus smiled at me and I knew He was with me, a part of my heart and life.

Now, I understood the hymns we sang, the sermon the Pastor preached the joyful outlook of that congregation as they worshiped God together.

Everyone had to be told, it was a fountain welling up within me that could not be contained.  I had a new song, a new outlook on life and a desire to live with Christ forever; and I wanted others to experience that same Joy, that new song.

It wasn’t long before my new found faith was tested.  My conversion was an embarrassment to many in my family.  My stand for Christ was too strong and needed to be toned down – I was not in the church of their choice and therefore they tried to convince me that what I had experienced was not of God; only ‘their’ church was the right one and by turning my back on it I was a heretic.  Not that blunt, but the inference was always there, one member did say ‘I wish he were dead rather than be with that bunch.’

But the Joy of salvation, the love of the Holy Spirit and the strength of God helped me stand firm for Him.  I had a new song in my heart, a song that could not be silenced by man.

But in my fifty years of new life, I sometimes took/take God for granted – much like we do with our spouses.  I would just think He is there, He is with me always – and then go about my days without really talking to Him.

I would do what I wanted; forgetting that it may not be what He wanted me to do.  I would fall away and after a while my prayers, if any at all, were short and more ‘Lord give me’ than ‘Lord lead me.’

Sometimes I would recognize temptation for what it was, yet, still fall into the trap of sinning.

But God never gave up on me – or on others that have accepted His Son as Savior - and always let me come back to Him; even with the scars of my failures, He still loves me and wishes to bring me close to Him.

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Once again I would see Jesus, smiling at me, and all things became beautiful, - blue skies.

We need to remember, not to forget. 

We need to study His Word, daily, so we won’t forget, and ask Him to explain it to us – and then obey HIM.

We need to be in prayer, so we are always close to Him, our conversations bringing us closer to Him.

We need to continue to sing that New Song that He gave us at the time of our salvation – and never, ever, let it go.  It will never grow old.

Blue days

all of them gone

Nothing but Blue skies

From now on

Later, Art :-)

Romans 6:8-10  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

⁹ Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.

¹⁰ For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Jesus’ story didn’t end at the cross, He arose from the dead.

Our story begins at the cross as our soul rises from the dead.

We will spend eternity together because Jesus conquered death.

Later, Art :-)

Carla was working yesterday when a customer with a young child came into the store.  While she can’t remember, somehow they go to talking about making socks.

Carla said that the lady showed her the socks that she was wearing.  They didn’t match, they had bits of yarn knitted into them – some ‘repurposed’ where the lady saw that one of her grandfather’s sweaters had some yarn removed to help make the socks.

Seems that her grandmother, like Carla, knits socks and gives them away.  One day the grandmother was over at her houses and noticed that she was wearing two different colors of socks.

She pointed that out to her – she knitted her a pair – matching pair – why is she wearing two different socks?

She said she told her grandmother that the baby was crying and she wanted to get to her quickly so just picked up a couple of socks, without paying attention and put them on before going to the baby.

So a few days later she received a ‘pair’ of socks, that didn’t match and had several different colors and several different yarns – that grandmother has to be a character.

We got the first of three greenhouses put up today, it will be enough for a couple of weeks, until the transplanted plants go into the much larger containers.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

² The same was in the beginning with God.

³ All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

As I woke up this morning, I was thinking about Creation.  God created the heavens and the earth and all that is within – He created them perfectly and there was no sin.

Yet, we look around us and we see sin at very corner of the world, we can’t get away from it unless we go into complete isolation – and even then we may have sin because we are not obeying God.

We know that when Adam sinned, what was a perfect world became a world of sin and sorrow.  Pain, injuries, illnesses, suffering that God never intended it to be.  He gave man a will and unfortunately Adam sinned and satan has been encouraged ever since.

God has foreknowledge so He knew that this would happen – yet because it was important to Him that man worshipped Him willingly He gave him a will of his own – and Adam chose to sin, just as we do.

What if we were given the opportunity to do what God did?

Create the universe and all that lies within it, heaven and earth, men and women, land and oceans, air and sea – all would be created by us.

What would you do, how would you do it?

We look at the world and we see an ever increasing knowledge of what God has created.  What the individual cell is made of and how it is compartmentalized.

We look at man and we see an extremely complex creation.  Bones and sinews and muscles to hold us up and enable us to move.  A heart that pumps oxygen and food to every single living cell in the body even to the smallest part, the base of hairs, the tips of our fingers, everything receives that life sustaining force and if somehow a part of the body is cut off from that source it dies.

We could go on and on, of course, we are learning more about the human body every day.  But every part is designed to work with the rest of the body to accomplish survival.

AND we are but one very small part of earth.

So what would we do if we were the Creator?

We can gather some thoughts on this by the way a carpenter plans the building of a house, or the engineer that plans a dam – all are done in intricate details so all workers know what is expected of them.

What materials are needed, how those materials are treated so they come together for a completed project.

It takes time and knowledge and materials – none of it builds itself.

The writers of science fiction are skilled and imaginative.  They can visualize what it would be like if something happens in the future, or if there is another planet that has life ‘forms’ on it – even designing space ships and the inhabitants – sometimes including how they will eat, and dress and how they react to others.

But what would we do if we had the opportunity to create a new universe separate from anything we now know?

Who would be in charge?  Who makes the rules and if they are broken, what is the punishment?

Man has tried Utopian societies – and some work on a very limited scale, but still there are rules to follow.

Would all the people look alike?  Would they have the same skills – and if they didn’t which would be the most important?

Or, would you not have man involved at all – just animals?

Such a project, for us, would take years to formulate before we could put it in place.   And when we look at the complexity of all life on earth it would take us centuries even using the finest computers.

What would be your perfect world?  On the surface it is a simple question, in reality there are thousands even millions of variables that we would have to take into account to make a perfect world.

God gave us the blue print in Genesis.  How could we have kept the world perfect?

It started out that way.  What would we do?

How long will man live, forever, or just a specified time?

Would we take away the freedom of choice and thus control everyone – as God chose to do in heaven but not here on earth?

Man has tried over the years, dictators have tried, communism has tried, democracies, many try and say that everyone is equal and will be treated the same – but of course that isn’t the case. 

No matter how man sets up society, there are always those that will take advantage of a situation, jealousy, greed, self-importance always enters into the equation.  There are always leaders that feel they deserve special privileges and since they ‘rule’ they obtain them to the detriment of others.

If you created the perfect world, how would you deal with sin?

It is something to think about, albeit briefly, because we do not live in such a world.  We can make it better by obeying the Creator of this world and allowing Him to work within us to reach perfection – eventually.

Once we accept Christ, who was there at the very beginning and before, we will have comfort in the fact that though we live in a world full of evil – He loves and cares enough for us to be with us at all times and when our breath stops He will welcome us into heaven – where it is undeniably perfect.

Later, Art :-)

Sunny today, we got the frame work of one of the greenhouses put together, just need to put the plastic on and tie it down.

She is using one of the smaller ones for her transplants – the size of the pots are still small – using yogurt containers as pots for this portion of the growing.  But it won’t be long before we will need the larger pots so the tomatoes can get good roots and strong stems.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Satan has made the word sin, synonymous with fun using it as an archaic term to be made fun of as old fashion and out of step with the ‘real’ world – and the world has embraced that definition with glee.

In the world’s view the righteous are just bigots who want to keep us from having fun.  They are intolerant of anything that they say is forbidden and need to be yelled down and either convinced otherwise, or destroyed.

The world doesn’t believe in sin.  They change the laws to conform to that point of view and praise those that use the courts to compel compliance from God’s children.

If sin is non-existent and everything is permitted, how can Christians possibly witness and make them realize that they are sinning.

There are those whose hearts are so hardened, that they will never admit they are sinning, that there is a God who will judge them for their sins – we will not be able to convince them otherwise.  All we can do is remain true to God and to continue living for Him.

It isn’t up to us to determine who is beyond saving and those who are struggling and are listening, even if only ‘politely.’  Even those that can be vehemently opposed to God can change as the Holy Spirit works within them.

Our responsibility to God is to follow and obey.  We are not responsible for the salvation of another person – each person must make their own decision.  We tell them about Christ, but only the Holy Spirit can touch their hearts and persuade them to open up to God’s Word and salvation through Christ.

We need to evaluate, on a daily basis, our relationship with Christ and making sure that we are not sinning and leading others astray.

Satan will do all he can to color our behavior as ‘okay’ ‘they deserve it’ ‘you deserve it’ anything to sooth your conscience and allow him to lead you farther astray.

The only way we can truly fulfill the righteousness that God wants us to have is to have a close relationship with Him, asking Him to help us determine what is good and what is evil.  Serious sins are readily identified; the smaller ones can appear innocuous and are not ‘really’ sinning.

If we have somehow done something to offend God, sinning, then we need to ask His forgiveness and accept His purging of our heart and soul.

For some of us it is a difficult and time consuming struggle.  But we can overcome if our determination is solely on being what HE wants us to be.  Even the littlest things can trip us up – we need to open our hearts to Him to understand what and how those little things have interfered with our bond with Him; confess them and then accept His forgiveness, staying away from those kinds of actions in the future.

Later, Art :-)

A very blustery day today.  Bit chilly but much more challenging for me now that the pollen is coming out.  I like Spring, but it is the worse time for my allergies which will continue to follow me the rest of Spring and Summer.

Genesis 50:20  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

While it took me a while to see the truth of Joseph’s statement to his brothers, I have come to that conclusion, also – now, to be honest there are times I express a desire for God’s help in extricating me from situations out of fear or frustrations but, as I look back at my life I see many times that things happened to me, and later I either benefited from the experience, or was protected from something much worse.

Sometimes it is a small thing, like something holding me up as I want to get somewhere at a specific time.  I have learned that often it is for my own safety, an accident happened at the location I would have been going by or to.  But because I was later than I wanted, I missed it.

Other times it is much larger, where I have been personally attacked but in the process of living for Him and using the Holy Spirit’s guidance I have overcome the derision.  In the end I was successful and it became obvious that the person was not truthful in their assaults.  It made me stronger and better able to address problems in the future.

There are many examples in the Bible about how God allowed things to happen to His chosen and as they went through many trials and tribulations they grew stronger and more dependent on Him.  Thus when He was ready to use them, they were ready and willing to be used.

But, the most obvious example and the one that we can embrace is Christ’s death on the Cross.  Without that death, without Jesus being willing to give His life for us – even though it meant humiliation, the feeling of abandoned by His followers and even God Himself, despite the pain He endured, out of His death we are saved!

Romans 5:15-16  But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.

¹⁶ And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

Christ came from heaven where He was loved and worshipped to an earth where He had to work for a living – and then preach the salvation of God where the end result was giving His life for us.  Out of that terrible night’s tortures came the means of our salvation and path to the everlasting and eternal life with Him.

Later, Art :-)

Not much occurring today.  Carla is transplanting tomatoes, has about 60 done already – only about 200+ more to go.  This is her first transplant, will put them in larger ‘pots’ – okay, cut down plastic one gallon milk cartons – to give away sometime in May or so.

She loves playing in the dirt.

Genesis 1:24-25 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

²⁵ And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

How many times have you heard the question, ‘which came first the chicken or the egg?’  It is usually followed by, no one knows.

But it is quite clear.  The chicken came first; it was created by God as a chicken.  Not a duck or deer or fly or fish, it was created as a chicken.

God made sure that all of the earth was created in a manner to sustain the life forms that He created.  Without those symbiotic roles of one animal, or insect or some other creature that benefits and protects another of God creatures they wouldn’t survive.

Man is finding out more and more of the minor things that God has done to protect one species from another; or, how another creature benefits even the smallest life.

I copied the following article from my e-mails this morning:

The potter wasp is a solitary wasp that makes a mud nest with several rooms in it. At egg-laying time, the wasp lays one egg in each cavity and leaves some food in each cavity. She also leaves behind a security force!

You see, there is another species of parasitic wasp that seeks out a potter wasp nest to lay its eggs. When it is successful, the baby potter wasps would have no chance of survival if it wasn't for the security force. The mother potter wasp has very specialized pockets on its back. Tiny mites live within those pockets, causing no harm to the wasp. Then, while the potter wasp lays her eggs, some of the mites exit and remain in each room with the egg. These mites will remain in the nest after it is sealed, feeding on the food left for the hatchlings. They also mate at this time, which conveniently provides a population of mites as food for the young potter wasps. While these mites are peaceful creatures, they are the security force, and should a parasitic wasp get into the nest, they eagerly attack it.

This arrangement that benefits both the potter wasp and the mites is too intricate to have come about by accident. It was designed by the same Creator Who protects His children.

From:  http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33774/title/Mighty_mites

We see and read article after article of such creations.  God’s intricate handiwork is all around us, those things we can see and those things that are too small – or too large – for us to fully comprehend.

But we just have to look around to see there was a plan for everything, a blue print, an idea fulfilled to verify that someone had to be behind it – it didn’t just happen.

Psalm 75:1 Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Later, Art :-)

A couple of nights ago Carla brought home some eggs that had been given to her by her boss; a couple of dozen chicken eggs and four goose eggs.

Her boss has a little dog that helps her.  He will go out, find them and then bring them to her expecting her to throw them like she would a ball.

I had never seen goose eggs.  They are very large.  We needed to fix them, but how?  So, I went to the trusty internet.

I learned the shells are harder than chicken eggs and takes more to break – so I just wacked them harder with a knife, opened up a small hole and then cut the egg open.

It was also noted that it might be best to candle them.  Unlike chicken eggs goose eggs are always fertilized.

The eggs we got were about three times the size of a chicken egg, so would one due for baking where three eggs were called for, some suggest that it be 1 for 2.

The yolk is considerably larger in proportion to the entire egg than a chicken egg – they can be used in baking etc. but using the white of a chicken egg is recommended.

You can boil them, but I could find no guidelines for how long.

Most sites suggested we scramble them.

So last night we had a goose egg omelet.  I added a couple chicken eggs to two goose eggs (each cracked over a separate bowl so that no ‘surprises’ would spoil the rest of the eggs) and it came out fine.

We will probably have another omelet in the near future.

Philippians 1:9-14 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

¹⁰ That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

¹¹ Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

¹² But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

¹³ So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

¹⁴ And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

It is easy for us to ask ‘why me Lord?’ when going through trials and tribulations – sometimes even life threatening or ending illnesses and injuries.

We have heard many times over that something isn’t fair, the person doesn’t deserve what they are burdened with – questions arise, doesn’t God care, if He does, where is He, why doesn’t He do something to ease the pain and suffering?

There is no easy answer, of course.  God could relieve every burden of every person – if He wished.  And eventually those that have chosen Him and His Word, have accepted Christ and His salvation, will be relieved of pain and suffering and worship in heaven with our brethren.

We know that sin was brought into the world when Adam sinned, and since that day satan has been working overtime to destroy man and God.

We know that God has allowed satan to roam, for a time, but there will be a time when He says, it is enough and pass judgement.

But knowing all that, for some, it is not good enough.  We want relief now, why should we be going through these trials, pain and suffering especially when we are a child of the Living God.

Nope, I have no answer, only God can tell us why He heals one person and not another.  We know that in Jesus’ time on earth He healed a number of people – probably into the thousands.

Yet, the first miracle performed in the name of Jesus by Peter was to heal a man who was at the temple gate and had been lame since birth (John 3:1-7).  Didn’t Jesus see him, did He not care, or did He leave him for a time with his disability that God could show that He was still able to heal the afflicted through the faithfulness of believers such as Peter?

Only God knows, of course.

It is hard to work through pain, it is hard to no longer have control of a situation, but, as Christians we know two things.

God loves us and everything that happens has a purpose that will, in the end, glorify Him and strengthen us – IF we focus on Him and not our problems.

We never know who is watching our walk with Christ.  We never know how things impact them as they see us living for Him despite our struggles.

I have seen times when a person is injured and no one helps them – until someone steps out and takes charge, then others seeing a correct response do what needs to be done themselves.

It takes a leader, sometimes, to inspire others to do the right thing.  To be assured that they are not alone, when they realize that they have a whole new attitude and get busy.

Although Paul was bound and under arrest, his vision, his teaching and his being imprisoned inspired others; Paul always considered his bondage as not him, but a testimony of a man who loves God and proclaimed His Son despite the things he would have to endure.  He knew that whatever befell Him was a means for God to minister to others.

And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

They saw how Paul was reacting to his incarceration and treatment by the government and the religious leaders.  They saw that it did not keep him from ministering to others and preaching the Gospel of Christ.

Where they may have been reluctant to stand for Christ, before, they followed Paul’s leadership and stood up for Christ.

We don’t know why, and really the question shouldn’t be “why me Lord?”   The statement should be I will live for you God; I will trust you and continue to make my stand for Christ.  Telling others how Great You Are!

Who knows who we will be encouraging by our actions?

Later, Art :-)

Heavy fog this morning.  As I looked out my window it was so thick I could barely make out the trees across the street – little of 300 feet away.  Slowly it rose where I can now see the orchards on Cherry Heights.  No rain, yet, but it is in the forecast.

Had a good conversation with Norm this morning, he is doing okay even though a bit bored.  Letty was leaving during my call and she made it clear to him that he had everything he needed and NOT TO GET UP.  So he sat in his chair and we talked a bit.

The garden calls him, but he cannot answer, yet.

Luke 1:36-38 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

⁴⁷ And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

⁴⁸ For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

We know Mary’s story.  A young girl, one that had no formal background, one that was not a member of the elite in society, one that went about her day as every other young girl in that day and age.

If the Son of God’s mother was to be chosen by men – back then or even today – the first requirement would be she had to be a virgin.  She had to be a ‘good’ person.  She had to come from some background that made her stand out from others.  She would have to be a member of the ‘ruling’ Jewish leaders; she would have to have a pedigree.

There would be a calling together of those that would decide who was going to be chosen, they would question them, look into their background, see who they associated with and make sure they were of the ‘right’ source.

The discussions would be going on for days, many would be looked at and ‘maybe’ someone would be selected, based on outward appearances and observation of their general character.

Then, once the selection was made, they would sit her down and make her sign a job description and procedures she was to follow in raising God’s Son.

Man looks at the outside of a person and can only go so far in predicting what that person’s heart truly is – so they do the best they can, but they can be wrong.

Most would look at Elizabeth, (except for her age), the wife of a priest and from all we can tell a ‘good woman’ as a more appropriate mother for the Son of God.

God works a little different.

He did choose Elizabeth to have a child, even though she had been barren all her life; a child that would grow to proclaim the Son of God – but not the mother of His Son.

There was something special about Mary, and God, who knows all, knew her heart and chose her to be the mother of His child on earth.

When we chose a deputy or police officer, we took great pains to make sure we got the best candidate.  They tested, they went through an interview with an Oral Board of people familiar with what we wanted in an officer.

They had an interview with the top person, Sheriff or Chief, and then told that they would be offered the job – ONLY if they passed a rigorous back ground check.  We went over every part of their lives, we had physical fitness exams and psychological exams, we did all we could to insure we were getting the best employee we could. 

But we weren’t always right.

Under our process, Mary would have been chosen for the mother of God’s Son.

God works a little different.

We may look around us and see others who we feel are more qualified to preach the Gospel or share His Goodness to others, but if God is telling us to witness to others; to stand fast for Him and His Word – then we are qualified.

God makes that determination, not us.

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

Who are we to question the direction of the Holy Spirit when He tells us to do something?  We may feel inadequate, but if God tells us then we are qualified and He will use us to His Glory and benefit.

God’s Word is full of stories of God using the least of those around them and making them mighty men of God who led His people in the darkest of times.

They obeyed, some with great fear, but they obeyed, because they trusted Him. 

May that be our legacy, too.

Later, Art :-)

First day of spring and, in our neck of the woods, we are greeted by rain and promise of even more rain during the week – which also, by the way is Spring Break in our area.  Those that remain in Oregon and choose to ski the slopes of our mountains are going to find them packed with other people because the snow pack is fantastic.

The rest will have to endure the rain and do things that are going to take that into account.

I hope to have Ian up here this week to help me get the smoker going, it has to be set up and he did one for his mom that is identical to ours.  But we have to have a dry day since this is a pellet smoker and requires electricity.

We will get it done, eventually.

Ephesians 6:10-18   Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

¹¹ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

¹² For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

¹³ Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

¹⁸ Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Every Christian knows these verses well.  We understand that satan has many devices and many ways of tripping us up and getting us to sin against God.

God has given us the implements to combat satan, for our defense against all satan has to offer. 

Today I was reading in Joshua 8:13-18

And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

⁵ And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

⁶ (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.

⁷ Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.

The warriors of Israel had fled before the people of Ai, they turned their back on them and what should have been a great victory turned into a rout – because a man sinned and took property he was told to destroy.

Joshua was told by God to punish the offender and his family and obeyed.  In doing so the remorse of Joshua allowed God to once again help Israel in its time of trials.

The next attack on Ai is described above.  Joshua set up an ambush and then made a mock attack on the city gates.  When the people of Ai came out to defend the city Joshua and his men ran away, again.  Thinking that they once again had the upper hand and would be able to chase them out of the area, the men of Ai charged forth, leaving the city undefended.

It was a ruse, of course and when they had all left the city the ambush started by first taking over the city and burning it and then coming on the backside of the enemy, pinching them between them and then taking them out.

It has become a classic means of warfare, fool the enemy, get them focused on you as they think they have you on the run and then attack from the ambush when they are least prepared.  The enemy’s overconfidence leads them to believe they will be the victor, when in fact they have fallen for the deception and suffer the consequences.

There is a reason we are told to put on the WHOLE armor of God, we are worthless and vulnerable if we just take a piece or two and think we are covered.  We have to be prepared for all that satan is going to attack us with.

As I read Joshua I realized that satan also knows the Bible and he has used these same tactics himself.  He sets us up, we think we are invincible as we fight against him on the one front, only to find out that he has lured us into a sense of ‘I am the victor here’ only to find out that there are other sins, other means of attacking our soul. 

If we get overconfident the defeat of Ai can be ours also.  If we don’t keep our blades sharpened, if we don’t remember our shield or helmet; if we forget to pray and focus on what God wants, we can be lulled into a false security and that makes us vulnerable from an attack from a different angle.

We know that God has it all covered, but He expects us to do what HE tells us to do so He can indeed cover us.  Israel found out what happens when God removes His protective hand because they sinned, He was and is willing to accept sincere contrition, but it would be much better for us if we didn’t have to ask for forgiveness.

If we have the full armor of God about us at all times, we will find that even when satan attacks in a mode we are not familiar with that we can stand and overcome the temptation.

Later, Art :-)

 

I have been thinking, lately, of how much the family depends on Velma.  The more I thought about it the more I realized that I need to write a note on what I have seen and how much I appreciate the things she has done, particularly over the past few years.

Better to write it, now, while she is alive and we can give meaningful thanks, than to wait and give it at a memorial service, and by then, I am know there will be a lot more that can be added to this – particularly by other family members and friends. 

Many years ago I had a conversation with Carla’s (and Velma’s) Dad.  We were talking about his daughters, he pointed out that while others would be embraced over their troubles and everyone wanted to help them, they would go to Velma every time THEY needed help and forget that she too could, at times, use some hugs.  – paraphrased of course, but that was the jest of it.

Velma and Wayne (her late husband) lived in Bend and while the rest of the family was elsewhere, they seemed to take on the duties of the care of family.

When her father became unable to care for himself, Wayne and Velma were there for her mother and youngest sister who has disabilities. 

When her mother past away Velma took command over her sister and made sure she received(s) the proper care and keeping her active with the family.

She spent several years nursing Wayne after his stroke and was there with him at all times, helping him through his illness.

When he passed away it was Velma who was the strong person for not only their children, but the children of his previous marriage and his sister.

When Chris became ill and came down into the lower states for the last time, it was Velma that opened up her home to them and the rest of us (over 30 people)so we could spend time with him.

When Chris passed away, it was Velma that helped Vivian through the loss and helped her plan the memorial service.

As Mary was getting weaker, Velma and Viv spent time with her trying to help her get her things squared away.  When Mary passed away the two of them helped Gary with the arrangements and paperwork that follows, helping him with the memorial service and making sure he was okay.

It was Velma who made sure the potluck after the service was set up and there was plenty of food for everyone.

She is keeping herself available for Gary and her youngest sister.

Now, it is Velma that is helping Viv through her latest struggles, making sure she is getting the medical help and the mental support that is necessary for her recovery.  She is with her daily.

Velma is that person that others turn to – as her father told me – she is a solid rock and can be counted on to help others.

Romans 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

² That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

Such could be said of Velma, by the members of her family and her friends.

Later, Art :-)

Tired, wrestling with something, just don’t know what.

Yesterday Teresa brought the 160 pounds of chicken breast we had jointly purchased.  Thanks to her and Carla it was processed in less than five hours.  We canned some, but bagged and froze most of it.

Talked with Norm this morning, he is in good spirits and feeling good, he was just waiting for one of Letty’s family to bring their van to the hospital to take him home.  He will be using a walker for a while, but the prognosis is good.

Talked with Viv just a few minutes ago – she has been moved to rehab, all the tubes have been removing and despite a black and blue arm – along with everything else that comes from back surgery – she is doing okay. 

Velma and Darrel say that the place she is at does a very good job and will take good care of her that was good to hear.  I was a bit concerned they might have sent her there too soon, but she feels up to it.

Romans 15:3-6  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

⁴ For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

⁵ Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

⁶ That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We get so involved in our ‘life’ that we often forget God as He stands there ready to teach, ready to guide us through our day.

We read magazines, internet articles, books to improve our understanding of our professional lives.

There are thousands of books out there that tell us how to raise our children, how to be a better husband or wife.  How to get along with people better.

We can read about just about any theme we wish and receive tons of information, much of which we find overwhelming and reduce it down to more manageable doses.

We look at how to books and sites and magazines and television for answers and a better way to live.

Yet, we have a book that covers almost every one of those topics and sometimes in great detail.

God knew we would need help in living here on earth in a manner that would be pleasing for Him, so He gave us all we need through the men He chose to write His Word.

One of the greatest ‘self-help’ books, one of the greatest book on how to treat others is available to us at any time.  And it contains not only good advice, but what we can expect if we should not follow it.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

For all those who think the Bible is just a history book, or a book that gives some good things we should do, we need to ‘educate’ them.  We need to share God’s message and make it clear that He knew they would have questions, so He has the answer for them – and the millions of others who came before and will come after – on His expectations and how that will lead to a life of righteousness. 

It is more than ‘just another’ book, it is, indeed, a handbook on life – written by the Creator of life.

Later, Art :-)

Grey day but one full of promise.  Wind is not blowing – very hard, anyway – and temperature is in the high 40’s with rain only a potential, not a reality – so far.

Getting ready to process some chicken breast this week.  Teresa will be coming over and between the three of us, Carla included, we will be working with about 160 pounds, canning and freezing.

Now to make room for it.

“God is not a railway porter who carries your suitcase and serves you. God is God. He made heaven and earth. He holds the world in His hand. He measures the dust of the earth in the balance. He spreads the sky out like a mantle. He is the great God Almighty. He is not your servant. He is your Father, and you are His child. He sits in heaven, and you are on the earth.” – A.W Tozer

Isaiah 40:12-14 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?

¹³ Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, or being his counsellor hath taught him?

¹⁴ With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

I read this today and had to remind myself that I too often pray as if I am in charge, the master, not the one who needs to serve.

It is easy to be like a petulant child wanting something from his father and pestering him, whining and crying and telling him how much he ‘needs’ something.  When he doesn’t get it he throws a fit or tantrum and all he ends up doing is embarrassing himself and being disciplined.

No wonder some of my prayers are not ‘answered’ the way I think they should be.

Later, Art :-)