If only I had a house in Kansas.

 

I don't know what to say.  

The LORD surely and certainly uses everything which comes into our lives. 

He loves us dearly, chastens us, opens our eyes, listens to us, holds us accountable, teaches us, warns us, blesses us, and holds us gently and tightly in our agonies...

He helps us in all things, but He doesn't necessarily take away our struggles.

Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus says:  “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

The fact is that we can most definitely learn more from Him while in our sorrows than when we are on the mountain tops.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4   "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 partners in our sufferings, so also you are in our comfort."

Thousands and thousands of times I have given Him myriads of my own scenarios to "solve" my sorrows. Then, of course, I eventually give Him all of me and all of my life for Him to work as He will in them.

I am always hopeful, but still, I have never seen an end to our agonies.

Oh, joy! for I have seen changes and growth in me! It hasn't been magic, but the LORD working in me, me choosing to listen and learn, and me realizing the LORD loves me, even me, and so I rest in Him more completely each step of the way.

So do you see?  I don't need to have a house in Kansas which is taken by a tornado to the Land of Oz to end my sufferings as my house lands.

All I need is what I have already! The LORD God Almighty is my God and I am His child saved by His marvelous grace!. His Son, Jesus, died a perfect sacrifice and then was raised to life again for all who choose Him!

This is where I am! I am in His royal priesthood, I am His possession, I am holy because He is holy, and I continue to receive so much of His marvelous grace and mercies! 

You can also! 

1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

The LORD holds all of His children in His hands

Psalm 18:16-19

"He sent from on high, He took me;

He drew me out of many waters.

He saved me from my strong enemy,

And from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

But the Lord was my support.

He also brought me out into an open place;

He rescued me, because He delighted in me."

Being Thankful

 

Times Two

Here comes trouble 

Once Upon a Time

 Vintage photo of a Mid-West One Room School

Resting in the LORD: what a lesson to learn!

Precious Believer…If you do not know already - learning this lesson is an ongoing job. We actually never “get there”, we will never receive an “A”, we will always have something in life which “trips us up”.  

Most people do not realize this is actually a good thing. ALL of our reliance should be in the LORD ALL the time. We should never say, “I’ve totally got this.” Instead, we could say, “I am prepared, LORD, please help me do a good job.” Or  “Thank you, LORD, for helping me prepare.”

We are not God’s puppets. He did not “wind us up” to fulfill His plans. He does not “pull our strings” to make us do this or that. As children of God we are His. We live in His grace and mercies, we desire to glorify His Name, we “feed” on His Word to know Him better, and if we do these things we are drawn closer and closer to Him. We then readily do what we can to serve and glorify Him with our lives and so part of that would be resting in Him every day. Trusting Him to hold us, to guide us in our walk with Him, and knowing that He will not let go of us.

So the next time you feel like you are “tumbling out of control”, you do not know what on earth you are doing here, or you feel like a failure in all you do - remember who you are in Christ: 

You are a child of the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, SAVED BY HIS MARVELOUS GRACE, You are in His Royal Kingdom.

Romans 8:1-4, 12-15, 18-25, 34-39

"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit...

...So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” ...

...For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it...

... Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,

“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

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Learning True History

 

"History is not to be judged. 

History is to be learned from. 

To paraphrase Edmund Burke and Winston Churchill, 

if we don't learn from the mistakes of history, we're destined to repeat them."

R. D. Wedge: To reclaim America, Reclaim Virtue

I want to paint this on the side of my house!

 

Why should we be modest?

 

"It is because our sexuality is a gift from God that it must be protected with God’s own guidelines. 

This is precisely why modesty is important. 

We veil our sexuality behind modest attire and behavior, not because our sexuality is ugly but because it is beautiful.

-Robin Phillips, The Way of a Man With a Maid, pg.146

Being Genuinely Thankful

 

Thank you again to Charles Schulz

Salvation in Jesus Christ is Free!

1 Peter 1:3-9, 13-16, 2:

"...Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls...

...Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”...

1 Peter 2:1-5, 9-10

"Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ...

...But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy..."

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We can be genuinely thankful all the years of our lives! 

Jesus paid it all for our salvation!

Praises to the LORD God Almighty!

Softly and Tenderly

Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling for you and for me

See on the portals He's waiting and watching

Watching for you and for me

Come home, come home

Ye who are weary come home

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling, "O sinner come home"

O for the wonderful love He has promised

Promised for you and for me

Though we have sinned He has mercy and pardon

Pardon for you and for me

Come home, come home

Ye who are weary come home

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling, "O sinner come home"

Come home, come home (come home)

Ye who are weary come home

Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling

Calling, "O sinner come home"

Decent Societies

 

"It takes a great deal of effort 

and a great deal of time 

to make a decent society.  

But it takes little effort 

and little time to 

destroy a society."

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-Dennis Prager: A Reminder...

Advice for a Wise Husband

"A very important part of communication is to sit down with your wife as the very first thing upon arrival home from work. 

She has had a long day by herself, especially when there are children. It really helps her to be able to talk to you immediately. 

Just sit her down where you can be reasonably private (with small children this can be somewhat difficult) and ask her to tell you about her day. 

Always let her talk about her day, and listen to her, before you tell her about yours. 

It was many years before I learned this and it changed things drastically when I applied the technique. It tells her that you care about her."

-Anonymous, found handwritten on a slip of paper stuffed in a book.

Snoopy knows how to help

 

Revived!

Sweet breezes, cooler temperatures, revived annuals, and glorious colors! 

This is Autumn in the Mid-West.

Glory to God!

Virtue Intertwines with Freedom

 "I thank God I have lived 

to see my country 

independent and free. 

She may long enjoy her 

independence and freedom 

if she will.  

It depends on her virtue."

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-Samuel Adams,

 the father of the revolution wrote at the close of the war to Richard Henry Lee.

October!

 

"There is no sun without shadow, and not all clouds bring rain."

It is in our fallen humanity to have trials and traumas in our lives. We either cause them, someone else is the cause, or other outside influences cause them.

I have heard from more than one person that if you are not in a trial right now, you can expect one to come into your life soon enough.

James 1:2-4

"...Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing..." 

"The sun shines brightly after it rains."

Trials in life are not "fun". They can be mild or horrific. While in the midst of trials we may be begging the LORD to release us from them. This is understandable!

At the same time the LORD may or may not release us from the agonies of trials. His grace is sufficient for us. We tend to draw closer to the LORD in trials more than any other time. If we try and are able to think rightly during trials we may begin to understand how very close the LORD is to us. He is so close! He is as close to a saint in trials and traumas as He is when the saint's life is "fine".

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

"...Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 

Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong..."

I find that in me "boasting" seems too arrogant, but with any opportunity to share my testimony I can easily boast, because I am proclaiming and boasting in the LORD! It is NOT me in my weakness who continues, but it is the LORD God Almighty who in my weakness gives me His strength to get up and carry on. And THAT is really something!

Psalm 46:1-3

"God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride..." 

"The way of cultivation is not easy."  and "No garden is without weeds."

Our lives here on earth are like all those people before us, even back to Biblical times. Each one of us is a sinner, some are sinners saved by grace.  Life in our fallen world is difficult, with trials, traumas, agonies as well as joys, calmness, fun.

We are to live and enjoy our lives even though it is difficult. 

Just so you know, a sinner saved by God's grace lives in Him, thus His strength, His wisdom, His safety. It is a joy and a relief to be His child in this evil world. If you are not His child yet you need to seek Him with all your might by going to His Word!

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

"...But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. 

For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death works in us, but life in you.

But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

"It is little good planting last year's crop."

It is human nature to look backwards, lament, and whine about our past.  But it is the past! Don't look back unless it is part of your own testimony which you share for how the LORD turned you around and saved your life. 

If you are wallowing in your past, get up, and allow the LORD to lift your head! He has His strength to do this in you.

Galatians 6:6-10

"...The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith..."

Glorifying God with my life!

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All blue quotes as well as the title of this Blog are "old sayings", authors unknown.

Incredible internet photo is of the earth at dawn