His Wonderful Amazing Grace!

Another graveside service on a cold snowy day for the Piper and his wife. 

The graveyard is beautifully set on rolling hillsides, full of many trees, lovely memorial stones with an incredible view across the valley to the next ridge. 

This graveyard was organized way over a hundred years ago. For me it was full of history. The history of normal people who came here as settlers and raised up their families - who raised up their families...

The LORD knows all of this. He sees time from the beginning to the end of this world because He is outside of time. He knows which people loved Him and who didn't. 

In our reality - making a decision for Christ is paramount although many people think they have all the time in the world. Life is short if you live for a handful of years to a hundred years. It is important to discern, think on these things, and search the scriptures often! Don't wait too long!  Get busy!

I watched today's people drive up, get out of their cars, and walk to the graveside. From the way they interacted they all seemed like they were family members.

The Piper played Nearer My God to Thee and Abide with Me as the family carried the casket to the graveside. After the short memorial the casket was lowered while the Piper played Amazing Grace.

The song and the tune of Amazing Grace has been a classic for Christians. It speaks of Salvation for those who cry out to the LORD in His truth. It speaks of fears, and fears relieved, real Hope and safety, and blindness to God's Truth, but after accepting Him, true sight, and, of course, His Amazing Grace!

At any funeral it is normal when the Piper begins to play Amazing Grace for many, many people begin to cry, or tear up.  Today it was the same. How many of them truly know the LORD and His salvation in Christ? And how many only cry or have tears for the emotion tune it is. How many cry with joy mixed in their sadness for the Saint who now is now with Christ! and how many who are lost cry just in sadness?

May we who are saved be faithful 

to share our Hope in Jesus with others!

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Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound


That saved a wretch like me!


I once was lost, but now am found;


Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,


And grace my fears relieved;


How precious did that grace appear


The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,


I have already come;


’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,


And grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me,


His Word my hope secures;


He will my Shield and Portion be,


As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,


And mortal life shall cease,


I shall possess, within the veil,


A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,


The sun forbear to shine;


But God, who called me here below,


Will be forever mine.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,


Bright shining as the sun,


We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise


Than when we’d first begun.

-John Newton, 1779

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"Her Mothering Centered on Family"

Years ago...almost forty years ago I happily went to apply for a library card in our new town. As young mother I was excited and ready to begin checking out books for myself and my children.  

Instead of the simple task of signing up I was bombarded with loud questions about my identification. I had my driver's license for that state, but the belligerent librarian demanded another form of ID which was a student identification or then, louder, a work identification.

"Don't you even have a work identification card?" She belted out.

All these years have gone by now, thankfully,  with other towns and another state in which no one else has had a problem with just a drivers license.

I think back now and wonder if college classes even then were teaching that staying home to raise your own children was unthinkable.

This came to my mind today as I read an obituary of a 93 year woman. She had a full and beautiful life with her husband of 71 years. As I continued to read I learned all about her from this beautifully written obituary. 

She and her husband were One and they raised all their children with love, enjoying grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The one line which was so significant to me says it all:

"Her mothering continued as grand and great-grandchidlren came into her world which centered on family."

What a beautiful testimony of a godly woman's life!

Titus 2:3-5

..."Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored."...

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A Cold WInd is a-Blowing

 Revelation 3:15-22

Jesus said:

‘I know your deeds, 

that you are neither cold nor hot; 

I wish that you were cold or hot.

So because you are lukewarm, 

and neither hot nor cold, 

I will spit you out of My mouth. 

Because you say, 

“I am rich, and have become wealthy, 

and have need of nothing,” 

and you do not know that you are wretched 

and miserable and poor and blind and naked... 

...Those whom I love, 

I reprove and discipline; 

therefore be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; 

if anyone hears My voice 

and opens the door, 

I will come in to him 

and will dine with him, 

and he with Me.

He who overcomes, 

I will grant to him to sit down with Me

 on My throne, as I also overcame 

and sat down with My Father 

on His throne.

He who has an ear, 

let him hear 

what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

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1 Peter 3:13-

..."Who is there to harm you 

if you prove zealous for what is good?

But even if you should suffer 

for the sake of righteousness, 

you are blessed. 

And do not fear their intimidation, 

and do not be troubled, 

but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, 

always being ready to make a defense 

to everyone who asks you to give an account 

for the hope that is in you, 

yet with gentleness and reverence;

and keep a good conscience so that in the thing 

in which you are slandered, 

those who revile your good behavior in Christ 

will be put to shame.

For it is better, if God should will it so, 

that you suffer for doing what is right 

rather than for doing what is wrong."...

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Are You Lukewarm? 

You may need to think deep about your answer.

BIBLE REASONS

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What did you say? I can't hear you...

To this day I still can not fathom how insensitive and arrogant some people behave to those who can not hear or hear well. 

Our world is full of people losing their hearing. Unfortunately we know people who continue to be 

rude

hurtful

impolite

alienting

cruel

       

offensive

                                            uncaring

                                            uncharitable.

Most of these people claim Jesus' Name! and yet they mock and degrade those who have hearing loss.

Why does this happen?!

Where are their manners?!

Why don't they have proper decorum?!

Where is their compassion and understanding?!

Psalm 51:17

..."The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."...

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It is very true that those who can not hear well - even with hearing aids - do often ask to have words repeated, for something to be explained again, or they may interpret your words incorrectly. 

A solution:

Please try to understand what their world is like. 

Don't be indifferent.

Don't be discouraging.

Do practice understanding.

Do practice compassion and patience.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

..."Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer; and our hope for you is firmly grounded, knowing that as you are sharers of our sufferings, so also you are sharers of our comfort.

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What did I say? I will gladly repeat it for you :o)

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"Winter's almost gone, Spring is coming on..."

 We always think:

"that's the last snow!"

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Hope for Those Who Have No Hope

 (One half comic edited, Charles Schulz)

"Sometimes - you have to give a person hope in hope."

-Pastor Ed

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After you have encouraged someone who was distraught - 

you then bridge to show them the God and Savior of the Bible!

Life with the Savior is Good! Share it!

Psalm 27

The Lord is my light and my salvation;


Whom shall I fear?


The Lord is the defense of my life;


Whom shall I dread?


When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,


My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.


Though a host encamp against me,


My heart will not fear;


Though war arise against me,


In spite of this I shall be confident.

One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:


That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,


To behold the beauty of the Lord


And to meditate in His temple.


For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;


In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;


He will lift me up on a rock.


And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me,


And I will offer in His tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;


I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice,


And be gracious to me and answer me.


When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You,


“Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.”


Do not hide Your face from me,


Do not turn Your servant away in anger;


You have been my help;


Do not abandon me nor forsake me,


O God of my salvation!


For my father and my mother have forsaken me,


But the Lord will take me up.

Teach me Your way, O Lord,


And lead me in a level path


Because of my foes.


Do not deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,


For false witnesses have risen against me,


And such as breathe out violence.


I would have despaired 

unless I had believed 

that I would see the goodness of the Lord


In the land of the living.


Wait for the Lord;


Be strong and let your heart take courage;


Yes, wait for the Lord."

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Jesus Paid it All!

Jesus Paid All 

I hear the Savior say,


“Thy strength indeed is small;


Child of weakness, watch and pray,

Find in Me thine all in all.”


Jesus paid it all,


All to Him I owe;


Sin had left a crimson stain,


He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I


Whereby Thy grace to claim;


I’ll wash my garments white


In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.

Jesus paid it all,


All to Him I owe;


Sin had left a crimson stain,


He washed it white as snow.

And now complete in Him,


My robe, His righteousness,


Close sheltered ’neath His side,


I am divinely blest.

Jesus paid it all,


All to Him I owe;


Sin had left a crimson stain,


He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now indeed I find


Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,


Can change the leper’s spots

And melt the heart of stone.

Jesus paid it all,


All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,


He washed it white as snow.

When from my dying bed


My ransomed soul shall rise,


“Jesus died my soul to save,”


Shall rend the vaulted skies.

Jesus paid it all,


All to Him I owe;


Sin had left a crimson stain,


He washed it white as snow.

And when before the throne


I stand in Him complete,


I’ll lay my trophies down,


All down at Jesus’ feet.


Jesus paid it all,


All to Him I owe;


Sin had left a crimson stain,


He washed it white as snow.

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--Elvina M. Hall

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For Your Purposes for Your Glory

Speak, O Lord

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

To receive the food of Your Holy Word.

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith.

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

All Your purposes for Your glory.

Teach us, Lord, full obedience,

Holy reverence, true humility;

Test our thoughts and our attitudes

In the radiance of Your purity.

Cause our faith to rise; cause our eyes to see

Your majestic love and authority.

Words of pow'r that can never fail—

Let their truth prevail over unbelief.

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds;

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us—

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time

That will echo down through eternity.

And by grace we'll stand on Your promises,

And by faith we'll walk as You walk with us.

Speak, O Lord, till Your church is built

And the earth is filled with Your glory.

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--Getty and Townend

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A Little Bit of Blue

The Mountain Blue Birds returned to Yellowstone this past week as a sure sign of Spring in that area!

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Spring Equinox!

To everything there is a season...

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

"There is an appointed time for everything. 

And there is a time for every event under heaven—

A time to give birth and a time to die;


A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.


A time to kill and a time to heal;


A time to tear down and a time to build up.


A time to weep and a time to laugh;


A time to mourn and a time to dance.


A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;


A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.


A time to search and a time to give up as lost;


A time to keep and a time to throw away.


A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;


A time to be silent and a time to speak.


A time to love and a time to hate;


A time for war and a time for peace.

What profit is there to the worker from that in which he toils? 

I have seen the task which God has given the sons of men with which to occupy themselves.

He has made everything appropriate in its time. 

He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor—it is the gift of God. 

I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. 

That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by..."

(FYI: God is outside of Time. He sees the beginning and the end at the same time)

Real Incentive!

Real Incentive for Repentance:

Proverbs 28:13

..."He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."...

Psalm 66:18-20

..."If I regard wickedness in my heart,

The Lord will not hear; But certainly God has heard; He has given heed to the voice of my prayer.

Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His lovingkindness from me."

1 John 1:8-10

..."If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

Luke 15:10

..."In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”...

Romans 10:9

..."if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;"...

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A Properly Situated Family

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" Contrary to popular opinion, the most important characteristic of a godly mother is not her relationship with her children.  

It is her love for her husband.  

The love between husband and wife is the real key to a thriving family.  

A healthy home environment cannot be built exclusively on the parents' love for their children. 

The properly situated family has marriage at the center; families shouldn't revolve around the children."

-John MacArthur

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Hard Times Come Again No More

Hard Times Come Again No More

Let us pause in life's pleasures and count its many tears

While we all sup sorrow with the poor

There's a song that will linger forever in our ears

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay

There are frail forms fainting at the door

Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

There's a pale weeping maiden who toils her life away

With a worn heart whose better days are o'er

Though her voice would be merry, 'tis sighing all the day

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Tis the song, the sigh of the weary

Hard times, hard times, come again no more

Many days you have lingered around my cabin door

Oh hard times come again no more

Oh hard times come again no more

Oh hard times come again no more

-Stephen Foster

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John 16:31-33

"...Jesus answered them, 

“Do you now believe?

Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, 

for you to be scattered, each to his own home, 

and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, 

because the Father is with Me.

These things I have spoken to you, 

so that in Me you may have peace.

 

In the world you have tribulation, 

but take courage; 

I have overcome the world.”

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Patriotism and Sorrows

Our area of the Midwest is small towns and small cities, but all are surrounded by the country.

Recently our flag has flown half-staff as there have been a number of deaths of our young adults from accidents or by self-infliction.

What sorrows and agonies we bear especially when the young are lost. All of their lives are ahead of them - and then - cut off.

This world gives false hope to the young in schools and in all media. Many parents do not have time or patience for the God of the Bible, thus their children of any age have seemingly no chance to hear the Truth. God's Truth puts trials, troubles and temptations in to His perspective. May you be a Light in your own area.

1 Peter 4:12-16

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 

If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name."

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Creativity

 MEnglebriet 

This is true for me. :o)

Some of my earliest memories are of my precious mother helping me with embroidery or sewing...

...and I never have stopped!

Pet when needed

internet photo