Good-byes are so hard!

We said our last good-bye to the family that I am teaching piano to from Germany (the dad just got the news that he needs to come back to Germany a year earlier than they had expected so they will be leaving this summer). We have been praying for them and sharing with them as they are unsaved and had hoped to see them come to know the Lord while they were here, but at least a seed was planted. The mom is a Catholic who thinks she has never done anything wrong and the dad is a Lutheran. I believe that God has given me quite a mission field right here in our home! It was a really sad time yesterday knowing that all we can do now is pray for them and keep in contact with them via-email. We planted a seed and God will water it!

We may never see that family again, but God brought them into our life for a purpose. God has reminded me time and time again that we really don't need to serve the Lord in a foreign county (He can bring a people from another country right to your door!), unless He truly leads you to do so, because we really have huge a mission field in the United States. I read the other day that the largest Arabic speaking church is on the outskirts of Washington, DC. We have probably about every single religion in our country and many people who speak foreign languages.

Pray and seek the Lord for direction on where He would have you to serve Him in this world. Time is short and there are so many people that have not heard about the Lord.

Exodus 20:8-"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy."

Hebrews 10:25
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

While The Dew is Still On The Roses...

A picture of a rose still wet with the morning dew- aren't the flowers beautiful?!? I took this picture this morning and it made me think of this hymn....

I Come To The Garden Alone

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

Refrain
And He walks with me,
and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

Refrain

I’d stay in the garden with Him
Though the night around me be falling,
But He bids me go; through the voice of woe
His voice to me is calling.

Refrain

Bible Quiz

I was just browsing the web and somehow came across the website: Baptist Bible Translators (which, by the way is very good!). I will be adding their website the ones on the side - be sure to visit and check them out!

I use the KJV Bible and the church we go to uses the KJV, but when I was small and throughout my teen years we attended another church that used the NIV. I have no idea where my NIV Bible might be (or if I even have it for that matter), so I just used an online concordence to look up the NIV verses. I will not give away the answers, but it is kind of fun to look up a verse and watch the words and things such as:
'Matthew 17:21' not found for version "New International Version"


The NIV Quiz


Instructions: Using the New International Version of the Bible, answer the following questions.

Do not rely on your memory. As the Bible is the final authority, you must take the answer from the Bible verse (not from footnotes but from the text).

Fill in the missing words in Matthew 5:44. "Love your enemies, ________ them that curse you, ____ _____ to them that hate you, and pray for them that _______ ________ ________ and persecute you."

According to Matthew 17:21, what two things are required to cast out this type of demon?

According to Matthew 18:11, why did Jesus come to earth?

According to Matthew 27:2, what was Pilate's first name?

In Matthew 27:35, when the wicked soldiers parted His garments, they were fulfilling the words of the prophet. Copy what the prophet said in Matthew 27:35 from the NIV.

In Mark 3:15, Jesus gave the apostles power to cast out demons and to:


According to Mark 7:16, what does a man need to be able to hear?

According to Luke 7:28, what was John? (teacher, prophet, carpenter, etc.) What is his title or last name?

In Luke 9:55, what did the disciples not know?

In Luke 9:56, what did the Son of man not come to do? And, what did He come to do?

In Luke 22:14, how many apostles were with Jesus?

According to Luke 23:38, in what three languages was the superscription written?

In Luke 24:42, what did they give Jesus to eat with His fish?

John 3:13 is a very important verse, proving the deity of Christ. As Jesus spoke, where was the Son of man?

What happened each year as told in John 5:4?

In John 7:50, what time of day did Nicodemus come to Jesus?

In Acts 8:37, what is the one requirement for baptism?

What did Saul ask Jesus in Acts 9:6?

Write the name of the man mentioned in Acts 15:34.

Study Acts 24:6-8. What would the Jew have done with Paul? What did the chief captain command?

Copy Romans 16:24 word for word from the NIV.


First Timothy 3:16 is perhaps the greatest verse in the New Testament concerning the deity of Christ. In this verse, who was manifested in the flesh?
In the second part of First Peter 4:14, how do "they" speak of Christ? And, what do Christians do?

Who are the three Persons of the Trinity in First John 5:7?
Revelation 1:11 is another very important verse that proves the deity of Christ. In this verse Jesus said, "I am the A__________ and O___________, the _________ and the _______:"


Conclusion: Little space is provided for your answers, but it's much more than needed. If you followed the instructions above, you not only failed the test, you receive a big goose egg. So now what do you think of this "accurate, easy-to-understand, up-to-date Bible"? If these 25 questions haven't served to show you that the NIV is a very inferior Bible, based on a very inferior Greek text, it is possible to write up another quiz with 25 more questions, or even 250, and you will still flunk the test. If you would like to improve your score, and in fact score 100%, you can take this test using the Authorized (King James) Bible.

Sorry

I am so sorry I have not posted in quite a while (read my recent posts on
http://faith-love-patience.blogspot.com )....our computer got some-type of virus, but all is well now thankfully.

Here is are some encouraging poems written by Fanny Crosby.

• 
  
  Oh, what a happy soul I am,
  Although I cannot see,
  I am resolved that in this world
  Contented I will be.
  
• 
  
  How many blessings I enjoy
  That other people don't
  To weep and sigh because I'm blind
  I cannot nor I won't.
  
• 
  
  Jesus, Saviour, once betrayed,
  Sacrifice for sinners made,
  Wretched, lost, to thee I fly;
  Save, O save me, or I die!
  
• 
  
  To the work! to the work! there is labor for all
  For the kingdom of darkness and error shall fall;
  And the name of Jehovah exalted shall be,
  In the loud swelling chorus, "Salvation is free."
  
  
• 
  
  Blessed Bible, book of gold
  Precious truths thy pages hold,
  Truths to lead me day by day
  All along my pilgrim way.
  Word of God, thy love impart,
  Fire my zeal, and cleanse my heart;
  Keep me earnest, keep me true,
  Every day my strength renew.
  
• 
  
  Speed away, speed away on your mission of light
  To the lands that are lying in darkness and night;
  'Tis the Master's command; go ye forth in His name,
  The wonderful Gospel of Jesus proclaim.
  Take your lives in your hand,
  To the work while 'tis day,
  Speed away, speed away, speed away.
  
• 
  

John Gibson Paton - Scottish Missionary

John Paton

John G. Paton (1824-1907) was a Scottish missionary to the New Hebrides. Before sailing there with his newly wed wife in 1858, he was a city missionary in Glasgow for ten years. Began work on Tanna, an island inhabited by savage cannibals; later worked on the island of Aniwa. He gave to the Aniwan people the first hymnbook in their own language and translated the New Testament into their language.

Trials and hairbreadth escapes only strengthened my faith and nerved me for more to follow; and they trod swiftly enough upon each other's heels. Without that abiding consciousness of the presence and power of my Lord and Saviour, nothing in the world could have preserved me from losing my reason and perishing miserably. His words Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end became to me so real that it would not have startled me to behold Him, as Stephen did, gazing down upon the scene. It is the sober truth that I had my nearest and most intimate glimpses of the presence of my Lord in those dread moments when musket, club or spear was being levelled at my life."

"This is strength; this is peace; to feel, in entering on every day, that all its duties and trials have been committed to the Lord Jesus — that, come what may, He will use us for His own glory and our real good!"

"Nothing so clears the vision and lifts up the life, as a decision to move forward in what you know to be entirely the will of the Lord."

Bits of his life:

The savages of Aneityum had accepted Christianity with alacrity and sincerity. Indeed, many of them had gone forth to other islands and suffered much for Christ's sake and the gospel's -- even martyrdom, in a number of instances. Several of the Aneityumese Christians were helping Paton in his efforts to evangelize the Tannese.

One day he received information that he and his Aneityumese teachers were destined to be the victims of a feast which the natives were planning. They looked out of the window and saw a band of armed killers approaching. Knowing that they were cut off from all human hope, they turned to prayer. For many hours they heard the savages tramping around the house, threatening to break in or set the place on fire. As they prayed, their hearts were quieted with the assurance that He who was for them was greater than all their foes. Says Paton: "Our safety lay in our appeal to the blessed Lord who had placed us there, to whom all power had been given in heaven and on earth. This is strength, this is peace -- to have sweet communion with Him. I can wish my readers nothing more precious than that."

The indomitable herald of the Cross was thinking of Matthew 28:18-20 and the reassuring Presence it vouchsafed to him: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go, therefore ... and lo, I am with you."

The Hand that reassured the missionary restrained the enemy, and at length the killers departed without accomplishing their design.

Paton kept several goats as a source of milk supply. One day he heard an unusual bleating among the goats, as if they were being killed or tortured. He rushed to the goathouse. Instantly a band of armed men sprang from the bush, surrounded him and raised their clubs. He had fallen into their trap! "You have escaped from us many times," they said, "but now we are going to kill you!" Lifting his hands and eyes toward heaven, Paton committed his cause to the Lord whose servant he was. As he prayed, the Divine Presence overshadowed him, his heart was filled with a tender reassurance and the cannibals slipped away one after another. "Thus," affirms the missionary, "Jesus restrained them once again. His promise is a reality; He is with His servants, to support and bless them, even unto the end of the world!"

The promise that was ever on his lips!The Presence that was ever in his heart!The promise that held him! The Presence that reassured him!"Lo, I am with you all the way!"

On several occasions ships called at Port Resolution and the missionary was urged to sail away to safety. In each instance he declined, hoping that he might yet win the Tannese for Christ. But, finally, when the mission house was broken into and everything he had was either stolen or destroyed, he realized that to stay longer meant the direst of fates -- namely, to be killed and eaten by the cannibals or else to die from slow starvation. Having decided to leave Tanna for a season, he made his way across the island, amid indescribable hardships and countless perils, to the mission station occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson.

Completely worn out with long watching and fatigue, Paton fell into a deep sleep. About 10 o'clock his faithful little dog, Clutha, the only thing left of all his possessions, sprang quietly upon him and woke him up. Looking out, he saw that the house was surrounded by savages, some with blazing torches, the rest armed with various weapons. Quickly they set fire to the church close by and then to the reed fence connecting the church and the dwelling house. In a few minutes the house, too, would be in flames, while infuriated men waited to kill the missionaries when they attempted to escape. Humanly speaking, their lot was hopeless. Kneeling, they committed themselves, body and soul, to the Lord Jesus, pleading His presence and His promised deliverance: "Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee."

Opening the door, Paton rushed outside to cut the reed fence. Instantly he was surrounded by a company of savages with raised clubs shouting, "Kill him! Kill him!" "They yelled in rage," says Paton, "but the invisible Lord restrained them and delivered me. I stood invulnerable beneath His invisible shield."

The presence of the invisible Lord!The protection of the invisible shield!The deliverance of the Divine Presence!

Just at this juncture, a rushing, roaring sound came from the south. An awful tornado of wind and rain was fast approaching! If it had come from the north, the flames from the church would have quickly reached and burned the mission house. Instead, the wind blew the flames away from the house and soon a torrent of rain was falling. Terror stricken, the natives fled, shouting: "This is Jehovah's rain! Truly their God is fighting for them and helping them."

Their fright was short-lived, however. Early the next morning, they returned to complete the bloody work they had commenced the preceding night. With wild shrieks they drew near the house. Presently, amid the rising crescendo of shouting and excitement, the missionaries heard the cry, "Sail O! Sail O!" They were afraid to believe their ears but it was true: a vessel was sailing into the harbor just when all hope seemed lost. The missionaries were soon rescued and taken to Aneityum.

"In joy we united our praises," says Paton. "Truly our precious Jesus has all power. Often since have I wept over His love and mercy in that deliverance."

Jesus -- the source of all power!Jesus -- the fountain of love and mercy!Jesus -- the author of every deliverance!

Jesus claimed, "All power is given unto Me" and promised, "Lo, I am with you."
On the basis of manifold miraculous experiences in the life of John G. Paton, Christ's claim and promise were abundantly established.

Missionary Perspective

Missionary Perspective
Twenty years on deputation, or at least it seemed that way;
Telling o'er and o'er the calling, the same slide set every day.
Sunday morning in Chicago, Sunday evening in West Bend;
Wednesday evening up in Moline, traveling miles without end.

Hearing pastor after pastor say, "Our budget's chock-a-block;
There's no way we can support you, but we sure enjoyed your talk!"
As the weeks stretch into months and the months expand to years,
The candidate grows weary 'till he's had it to his ears.
Then the day at last comes dawning when he flies out to the field
With the deputation over, his career at last is sealed.
He's a brand new missionary, he's a member of the team;
But he finds that his new country isn't everything it seemed.

There's the funny sounding language that he doesn't understand;
And the housing that's assigned him isn't everything he planned.
Lo, his fellow missionaries are only human men;
And in his lonely moments, he thinks of home again.

No one told him 'bout these roaches that intimidate his wife,
And he isn't quite prepared for the national way of life.
The time concept of the country is a thing he can't relate -
When a national says "six-thirty", he means quarter after eight!

The crowds that press upon him are intolerable at best,
And the heat he isn't used to usually robs him of his rest.
The people that he used to think he loved with all his heart,
Are suddenly the folk who seem to tear his life apart.

When he goes to church on Sunday,
he doesn't even know the songs;
And he thinks the nationals lack in knowing right from wrong-
The local pastor drinking wine, the deacon smokes a pipe
-Back home in Middle USA, we don't accept that type.

He must send a cheery letter to his supporters every month;
But he gets few answers from them, in most cases no, not once.
Nationals calling at odd hours make demands for many chores.
They do not return the favors but keep reaching out for more.

He can't stand the local menus, but can't buy the food he wants.
His kids don't like the schooling, and they are harassed by taunts.
There doesn't seem to be a thing within this new lifestyle
Like what he often dreamed of on the deputation miles.

The slide set showed the glamorous, the palm trees and the beach;
But it didn't show the prices so often out of reach.
So he's quickly disillusioned, and he feels it's very plain --
All those years on deputation have been very much in vain.

Now the funny thing about it is that just across the street
Lives another missionary who thinks the country's very neat.
He loves the people, loves the work, accepts it as it is --
The gloomy side of all these things is no concern of his.

The difference that there seems to be between these fellow men
Is the goal at which they're looking and not where they have been.
The one who is not satisfied and finds that he is bored
Is focusing upon the field -- the other on the Lord.

So when you're on the mission field and things look very drear,
Remember there's a recipe to fill your heart with cheer.
Don't dwell upon the differences or the culture seeming wrong --
Get on your knees and pray to God and ask Him for a song.

And think of how God's only Son left Heaven up above,
Coming to a foreign culture to bring to man God's love.
And all of the frustration and the hardship you go through
Really cannot be compared with what He did for you!!
--Author Unknown

Choir Members

Take a moment to read through the words of this hymn written by William P. Mackay in 1863.

REVIVE US AGAIN

We praise Thee, O God!
For the Son of Thy love,
For Jesus Who died,
And is now gone above.

Refrain
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

We praise Thee, O God!
For Thy Spirit of light,
Who hath shown us our Savior,
And scattered our night.

Refrain
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

All glory and praise
To the Lamb that was slain,
Who hath borne all our sins,
And hath cleansed every stain.

Refrain
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

All glory and praise
To the God of all grace,
Who hast brought us,
and sought us,
And guided our ways.

Refrain
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above.

Refrain
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Hallelujah! Amen.
Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
Revive us again.

According to the definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary the word 'revive' means:

1. to restore to consciousness or life : become active or flourishing again
2 : to restore from a depressed, inactive, or unused state : bring back
3 : to renew in the mind or memory

The word revival is dated to 1651 and is defined in the following ways:

1: an act or instance of reviving : the state of being revived: as a: renewed attention to or interest in something

b: a new presentation or publication of something old
c (1): a period of renewed religious interest
(2): an often highly emotional evangelistic meeting or series of meetings
2: restoration of force, validity, or effect (as to a contract)

Our Pastor refers to his committed church members as 'choir members'. Choir members are the ones that you know will be there at every service, as soon as the doors of the church open, they are the ones active in the church and in the community reaching the lost. They are the ones that see the churches across America falling away from the Lord. They are the ones who are fasting and praying for a revival. They are seeking a personal revival for their own life, one that will touch the church, and spread across America and around the world. If one person had a true revival they with God's help could change this nation.

Remember, God is in control and the kings heart is in the hand of the Lord and he turns it so wherever He pleases. God holds the future and we know not what tomorrow may bring forth.
Proverbs 21:1: "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

Lamentations 3:22
It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Lamentations 3:40
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the LORD.

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.


Jeremiah 10:21
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

Jeremiah 23:1
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.


Let us humble ourselves and seek and return unto the Lord.

Scripture Memory

I apologize for not posting a while - I had a post all typed out on Saturday but somehow it ended up deleted so I had to spend my free time this week retyping it all out!

Reading the Bible at two months old....

Scripture memory is very important. There will come a time in your life that you will need to recall a certain verse to help encourage yourself, others, or while you are witnessing. There many be a time where you will not have a Bible handy and need to rely on the Lord and your memory.

Why is it that we can quote lines our favorite movies, funny things people have told us, and even little quotes in a book? I think it is because Satan is attacking us. As long as we stay away from church, aren't reading our Bibles, witnessing to others, praying, or memorizing scripture he sees us as "ok" - we aren't causing any danger to the world. When we start praying, reading our Bibles, telling others about the Lord, and trying to memorize scripture it is then we as Christians are under attack by the devil and he will use all in his power to keep us from following the Lord.

Here are some tips for Bible memorization:

• Try to understand the thought and meaning of the verse.
  
• Memorize out loud. Speak the verse several times out loud so that your voice, hearing, and mind all participate simultaneously in the memorization process.
  
• Concentrate!
  
• Review memorized verses out loud until they are firmly embedded in your heart and mind.
  
  First, start your time of scripture memory by taking a moment to pray. Ask the Lord to give you wisdom to remember your Bible verses. Second, decide what type of learner you are - audio or visual. You can also decide which verses you want to memorize - either random or pick a topic.
  
  The audio learner learns better by hearing things over and over and over again. Saying things out loud helps the audio learner to memorize.
  
  The visual learner likes to see something and be able to look at it over and over and over again.
  
  Tips for the audio learner:
  
• Try writing or typing out Bible verses on little note cards. Read the verse over a few times and then place the card in your pocket, you wallet, your purse, or even write out the verse on a sticky post it note and put it various places about your house. It is a helpful little reminder that can be looked upon while you are waiting in a long line at the grocery store, the doctor office, sport events, or even on your break at work.
  
• Record yourself or buy a CD or cassette tape of different books of the Bible. You can play those recordings over and over and over again while you're out driving around town, cleaning the house, or exercising.
  
  The church we attended when I was little had Bible quizzing competition for adults. Both of my parents were involved in Bible quizzing and they would work on memorizing entire books of the Bible. It just happens that my dad is an auditory learner and so during the months that he worked on memorizing a book of the Bible we would listen to cassette tapes he recorded. He would listen to tapes whenever he was driving in the car and even while he was out mowing the grass!
  
  One year (I was probably around 8 or 9yr.) as they were working on memorizing the entire book of James I ended up proving that listening to something over and over and over again truly does have an effect on the person(s) listening. I had a habit of talking in my sleep when I was little and one night I began quoting the first chapter of James in my sleep (of course, I don't remember talking in my sleep, but that is what they told me)! I think that was because I continued to listen to the Bible verses my dad played of the book of James while riding with him in the car.
  
• Sing Scripture. I have been singing scripture verses and entire chapters of the Bible ever since I was very small. My mom would put music to a verse (especially when we were working on verses for AWANA) and my siblings and I would end up singing our verses to our AWANA leaders. Singing with music really does help the memorization process. I'm hoping soon to figure out how I might be able to add a scripture song onto this blog so you can get a taste of how much fun singing scripture can be!
  
  Visual Tips:
  
  Now, some people like to see things in order to memorize it. Visual people tend to memorize something better by reading it over and over and over again or by drawing a little picture. It's easier for us to remember something when we've actually seen a visual of it. When memorizing Bible verses try and picture a visual of it in your head. Seeing a picture or the Bible verse will make it easier to remember. You may want to take the time to type and print out the verse you are working on and put in a frame and post it in a high traffic area point in your home - some place where you will see it often. We have verses in frames all over our home - in the living room, bedrooms, kitchen, and even the bathroom!
  
• Most of all make the memorization time fun!
  
  Here are some things that we have done together as a family that don't necessarily pertain to scripture memory, but just good things to do with your family.
  
  
• Sword drills - call out a Bible reference and then say "Go" and the first to find the verse wins.
  
• Scripture verse quizzes (say the verse and have someone give you the reference or you can also do it the other way around as well...say the reference and have some one quote the verse). We used to have the game HANDS DOWN and everyone would have to slap a hand and the hand that won would be the hand on the bottom of the pile.
  
• You can also do Bible charades which involves all ages. We have done this on Friday nights after our homemade pizza and everyone is able to participate. Watching little ones act out the more famous Bible stories (David & Goliath, Mary & Joseph, Joseph and his brothers, Ruth, Adam & Eve,etc......(NOTE: Dads be ready to get into the act, as you are usually the ones recruited to be a donkey that your children can ride in their act!).
  It can be a lot of fun trying to recall those not-so famous stories from the Old Testament that the older ones have read in their own Bible times!
  Rules: The actors are not allowed to speak....only motions are allowed and the ones guessing are only allowed to ask yes and no questions.
  We have even played Bible charades when we have other families over on Friday nights and that really gets the excitement going as each family is involved in acting and guessing!