1 Peter 4:7

Sing it! Shout it! Let the whole world know!

2009-04-30T07:55:00.007-04:00

Do you ever feel that you cannot contain all the praise you have for the Lord?! I love the verses in the Bible which speak of giving praise to God.

Praising God is not a feeling. Praising God is a conscious activity. We praise Him by thoughtfully extolling His goodness, His greatness, His majesty, His love, His grace, His mighty deeds on our behalf, etc.

Today, I would like to share with you some wonderful answers to prayer and how God is working in my life and in the lives around me through heart-burdened and tear-filled prayers. I better type fast, or else I might just burst with all the praise bubbling up inside me!

First off, let me mention something - if you haven't already started a prayer book - I'd HIGHLY encourage you to make yourself your own prayer journal. It's great fun to write down, read though, and pray for all the requests, but the best thing about having it all on paper is that days, weeks, months, and years later you are able to fill in an answer to the prayer! God IS SO GOOD!!!!

Beginning in January of this year, I began to pray more and more fervently for several specific requests. Below is the request with a little snippet of how God is answering prayer....

#1- That God might save an older gentleman named Mr. B. Sadly, this man really wants nothing to do with Christianity and of course he as some type of excuse for visiting church. His wife passed away last year and the first time she and I met at church she asked me to pray for her husband's salvation. I began praying that day and will not stop. I care so much for him and want to see him saved. I'm thankful that we have continued to have contact with each other throughout the year. I was surprised to receive a note in the mail from him a few months ago, as I had decided that he didn't want anything more to do with me, God, church, etc. I personally think it is very important that a Christian stay in contact with the family of a deceased person. The family members may not have had anything to do with the church, but telling them that you're praying for them and letting them know you are there to help them is sometimes one of the very best ways to witness and that through it all they may see Christ in our lives.

#2- There is an older couple whom I have grown to love and I care deeply about that need salvation and not just a "religion." I'm rejoicing to see God answering my prayers. They have attended several church services and I'm continuing to pray daily for them.

#3- I'm deeply burdened for several families that I know who are not saved. It hurts to know that they don't want to know about the Lord, nor do they want their children to hear the truth. Yet, God is working in amazing ways and is able to conquer the foe!

Several weeks ago, I could not fall asleep as I felt so burdened to pray for those unsaved people that I was literally crying with tears pouring down my cheeks at 2am one night for these people who are living a life without hope. Love is so painful! My heart literally breaks when I see the hopelessness that these people have and it really does hurt.

We Christians have such a joy that we want to: Sing it, shout it, and let the whole world know what Christ has done for us and what He can do for them!

#4- I'm currently taking a course through an online school. I began the class in June of last year and plan on graduating within the next couple of months. I prayed long and hard about taking a class online. It was such a hard decision because I'm such a "people person" and love being able to commute with others. I asked the Lord for His will to be done. I enrolled in the school thinking, "God, what are you doing?! I'm not going to be a witness for you on here - there are no people to talk with!" I sit back and laugh now, but I was very concerned about having an opportunity to witness and wondered how I'd be able to witness to a computer, books, and myself. Well, thankfully the school had a forum........

Yes, religion topics are considered "hot topics" on the forum, but that's OK. I decided that the forum would be a great place to reach out to all my fellow students who live all over the country and the world! I decided that I was going to post a "hot topic" and if they told me that I was no longer allowed on the forum, then that was OK with me, but I was going to post something even if it cost me my forum membership! If you remember from a previous post, I mentioned that I posted the "Are You A Good Person" test from Way of the Master. Click here to read previous post to see what happened and the comments I received from the students on the forum for posting the test.

Well, after that thread was locked by the moderator (thankfully I wasn't kicked off the forum!) I continued to pray and to seek out other ways of which I could share Christ with the thousands of students and graduates.

I began a prayer thread where students could share prayer requests/praises and there was such an overwhelming response to that thread post, which allowed me to continue to share deeper and deeper things about the Lord. It's been truly amazing and cannot stop giving thanks and praise to God!

In March I was contacted by the school and asked if I wouldn't mind writing an article for the "Student in the Spotlight" for their upcoming newsletter which goes out to over 17,000 former graduates and current students as well as various MT companies. I was told that I could write anything I wanted. I was in total shock and wondered why out of the thousands of other students I was chosen as the student for the spotlight section of the newsletter.

All I have to say is that God works in AMAZING ways!!!! I prayed for ways to witness and God gave me an opportunity within weeks! The newsletter will not only go out to all those 17,000 people, BUT also to several different countries! I continually stand in awe of the way God works through the power of prayer!

I really wanted to share all the neat specific ways God has answered each request, but as this is a public blog, I do not want to post all the details on here, so I'll have to settle with sharing the "specific general info." I've posted.

PRAISE HIM! PRAISE HIM!

Books, Books, Books.

2009-04-29T11:35:00.011-04:00

Sadly, I do not have enough time in my day/night to read all the books I would love to, but I'm trying my best. I currently am working on a stack of 14 medical theme books and 9 mission/prayer/biography themed books.

I spent a lovely Sunday afternoon outside reading a 320 page book from Revival Literature by Ron Owens. It was a very good book and a nice reminder of what happens when we have true faith.

Notes from the book:

Manley Beasley Man of Faith- Instrument of Revival.
By: Ron Owens

Here are some good quotes:

"When the glory of the Father is the goal of every prayer,
When before the throne of heaven our High Priest presents it there,
When the Spirit promts the asking and the pleading heart believes,
Then, yes then we know for certain he who's asking will receive."
~Unknown

"You can have as much of God as you are willing to pay the price for." ~ Manley Beasley

"The mark of a godly man, or church, is that everything they do is God-initiated."

~ Manley Beasley

"Faith is the substance of what you are looking for before it has even arrived.
God says it, that settles it, so go act upon it and you'll have a faith that's alive.
To get in on what God has promised His children depends on some action from you,
A faith that is living is more than just trusting, it's doing what God says to do.

It's not enough just to say you believe it if you don't intend to obey.
God has so clearly revealed in His Word how He wants us to live every day.
You'll find that you don't have to wait until heav'n to get in on what God has for you,
As you dare to step out in faith you'll discover what God says He'll do, He will do."

"Revival is God revealing Himself to man in awe-full holiness and irresistible power. It is such a manifest working of God that human personalities are overshadowed and human programs abandoned. It is man retiring into the background because God has taken the field. It is the Lord making bare His holy arm and working in extra ordinary power on saint and sinner."
~Arthur Wallis

Faith has three elements:

Intellectual Faith
Emotional Faith
Volitional Faith

Intellectual Faith-

"This is the kind of faith that blieves God can do anything and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. We believe that God can do anything."

See: Matthew 9:29

"If faith is just believing that God can do a particular thing, then why is He not doing what you believe He can do? Could it mean that your faith is incomplete?"

(Satan also believes this)

Emotional Faith- not real faith

"Sadly, that is about as far in the walk of faith that a lot of people go. They know intellectually. Their emotions desperately desire. But neither of these in or of themselves moves God into action."

Volitional Faith- act as though it has already happened.

God has given us a will.

"... God waits on us to act on His revealed truth because faith is acting on the Word of God. I must not only believe He can meet a need; I must begin to act as though I might not be able to see it, feel it, smell it, taste it, or hear it. I must begin acting as if it is so, when it is not so, in order for it to be so, because with God it already is so." Trust God.

See:
Philippians 4:19 (God HAS solved my problem)
Matthew 21:22- True belief is acting on God's revealed truth.
Luke 17:14- The lesson here is that only when their will moved them to obedient and believing action God granted their request."

"At the time of suffering it may seem that God is hurting you, but when you have passed through that valley of suffering and are able to look back, you see the benefits of it all. You literally forget the pain." ~ Manley Beasley

Jesus lived a life of:

Submission - John 4:32-34
Renunciation - John 5:30
Faith - John 6

.....more notes coming later. :)

Christians need to have children!

2009-04-29T10:02:00.012-04:00

"Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed."

Psalm 112:1-2 KJV

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."
Psalm 127:3-5 KJV

"Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways." Psalm 128:1 KJV

Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord."
Psalm 128:3-4 KJV

Why are so many Christian families only having 2-3 children?

Is money the issue? God will provide all your needs according to His riches in glory.

Is time an issue? God has given us 24 hours per day and reminds us in Ecclesiastes that there is a time for everything. The time you spend raising your children for the glory of God is worth every sleepless night you have spent feeding them, changing their diapers, and praying for their souls. It's worth every mess you have had to clean up, every meal you've had to make and every boo-boo kiss you've given to heal their hurt.

Is being questioned for sanity an issue? Don't worry about it-if everyone started to have more children, then larger families it would become the norm, so you would fit in perfectly. Children are a gift and a blessing from the Lord.

Are you questioning how you would serve God on a mission field with a large family?
1st - Remember, if it's God's will then He will supply EVERY need.
2nd- God DOES call EVERYONE who is His child to preach the gospel and to share His love with this lost and dying world. God has given parents a mission field right within their own home to proclaim His word to their children.

Remember to keep this in mind:

He has blessed you with a quiverfull of arrows. Parents need to work on sharpening them so when the time comes you can shoot them out into the world as a light and witness for the Lord. The job of a parent is to raise children that fear, honor, and obey the Lord and who will serve Him forever.

No matter the cost we will: Trust God. Live for God. Die for God.

Are you worried about the state of spiritual decline in America? Are you wondering what will happen to your children and grandchildren? Then keep this in mind- the feature of AMERICA depends on US!!!! The size of your quiver does not matter as long as you are following the Lord. Get out there with your little arrows and start spreading the gospel!

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Matthew 4:14

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. " Matthew 4:16

Let your little light shine!

Take the time to watch this video clip:

Market Music Ministry

2009-04-18T20:45:00.007-04:00

WOW! It has been 4 months since I last posted something on this blog! It has been forever since I've even been on blogger or even read blogs and I feel so bad! I'm now trying to remember how to post things and figure out all the new little things on blogger.

So much has been happening that I have no idea where to begin.... I guess I'll start from today and work my way backwards in the upcoming posts this coming week.

This morning we woke up bright and early and headed over to our local flea market. We set up a tent, chairs, and tables on which we put a bunch of gospel tracts from Way of the Master. We call this our: Market Ministry. We arrived at the market at 6:00am and stayed until about 12:30pm. My sister Amber, my brother Curtis, and our friend Eugene spent the morning playing their stringed instruments from 6:30am-12:30pm. They played the guitar, banjo, mandolin, harmonica, Dobro, and fiddle! We had quite a crowd gather to listen to the music and while they were listening to the music I passed out tracts and CDs. It was so much fun! We had a wonderful time. I was a little upset that we had forgotten to take the Spanish tracts with us, but I went ahead and passed out the English tracts to the Spanish speaking people we met. A neat thing that happened was that while we were there, two older missionary couples that we know dropped by our table. It was so neat because both of the couples speak fluent Spanish and were able to talk a bit with some of the Spanish people that dropped by our table.

Please learn from my experiences from talking with people this morning at the market.....

**TIP**: Be Careful What You Say!.....it may prove to be embarrassing!

Well this morning a young mom with an 8-9yr. son walked up to our table and I began to talk with her and invited them to come visit our church. I also noticed that she was probably at least 7-8 months pregnant and honestly believed that she would be having a baby in a few months.....
I'm not good at figuring out how many months along a pregnant lady is just by looking at her, but figured that it would be safe to ask because as I mentioned before....she looked very much pregnant.

Well......do NOT ask a lady who looks like she is at least 7-8 months pregnant when she is due! She may reply with, "Oh, I'm not expecting."

I felt so bad! It was seriously pretty funny though because I thought for sure she was expecting! Oops, I guess not. Anyway, I have learned that the best thing a person can do is to stick to talking about the Lord, church, and music - don't stray too far from those topics!

Lord-willing, I'll be able to post more of my exciting news from the past few months on the blog during this coming week.....so stay in tune! God is working in wonderful ways!

Oh Buddha!

2008-12-21T14:57:00.003-05:00

I love this song sung by the Imperials and I hope you enjoy it as well!

What happened to my blog music?
I have removed it for the time being, and I'm hoping to add new songs to the playlist soon.
Plus, I figured it's easier to listen to video clips with out the extra music playing in the background.

No Complaining - time is short! Get busy!

2008-12-18T17:59:00.003-05:00

Thought I'd share this with you - just a friendly reminder that we shouldn't complain about being a shy and not able to witness to others because we tend to be quiet. I used that excuse for a while, but after reading these verses things changed.....

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

God made our mouths.

If we allow ourselves to be molded and shaped into a vessel fit for our Master's use, He will give us the words to say and give us many opportunities to witness.

Christmas Love

2008-12-05T11:21:00.014-05:00

CHRISTMAS LOVE....

Joy To The World

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Joy To the World -Words: Isaac Watts, 1719 Music: Lowell Mason, 1848
Originally named "Antioch," Mason's original score said "from George Frederick Handel."The tune is named after the city of Antioch, Syria, where believers were first called "Christians";(Acts 11:26).

It is now December and many people are planning for the holiday season. I just wanted to remind you that this opens up great witnessing oppertunities for those of us celebrating the true REASON for the season (the birth of Christ) to share with those shoppers, cashiers, and others that we will meet this month. You can bake Christmas cookies to take to neighbors with a Christmas card and gospel tract. If you have children let them help bake, decorate and deliver the cookies. Again, remember that many people that tend to refuse things from adults will take things from a child.

My youngest sister who is 8 years old, is always reminding us to take tracts every time we leave the house. Just the other day she was out shopping with my mom. She had her purse loaded with tracts and went straight up to a lady shopping in the store and said, "Hello" and gave her gospel tract. The lady asked, "What is this?" and my sister replied, "It's a gospel tract."
Sounds simple doesn't it?

I had surgery two weeks ago on my hips and just had my sutures removed this week. Well, since I knew I wouldn't be seeing the doctor and his staff until after Christmas I decided to make some fudge to give to them. Of course I had already put tracts inside the little snowman tin along with a bunch of fudge. On my way out the door for my appointment, my sister asked me if I had tracts to give them, but I was already one step ahead of her!

Here is the fudge recipe:

Two-Tone Fudge

Ingredients:
1-1/2 teaspoons plus 1/2 cup butter, softened
divided 2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 cup evaporated milk
1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow creme
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup butterscotch chips

Directions:

Line a 9-in. square pan with foil and grease the foil with 1-1/2 teaspoons butter; set aside. In a large heavy saucepan, combine the sugars, milk and remaining butter. Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Bring to a rapid boil; boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Reduce heat to low; stir in the marshmallow creme until melted and blended. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Pour 2-1/2 cups into a bowl; stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts until chips are melted. Pour into prepared pan. Add the butterscotch chips to the remaining marshmallow mixture; stir until chips are melted. Pour over the chocolate layer and gently spread to cover.Refrigerate overnight or until firm. Using foil, remove fudge from pan; carefully peel off foil. Cut into 1-in. squares. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 2-3/4 pounds.

Spread the love of Christ with others this season!

Send care packages or Christmas cards to missionaries that are living far away from family & friends. Tell them you're praying for them and their ministry.

"I like your religion...."

2008-11-16T21:02:00.005-05:00

I'm so sorry for those of you that read my post on my "www.faith-love-patience.blogspot.com" blog a couple days ago. I signed out of my last post with..."now, I'm going to post something on my missions blog."

Well, to tell you honestly, I did type something up for this blog, but then felt that I wasn't suppose to post it. It's still in my draft folder though and perhaps sometime I'll feel led to post it.

Anyway, after getting home from our evening church service I just had to sit and post something that I find very amusing, yet sad all at the same time.

At one of my chiropractic appointments in the beginning of this year I met a very interesting person. As I was sitting in the waiting room, one of my chiropractor's patients comes walking by me and of course, I give her a smile. The lady stopped, and in a waiting room full of people says to me, "I like your religion!"

I was thinking, What?!?!!? You like my religion?!?!"

I must have given her a confused look (I honestly had NO IDEA what she was talking about), because she then began to explain to me that she used to be part of my religion, wore skirts all the time, etc. I continued to smile but I wasn't able to reply, except for a breif "thank you", before I was called back to my room.

I tried to sum everything up to the best of my knowledge as I tried to figure out the lady who had just talked with me had said. I came up with the following points:
if you smile, have long hair, and/or wear a skirt you are placed in the "religious" category.

OK, I can handle being "different" and I'm pleased to know that I'm a "religious" person. I still wonder what denomination or group she believed I was a part of. I wish I had had the time to ask her why she left her "religion".

That story above was just a side note of what I'm going to share with you, which has to do with my Sunday evening church service.

There is a lady who visits our church once in a blue moon (about 3 or so times a year). Well, as you know, I always enjoy greeting and meeting visitors. During the few times this lady visits we always strike up conversations - ranging from all sorts of topics, and tonight's conversation was no exception.

Before I go on you must realize three things.

1.I was homeschooled all my life.

2. This lady works in a very large city.

3. We attend a smaller church - it's a KJV Bible-believing, Baptist church, and we have about 20-30 families which attend on a regular basis - the majority homeschool.

I suppose that many people out in the world consider homeschoolers, "unsocialized" and see us as those who have never "seen the world", so to speak. Sigh. I don't think we'll ever convince them that we are very social people.

Anyway, the thing that I found very amusing tonight was that the lady I talked with believes that "we children" (hey, I'm in my 20's but I guess that doesn't make much difference) that attend small churches (not to mention we also homeschool) have no idea of what it's like in the "real world"!!!! EXCUSE ME!

She also believes that we don't have any type of relationship with Christ - that we small baptist churches are just a "religion" and that in the next four years, we'll really see a change in the church.

I didn't care to start discussing all that at that moment, plus for the fact I was the pianist for the service and needed to head to the piano, but I could have talked with her for a much longer period if I had had time.

So in case you are wondering....

No, I have not always attended a small, family friendly, KJV Baptist church all my life. We used to attend a large church. I also was involved with the youth group and no our family didn't always sit together for Sunday worship.

No, I have not always worn skirts/dresses.

No, I have not always had long hair.

No, I'm not an unsocialized church goer or homeschool grad.

Yes, I know what the "real world" is like, but I do not care to go join in their secular circles.

Yes, I was homeschooled from K-12 and have never regretted it!

Yes, I'm a happy person, filled with lots of smiles.

Yes, I am a born-again child of the God and I have a personal relationship with HIM.

Yes, I'm proud to be a Baptist.

and yes, I'm off to bed now!

Have a great week everyone!

Remember....

The Gospel According to You

There's a sweet old story translated for men,

But writ in the long, long ago

The Gospel according to Mark, Luke, and John

Of Christ and His mission below.

You are writing a gospel, a chapter each day,

By deeds that you do, by words that you say.

Men read what you write, whether faithless or true.

Say, what is the gospel according to you?

Men read and admire the gospel of Christ,

With its love so unfailing and true;

But what do they say, and what do they think

Of the gospel according to you?

'Tis a wonderful story, that gospel of love,

As it shines in the Christ-life divine,

And oh, that its truth might be told again

In the story of your life and mine!

Unselfish mirrors in every scene,

Love blossoms on every sod,

And back from its vision the heart comes to tell

The wonderful goodness of God.

You are writing each day a letter to men;

Take care that the writing is true.

'Til the only gospel some men will read,

That gospel according to you.

--Author Unknown

Depression, Discouraged, and feeling Down

2008-11-11T10:06:00.023-05:00

You may wonder why I decided to write a post about 3D's. I have sensed a lot of people around me right now are depressed - health, money, family issues, the changes in our nation, etc.

Here are a few pictures of some things in life that might be depressing right now:

What exactly is depression?

"Depression may be described as feeling sad, blue, unhappy, miserable, or down in the dumps. Most of us feel this way at one time or another for short periods.
True clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for an extended period of time."

Depression can affect people at any age or of any race, ethnic, or economic group.
Clinical depression will affect more than 19 million Americans this year.

You are probably now asking yourself why I'm posting about depression on a missions blog? It's simple - everyone - including missionaries can suffer from depression. It's also possible that you have a friend or a loved one that suffers with some form of depression and you would like to know how you as a friend or family member can help them. Perhaps you personally suffer from bouts of depression and discouragement. I'm in the process of compiling verses on the the subject and will hopefully, be adding to this post within the next couple weeks.

Pray for America

2008-10-23T21:23:00.003-04:00

Please prayerfully consider your VOTE on November 4th, 2008.

Here are some quotes:

"Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time; they therefore who are decrying the Christian religion, whose morality is so sublime & pure, [and] which denounces against the wicked eternal misery, and [which] insured to the good eternal happiness, are undermining the solid foundation of morals, the best security for the duration of free governments."
~Charles Carroll of Carrollton -- Signer of the Declaration of Independence

"The only foundation for a useful education in a republic is to be laid in religion. Without this there can be no virtue, and without virtue there can be no liberty, and liberty is the object and life of all republican governments."
~Benjamin Rush

"I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth, that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that "except the Lord build the House, they labor in vain that build it." I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from tis unfortunate instance, despair of establishing governments by human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one of more of the clergy of this city be requested to officiate in that service."

(Source: James Madison, The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, Max Farrand, editor (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1911), Vol. I, pp. 450-452, June 28, 1787.)

"No free government now exists in the world, unless where Christianity is acknowledged, and is the religion of the country."
~Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1824

"The most perfect maxims and examples for regulating your social conduct and domestic economy, as well as the best rules of morality and religion, are to be found in the Bible. . . . The moral principles and precepts found in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. These principles and precepts have truth, immutable truth, for their foundation. . . . All the evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. . . . For instruction then in social, religious and civil duties resort to the scriptures for the best precepts."
~ Noah Webster

"By renouncing the Bible, philosophers swing from their moorings upon all moral subjects. . . . It is the only correct map of the human heart that ever has been published. . . . All systems of religion, morals, and government not founded upon it [the Bible] must perish, and how consoling the thought, it will not only survive the wreck of these systems but the world itself. "The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." [Matthew 1:18]

(Source: Benjamin Rush, Letters of Benjamin Rush, L. H. Butterfield, editor (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1951), p. 936, to John Adams, January 23, 1807.)

"We profess to be republicans, and yet we neglect the only means of establishing and perpetuating our republican forms of government, that is, the universal education of our youth in the principles of Christianity by the means of the Bible. For this Divine Book, above all others, favors that equality among mankind, that respect for just laws, and those sober and frugal virtues, which constitute the soul of republicanism."

(Source: Benjamin Rush, Essays, Literary, Moral and Philosophical (Philadelphia: Printed by Thomas and William Bradford, 1806), pp. 93-94.)

Free Give-Away!

2008-10-19T09:10:00.002-04:00

Hi all! A missionary friend of mine serving the Lord in Portugal is hosting a give-away for the readers of her blog. Since this is a mission theme blog I thought you all might enjoy checking out her blog (which is listed on the sidebar under: Missionaries I pray for). There is nothing like reading the every day life of a missionary wife/mother serving her Lord in a foreign country. Click HERE to check out her blog.

Celebrate The Glory

2008-10-18T21:20:00.004-04:00

Yes, October is a busy month! Mom says that we really need two Octobers in order to fit in everything there is to attend and I agree! October weather is always so beautiful and the color of the changing leaves is lovely!

Today we left the house at 7:30am this morning to attend a conference called:
Celebrate The Glory which is hosted in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. We attended the conference for the first time last year and met many other wonderful Christian families. We attended their 2nd annual conference again this year and had a great time!

I wanted to share the links with you and invite you to keep this conference in mind for next year.

Here is a list of several of the speakers/ministries that attended Celebrate The Glory:

Bible Drama Pictures

Unfolding Drama http://www.unfoldingdrama.org/ is a ministry sponsored by http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/ The Rozeboom and Brand families have the passion and gifting to make Bible stories come alive using stories and drama. The Rozeboom’s are from Colorado. The Brand family (daughter and son-in-law of Michael and Debi Pearl) are from Tennessee.Be inspired to read God’s Word more…love God’s Word more…LIVE God’s Word more in this great drama we call life.
The Durocher Family (http://www.durocherfamilyministries.com/ ) from Minnesota will be providing the music gospel bluegrass style. They have a great love for God’s Word and family. Ten of their twelve children minister together in music. The parents, Paul and Judy, have done an excellent job discipling their children and winning their hearts. They desire all families to know of the joy of following Jesus together.

Naomi Durocher playing madolin with Amber & Curtis.
(Yes, I'm in the background with crutches, wearing 3 layers of clothing & FREEZING - it was so cold today!)

Ken Jenkins (http://www.kenjenkins.com/) is a nationally known natural history photographer, writer, lecturer, and outdoor adventurer. For more than 30 years his photographs and articles have appeared in publications from National Geographic to Southern Living. Ken's galleries, Beneath the Smoke and Heaven's Eyes, are located at the west entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park where he has been exposed to the 12 million visitors that enter the park since 1986.

October Mission Outreach

2008-10-18T18:45:00.007-04:00

I'm sorry it has taken me a week to get this post written and posted, but I plan on doing several new posts today, so hopefully I'll have the time to post them all.

October has been a very busy month for us.

We started the first weekend of October in West Virginia at a Way of the Master conference with Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron.

Gospel Illusions...

Last week we spent our entire Saturday afternoon helping a local church with their October Fall Fest Children's Outreach. It was a lot of fun! Amber and I volunteered to help at the craft table to assist the children in making wordless bracelets. My dad and Curtis did a gospel illusion presentation, which the kids loved!

Our craft table - lots of beads for making wordless bracelets.

Click HERE for instructions for making a wordless bracelet.

Click HERE for step by step instructions "Corn Stalk" gospel illusion that you can do!

Yes, my favorite part of the day was holding the baby!

We decided to put into practice what we learned from the Way of the Master conference a week earlier by using the law to witness to children and their parents. Many of the children I helped were very young and I basically told them what each color stood for and asked them if they had ever disobeyed their mommy or daddy, told a lie, etc. and explained how we sin against God.

The most exciting part of the day was being able to talk to two mothers, who asked if they could sit at our craft table while their children did the various activities at the festive. We had a chance to talk to them about the Lord using the "are you a good person" test from Way of the Master. Amber did most of the talking with the moms and although I would chime in the conversations going on when the traffic at the craft table was slow, I tried to focus on the kids. I could overhear the conversations going on and I didn't want Amber to become sidetracked and not have a chance to talk with the moms about their spiritual condition.

One mom that Amber & I talked with believed that she was "good enough to go to Heaven". This lady told us that when God asks her the question one day of "Why should I let you into Heaven?" that she would say, "I did my best and tried to live a good life".... We explained to her that your best isn't enough and that she needed a Saviour.

As many witnessing conversations go along the 'victim (our unsaved friend)' will begin to feel convicted and you can sense they are starting to squirm inside and often will try to turn the topic another direction. I could see the look in the lady's eyes as Amber talked with her - instead of being the happy carefree person who had just sat down at the table minutes before she was now talking with an uneasy laugh and becoming to turn on her defences. She started getting judgmental (sign of conviction), saying things with a "do you think you're better than me!" tone like: "Why are you wearing skirts?, Why do you have long hair?, etc" - which of course was besides the point.

She also mentioned that she has friends that are Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons, and Catholics. Personally, I think this is great - - - everyone should have an unsaved friend and witness to them! Sadly, this lady thinks everyone will get to Heaven according to what each religion believes. For example, if her Catholic friend believes differently than her, it's OK....they'll both meet in Heaven-no matter what the belief may be.

Anyway, we had a very interesting afternoon last Saturday, but it was good to have so many opportunities to witness. We're now able to pray for those who we had the chance to witness to and I actually invited a family to come to our church with us that Sunday evening and they came!

They had bounce houses and other activities including puppets, skits, games, food, and music.

Witness Where You Are!

2008-10-14T12:13:00.006-04:00

Far-off Fields?

We're concerned for the sinner in China
And the heathen in Mandalay,
But say, do we care, have we offered a prayer
For the lost one just over the way?

We say we would go with the Gospel
To lighten dark Africa's shore--
Have we spoken a word in the Name of the Lord
To people who live just next door?

The person who lives down the way,
Who looks so forbidding and grim;
Do we have a call to witness at all
Or speak of the Saviour to him?

We'd take the Gospel to Savages,
We'd cross the stormy tide;
But will we tell out what the Gospel's about
To the people who work by our side?

We'd tell of our wonderful Saviour
And His love we have found so sweet
To far-off ones, but what about
The folks we will meet on the street?

~Poems taken from Moments With The Book

Quotes...

2008-10-10T20:44:00.003-04:00

Here are several quotes that I think you might enjoy reading:

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."
-- Nate Saint, missionary martyr

"To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map."
-- William Carey, pioneer missionary to India

"Go, send, or disobey." -- John Piper

Sympathy is no substitute for action.-- David Livingstone

"Within the covers of the Bible are all the answers for all the problems men face."
-- Ronald Reagan 40th president of the United States of America

"Christians don't tell lies they just go to church and sing them" - A.W. Tozer

"I have found that there are three stages in every great work of God; first, it is impossible, then it is difficult, then it is done."
-- J. Hudson Taylor

"If sinners be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for."
-- Charles Spurgeon

"We have a God who delights in impossibilities." -- Andrew Murray

"Why do you need a voice when you have a verse." -Jim Elliot

Feel free to post a comment with your favorite quotes about missions. I love to read good quotes from missionaries and other Christians.

Reaching out to loved ones & friends

2008-10-06T11:33:00.011-04:00

Did you know that airplanes were made for passing out gospel tracts?

The isle of a plane happens to be a perfect place to pass out tracts,
because there are people on both sides!

Here are some ideas to help you reach out to your unsaved loved ones and friends this week.

* Write a letter to a friend or a love one telling them how you got saved and how Christ has made a difference in your life.

Here is how Diego put it last week during Sunday School:

L-ove...remember to write the note in love - don't criticize or condemn the person whom you are writing to...the Holy Spirit will work on them.

E-mpathize - think about what they are going through in their live right now.

T-iming

T-ruth -remember to include the gospel!

E-nd strong - remember that post people will remember the beginning and ending of your letter.

R-emember to pray for the person receiving the letter (this the "R" I added) and to read and reread your letter over and over again to make sure it says what you want it to and that the gospel is clearly presented.

*You can also send an email using the "LETTER" tips, instead of writing a handwritten note.
Be a witness in all your correspondence - use scripture or quotes from Spurgeon, Bunyan, Wesley, and other great men of God.

*Make a phone call to an unsaved friend or loved one. Invite them to church and tell them about Christ. I created an answering machine message on my cell phone that gave the gospel....I can't remember exactly what I said, but I used the verse:

Romans 10:13: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

and used that to explain salvation....I wish I could remember exactly what I said.

Eight Reasons Why I Don't Share My Faith

2008-10-05T22:32:00.001-04:00

In order to hear this video clip more clearly, you may want to click "pause" on the sound player found at the bottom of this page.

On Fire for God!

2008-10-05T14:25:00.017-04:00

People waited in LONG lines to have their books signed
by Ray Comfort & Kirk Cameron.

The boys really enjoyed the conference!

Our Group

Getting On for God!

Notes taken from The Way of the Master Conference "Transformed" in

Charleston, West Virginia on October 4th 2008.

" If you get on fire for God people will come to watch you burn." ~C.H. Spurgeon

"Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn." ~Charles Wesley

Bill Bright with Campus Crusade for Christ once said, that statistics show that only 2% of Christians actively share their faith with others.

The Three Keys to Evanglism

1. Faith = Joy = Physical Energy -Romans 15:13

2. Love for God who redeemed us: We love Him because He 1st loved us. - Acts 20:21

3. Compassion (concern) for the ungodly. - Rev. 20:11

The 5 Signs Of A True Convert (Believer)

1. Fruits of Repentance - Matt.3:8

2. The Fruit of Good Works - Col. 1:103.

3.The Fruit of Thanksgiving - Heb. 13:15

4. The Fruit of the Spirit - Gal. 5:22

5. Fruit of Righteousness - Phil. 1:11

AW Tozer writes. "It is my opinion that tens of thousands of people. if not millions. have been brought into some kind of religious experience by accepting Christ and they have not been saved.”

Ten phrases we use which lead to false converts...

1. “Hell fire preaching” - See Romans 2:4

2. “Just believe”

3. “Accept Jesus” - WE don’t accept Jesus, Jesus accepts us.

4. “God shaped hole” - Jeremiah 17:9

5. “Jesus +” …..prosperity . We give the unsaved the idea that if you come to Jesus all will be well - always happy & wealthy, which is not the case.

6. “Come to Jesus and get joy & goodies” … Fruits of the Spirit should not be used as a draw card.

7. “Decisional Regeneration” - a decision does not save you - Jesus saves you.

8. “Make Jesus your Lord & Saviour” - He IS Lord & Saviour

9. “Commit to Jesus” - SURRENDER ALL to Him

10. “It’s easy to believe” - No it’s not!

A great preacher once said, "Evermore the Law must prepare the way for the gospel. To overlook this in instructing souls is almost certain to result in false hope."

"Ask Jesus into your Heart"

-is not found anywhere in the Bible

-leaves out repentance

-leaves out "believe"

-presents Jesus as a beggar, waiting at our heart's door. We are not in control HE is!

Remember: WDJD

W-ould you consider yourself to be a good person?

D-o you think that you have kept the 10 commandments?

J-udgement day. According to God's standard will you be innocent or guilty?

D-ensitiny. Are you going to heaven or hell?

Many people have excuses as to why that can't share their faith with others.

Would you be interested more in sharing your faith if you got $1,000 each time you told someone about Christ? You would probably wake up each day saying, "Give me a sinner! Those that are born-again should be highly motivated to go out and witness without the enticing of money. The souls of men are at sake and their lives are worth more than thousands of dollars!

Way Of The Master Conference - October 4th

2008-09-21T20:41:00.002-04:00

Click on the link to find out more about the conference in West Virginia on October 4th. Hope to see you there!

All for HIS GLORY

2008-09-16T23:18:00.007-04:00

Lately I've been reading a book by John Piper,"Let The Nations Be Glad!"
It talks about the supremacy of God in missions. There is so much in the book that I would love to share, but I will just give you a little quote written in the book by Charles Spurgeon taken from Twelve Sermons on Prayer for the time being.

Prayer Proves the Supremacy of God in Missions.

Prayer is God's appointed means of bringing grace to us and glory to Himself.
(Read Psalm 50:15 - "And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliever thee, and thou shalt glorify me." )

"God and the praying man take shares...First, here is your share: "Call upon me in the day of trouble." Secondly, here is God's share: "I will deliever thee." Again, you take a share-for youshall be delivered. And then again it is the Lord's turn-"Thou shalt glorify me." Here is a compact, a covenant that God enters into with you who pray to Him, and whom He helps. He says, "You shall have the deliverance, but I must have the glory..." Here is a delightful partnership: we obtain that which we so greatly need, and all that God getteth is the glory which is due unto His name."

We must give God glory for all He has done, is doing, and will continue to do. You see, it is for HIS GLORY missionaries are called and sent out, it is for HIS GLORY we proclaim the gospel to the unsaved, it is for HIS GLORY He has saved us, --- we are on earth to glorify Him.

We must remember when we are witnessing and seeing lost souls come to Christ that we give God the honor and glory. It is easy to become wrapped up in seeking the praise of man. Yes, we might have sown seeds by giving out a gospel tract or talked with a person about the Lord and even perhaps watched that person come to Christ, but it was NOTHING WE DID that brought that person to Christ. The Holy Spirit convicted, God drew them to Himself and He saved them. We must be careful to give God ALL THE GLORY, both in missions and within our own lives for the things He hath done.

Just a story...

2008-09-01T22:20:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone!

First, I apologize for not posting very much on this blog lately. I'm going to try and get better at posting more often. I just wanted to share something with you- a creative opportunity I had to witness this past week.

As most of you know I am currently enrolled in a Medical Transcription course. Well, the school happens to have a forum for its students where we can can chat about school, recipes, current issues going on, even prayer requests, etc. Well, I have been praying for the Lord to show me how I can use this online school to witness to the other students. This week I decided to be bold and post something relating to the gospel. :)

The subject title of my post was: "Are you a good person?"

My message was short and sweet: "Thought I'd share this online test: Good Person Test "

I posted that at about lunch time and decided to get back on right before we ate pizza Friday night to see if anyone had responded to my post. To my surprise I found my post had been locked! People must have complained to the moderator about it being a "hot topic" - a topic that might end it some heated debates. Before she shut down (locked - which means that people can still read what I posted and get onto the test link, but cannot leave a comment) my topic several people left interesting comments, which I am going to share with you:

1."Warning: Test is to get you to convert to Christianity."

2. "I found the test totally opposed to my Christian beliefs in that at the end of the test it asks if I still believe I will go to heaven rather than hell. When I answered yes, it says NOPE! And then it wants to you consider christianity. My beliefs are that my God is a loving, forgiving God and if I've made things right on my end, then yes, I will go to heaven. If there is no hope of going to heaven, then why would I want to explore their message further? Seems like a contradiction to me in that test and website."

3.This test is absolutely spot on. Christianity is not about how good you are here on earth;it is about what Jesus did on the cross for you. There IS hope, but it is not based on how good you are, but on the basis that Jesus lived that perfect life for you and took your place. :-)

(NOTE: This person and I have been in contact since she posted. I have found that she also loves Way of the Master ministry. It's neat to find other true Christians.)

4. "Talk about a hot topic.........!!
~From the Minister's Daughter, who still believes she is going to Heaven, regardless of the test."

5."I am a christian and find this test a little rash. At least put a warning with your post that this is harsh christianity test basically telling whoever takes it that they are going to hell and not just a regular test???"

6. "Well, apparently I'm a liar, adulterer, murderer, and something else that I can't remember now. Guess I better find some clothes to wear to a really hot climate. "

7. Here is the message the moderator posted:
"So as many of you have posted, this is a hot topic so thanks for your opinions but we're closing this thread.Thanks!"

I read later on another forum post about students still talking about the test and how they didn't think it was correct, etc. I also read of several people who had missed my previous post were curious to see what everyone else was talking about: "a good person topic". The forum lets you see how many people have read your post and currently the number happens to be 349 people have looked at what I posted. The number continues to climb because those that might not have seen it before are reading of others talking about it and want to go check it out. Of course, I'm sure that not everyone who read the post clicked on the link, but more than likely 99% of them did - just to see what it was about. I mean really, when you ask someone if they think they are a good person you have struck their interest and they are curious to see what you might say.

Well, there is my story of being able to witness to over 300 people in just one short day! You've got to be creative when you are doing online schooling! :) The best thing is that the school has never said you aren't allowed to post things about Christianity or other religions as topics. It was the most creative way I knew of to reach a lot of people. I know God will use it to convict people and that even though some of the students don't care to admit it has given them something to really consider.

I have asked God to not only give me an educational opportunity, but most importantly someone to witness to and pray for. I currently have a couple study buddies. I know one is not saved and although she lives in FL and I'm in VA we keep in contact via email and chat. Please pray that I'll be able to share with her as we study together in this course. Thank you!

Sorry for such a long post, but I couldn't wait to share this news with you!!!

I Surrender All

2008-08-31T16:05:00.002-04:00

I Surrender ALL

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,Lord,
I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!
~~~

Surrender \Sur*ren"der\, v. i. To give up one's self into the power of another; to yield; as, the enemy, seeing no way of escape, surrendered at the first summons.
[1913 Webster]

The Crayon Box Song

2008-08-09T13:39:00.006-04:00

Today I had a person asking for the lyrics to a song -
"with something about a box of crayons and describes the colors of the crayons with what Jesus did for us (black sin, white as snow, red blood) and stuff like that."

After reading the song's description I knew EXACTLY what song she was looking for - The Crayon Box Song!!!! I hadn't sung that song in YEARS. My mom would sing that song when my siblings and I were young - we loved singing that song! Of course that was quite a few years back in time and there comes a point where childhood songs fade into the back corners of the mind....until someone starts to hums the tune or begins singing the words to an old song - a song you hadn't thought of in years - like what happened today.

Well, I want to share this old treasure with you -
You may listen to the music here.

The Crayon Box Song

When I was just a little child
No higher than your knee,
My mother bought a box of crayons,
Just for me.
I picked them up and I opened them up
And I looked way down inside,
And the colors there reminded me
Of Jesus when He died.

O… Red is the color of the blood that He shed,
Brown is for the crown of thorns they laid upon His head.
Blue is for royalty! In Heaven He does dwell;
And yellow is for the Christian who's afraid to tell.

I colored and I colored
'Til the crayons were all gone,
And though I am much older now,
The mem'ry lingers on.
And when I see a little child
With crayon box in hand,
I tell them what they mean to me
And hope they'll understand.

O… Red is the color of the blood that He shed,
Brown is for the crown of thorns they laid upon His head.
Blue is for royalty! In Heaven He does dwell;
And yellow is for the Christian who's afraid to tell.

Afraid to tell of a Savior
Who died on Calvary,
He died for lowly sinners
Just like you and me;
And someday soon He's coming back
To be our King,
And the colors of the crayon box
We will sing!

O… Red is the color of the blood that He shed,
Brown is for the crown of thorns they laid upon His head.
Blue is for royalty! In Heaven He does dwell;
And yellow is for the Christian who's afraid to tell.
So, don't you be a Christian, who's afraid to tell!

Notes from Missions Conference

2008-08-04T12:28:00.003-04:00

I'm finally sitting down to share with you some notes I took from our missions conference two weeks ago. Now I'm going to try and decipher what I wrote and see if it makes sense.....so please bear with me as I try to put everything in order.

- God loved & lived the Bible.

- God came to call sinners, not the good.

-He never charged a penny.

-Never lost a case.

-He never refuses anyone that comes unto Him.

Judas
A baby may grow to be a devil - so innocent, yet very deceiving.

In order to lose Christ you must acknowledge Him - Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss.

Examine yourself.

Wrong motive? Are you serving Christ with the wrong motive - are you trying to gain worldly approval by showing everyone all you do for the Lord? Psalm 12.

Are you going to church and hear all the sermons, but remain untouched?

A friend may turn against you. See Luke 22 - a person pretends to be a friend outwardly by appearance, but inwardly they are plotting against you).

People may see Christ's glory even in the midst of betrayal.

A man may serve Christ and sell Christ - what would you sell Christ for? Judas sold Him for money - what might you sell Him for (a job, popularity, money, etc.)?

The Bride of Christ = forgiven sinners

Revelation 19:7; 22:(...)
-A great love

-Allows the bride to assume His name - CHRISTIAN.

-Provides for the daily needs of His wife. See Psalms 34:10 and Psalm 100:3.

- Fear not. See Isaiah 43.

-Promises never to leave.

- Weary- go to Jesus and He'll give you rest.

- Stress. See Isaiah 26.

-Pays all the debts for the wife (we are indebted to Christ). See Gal. 5

-Shares all His riches with His wife. Eph. 2

-Joint Heirs - Romans 8:17.

-Always wants to be together ( sign of being in love).

Anyway, I hope you enjoy those little hen scratchings I recorded from the conference - sorry they aren't the greatest, but I hope you get something out of them.

Missions Conference

2008-07-24T23:39:00.004-04:00

Please forgive me for not posting much lately. I really have no excuse - - - well, maybe I could try getting away with the fact that it is missions conference week at our church. Every night we have been attending our annual missions conference listening to missionaries tell of their call to one place or another. Last night at church I overheard someone ask a friend if they were missionaries. My friend laughed and said, "no, we aren't missionaries". I wanted to jump in and say, "Of course you are! We are all called of God to be missionaries, but of course I know what the man was asking, but still where did the idea of the only people who are missionaries are those willing to go to the jungles of Africa????? I don't get it. I really just don't get it. If more born-again Christians could see that God has called us all to be witnesses/missionaries I think things would be different.

You know, a thought struck me the other night as I was listening to a missionary family share their ministry goals with the church, I would really like to personally hear/see/meet an American who got saved after a foreigner shared the gospel message with them. And then see that American serve as a missionary and to hear his testimony - wouldn't that be neat?!?

Well, I'd love to write, but I'm a little tired at the moment so I'll try to post more about the conference tomorrow. Sadly, tomorrow will be the last day of the missions conference. It has been wonderful!!! I wish ALL of you could have been here for at least one night to hear the preaching - it is so good!

Languages

2008-07-16T21:36:00.006-04:00

I shamefully admit that I have never truly learned a foreign language - I'm still trying to master American grammar!

I have learned how to count to from one to ten in both Spanish & Russian (Thank you Larysa - we had so much fun learning Russian!) languages.
I can write emails to my Spanish & German friends in "broken" words - I always keep a dictionary which I refer to quite frequently. Thanks to the help of native speaking Spanish (Ruth who lives in the Dominican Republic) and German (and Karina who lives in Germany) friends I have had " language lessons via email". Karina and I were able to get together a time or two at Barnes & Noble to read through German books while she was visiting in the USA.
I can sing Jesus Loves Me in Korean (my dad helped out at a Korean church for several years).
I can sing Do Lord (Way beyond the Blue) in a Filipino dialect (my dad also went on a missions trip to the Philippines one summer before he was married).
I have attempted to learn Arabic (I would knit, ride an exercise bike, read, and listen to an Arabic tape all at the same time). I have also attempted to learn German (which I personally think is so much more easier to learn than Arabic).
I also took a sign language class several years back. I can pretty much understand what is being said, but I'm quite a very, very slow at signing. We had an older man at our church that was deaf and my sister would interpret the messages each Sunday night. He went home to be with the Lord this past February. We will always miss Mr. Fred - he had such a sense of humor! It is wonderful to know that he is now able to hear!

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a website for free language courses to help you get a feel for learning another language. Although you and I may never fully understand the difficulty of learning a new language in a new country and culture trying to relate by taking a small free online language course might give us another view on how to better pray for our missionaries serving around the globe. Trying to learn a language through a small course like this will help you to remember to pray for missionaries that are on the mission field having to learn a entirely new language. It is not easy and sometimes missionaries feel like they want to give up because they are faced with I'll never learn this language - God why did you send me HERE? They know they have followed the Lord's call, but it is hard when you first arrive in a new land with people you can barely communicate with. These missionaries can learn the language and will learn the new language. The result of learning and follow God's call will be wonderful for they will see souls saved - all for the glory of God! Pray for the missionaries you know that are still working on learning a foreign language. Write to them and let them know you are praying for them. It will encourage them very much. Meanwhile, consider trying a foreign language just for fun - you never know when you might bump into an unsaved person at a grocery store that speaks that language!

Here is the website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/

I've been thinking about two certain verses a lot lately and I believe it relates a lot to missions. It is Exodus 4:11-12-

And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

It is a verse that has come to mean so much to me as I seek to be a bolder witness for Christ. I honestly hate to speak in front of people.....I'd rather speak one on one to a person any day, but a group - forget it! After reading that those two verses this week I have decided to make them "my" verses for the next few months. You see with God ALL things are possible. We all were created with a purpose in mind and that purpose was and is to glorify God. Therefore God will teach me, He will lead me along, and He will guide my mouth as I witness to those I come in contact with and lately I've been given a burden to reach a "group of people" in a local nursing home over the next couple months.

Sad to say, but I have always disliked nursing homes - the smell, seeing older people walking around as almost dead skeletons, etc. I couldn't stand it! Seriously, I would feel light headed and my stomach would be queasy. I didn't want to see all the older being so unhappy, suffering, and sitting around waiting to die. I avoided going to nursing homes at all costs, but now several years have passed and God has worked in my heart and has given me a love and burden for the older folks. I now happily schedule piano recitals and craft times at nursing homes. It is so much fun to watch their faces brighten when children enter the building. I thank God for giving me that desire to serve Him and that He gave me "push" out of my comfort zone.

Remember that with God ALL things are possible
- that includes learning a new language and speaking in front of large groups of people!!!

God is at work

2008-07-02T11:38:00.007-04:00

I don't have much time, but I wanted to direct your attention to a certain blog today:
http://getoveryourself-croatia.blogspot.com It was such an encouraging blog post that I wanted to post it on here for others to read through and experience the joy of reading about people coming to know the Lord and perhaps inspire you in your witnessing- thanks Tori!
You can either click above or over on the side of my new list of KJV Missionaries and find
New Christians in Croatia!
I am hoping to continue adding to my list of missionaries, but for right now that is all the time I had - so don't fret if you don't see your website or blog on there....I'm working on it....just give me some time! Also, please know that I do pray you and your ministries daily. God at work in the lives and hearts of people all over the world!!!
Have a wonderful day!

Our Great Saviour

2008-06-28T09:04:00.003-04:00

Our Great Saviour

Jesus! What a Friend for sinners! Jesus! Lover of my soul. Friends may fail me, foes assail me; He, my Savior makes me whole.

Jesus! What a strength in weakness! Let me hide myself in Him; tempted, tried, and sometimes failing, He, my strength, my vict'ry wiins.

Jesus! What a help in sorrow! While the billows o'er me roll, even when my heart is breaking, He, my comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! What a guide and Keeper! While the tempest still is high, storms about me, night o'ver-takes me, He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him; more than all in Him I find; He hath granted me forgiveness; I am His and He is mine.

Chorus: Hallelujah! What a Saviour! Hallelujah! What a Friend! Saving, helping, keeping, loving, He is with me to the end.

It's summer in the neighborhood

2008-06-27T08:19:00.005-04:00

It's SUMMER in the neighboord!

Yes, it is now officially summer. Let's take a moment to check out what ministry activities we can do in our neighborhoods this summer.

Host a backyard picnic/cookout for the entire neighborhood. Mail invitations or deliver them in person. This gives you the chance to meet new neighbors, have a chance to talk with the neighbors that you haven't seen for a while, ect. You could also ask each family to bring a salad or dessert or perhaps an ice cream topping (instead of doing an entire meal you could just opt. for a ice cream party - the ideas are endless).

If you have any talented musicians your family, neighborhood, or church invite them to play a few good old gospel songs. Or perhaps put in a good CD to listen to while you are eating.

Pray that God will give you open doors and that the unsaved will have hearts & minds that are open to the gospel.

Host a neighborhood yard carnival. This is something we did years ago when the children in our neighborhood were young. We also were asked to do it in other neighborhoods as well. We would pick a Saturday morning and invite all the children to come to a yard carnival - we would give out balloons - all colors of the wordless book: green, red,black, white, yellow), my dad would do several gospel illusions, we would do a craft (e.g. a little wordless worm magnet). We would also have a puppet show (my sister and I did a puppet show with just the small hand puppets when we were about 8-10yr.). We would sing (and sometimes we would have a tape player sitting outdoors playing children church songs). Of course, we would have all sorts of little games to play in the yard (those can range from three legged races, sack races, and even beanbag toss). For more fun game ideas you can check books out at the library (or if you don't want to do that just search for children games on the Internet) - remember if you plan on having a theme carnival (wordless book, Noah's Ark, etc.) you can try to adapt your games to go along with the theme.

If you know of other Christians in your neighborhood you might consider starting a Bible study with them one night a week or perhaps 1-2x's a month.

Take a morning or evening stroll through the neighborhood - you never know who God might have you speak with while you are out walking. Usually in the summertime neighbors are out working in their yards or sitting on their porches which gives you a great oppertunity to speak to them about the Lord and perhaps invite them to church.

Those are just a few of the many ways you can reach out to those around you during this summer. If you can't witness and talk with your neighbors (which by the way God has given each of us a mission field right were we live) - how can we expect to be great witnesses elsewhere around the world if we cannot reach out to those right where we live?

Call to the Uncoverted

2008-06-21T15:58:00.002-04:00

Here is the link to Baxter's book: Call to the Uncoverted if anyone is interested in reading through it.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/baxter/unconverted.html

People Need The Lord

2008-06-21T14:27:00.005-04:00

Books, books, books. I just came in from being in the warm and sunny outdoors. I enjoyed about 45 minutes of reading while lying on a blanket which was spread next to our fruit trees in the back yard. It was so nice and peaceful - a great place to spend the afternoon reading.

I am in the process of reading a book I checked out from the library: I was Born A Slave - classic slave narratives. It is a 764 page book. So far I have found it quite fascinating to read of the lives of these slaves. The book starts out with a story about a slave named James Albert Ukawsaw Gronnoisaw who was from the Coast of Guinea. I wish I would retype the entire story of his life onto this blog, but I will try to give you a short overview.

James, the youngest of six children and a grandson of the King of Bournou was a mischeivious kind of boy who was always curious and enjoyed asking many questions. One day some merchants came to his village. After talking with them and being invited to journey to another country with them he told his mother goodbye and set sail with the visiting traders. James was about 15years old at the time of his departure. He left his country, his home, his people and his family. Of course, as with the story of slaves goes you are right in assuming the rest of the story.... James was sold several times to various masters in London.

One very nice mistress gave him the book, Holy War by John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim's Progress) to read. James returned the book to her saying that he found the experience in the book similar to his own - it was about a man as bad as himself and didn't like it. His master then gave him Baxter's Call to the Unconverted to read. After reading that book James struggled with things that he had been told and had read- "I thought it was impossible He should recive such a sinner as me". Finally he realized that there was no way to be saved unless he came to Christ. He was gloriously born again and later baptized.

It was such a good story that I wish I could have shared it in its entirety. It was wonderful to read and feel this man's joy in being born again. He struggled saying that he was to bad a sinner to receive salvation. God's desire is that all man might be saved.

I have an uncle that thinks he is too bad for God to save him - why would God care about me. It breaks my heart to think of all the people I have heard say those words. God really loves them and would save them if they would only realize that they must come home by the way of the cross. My heart just about rips when someone says that they don't need God and that they are good and God will allow them to enter into heaven. It isn't true - the Bible says there is none good, no not one. There are others in this world that really don't care one way or the other about their eternity.

Just this week I was out browsing through a bookstore and my heart wept over the people I saw. I wanted to run out of the store, yet I wanted to stay and share the Lord with the people there. There were so many unsaved- so many sad faces, faces that had no idea what they are living for in life. Don't you wish sometimes that your arms were big enough to wrap around tons of people to tell them about the Lord and all He has done for you?!? There are so many hurting people within arms reach. Pray that God will lead you to someone today who is struggling and hurting, and perhaps ready to throw in the towel with their life. Throw out the life line.

People Need The Lord.

Here are the words to the song by Steve Green -
PEOPLE NEED THE LORD

Everyday they pass me by,
I can see it in their eyes.
Empty people filled with care,
Headed who knows where?

On they go through private pain,
Living fear to fear.
Laughter hides their silent cries,
Only Jesus hears.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize, people need the Lord?

We are called to take His light
To a world where wrong seems right.
What could be too great a cost
For sharing Life with one who's lost?

Through His love our hearts can feel
All the grief they bear.
They must hear the Words of Life
Only we can share.

People need the Lord, people need the Lord
At the end of broken dreams, He's the open door.
People need the Lord, people need the Lord.
When will we realize that we must give our lives,
For peo-ple need the Lord.People need the Lord.

Fishing Around the World

2008-06-15T22:43:00.007-04:00

"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men."
Mark 1:17

From the brief research I have done recently there are over 20,000 different species of fish in this world and many new ones waiting to be discovered. I am really not a fish person though, I decide that a small aquarium might look nice in our home so I went out and bought a tank, fish food, and couple fish only to wake up the next morning to find dead fish floating on the top of the water in the tank. To tell you the truth the longest living fish I have ever had was a beautiful blue purple colored beta that my cousin gave to me for my birthday one year. That fish survived for one entire year! I was quite amazed! I had a large goldfish live for 3 months, which I thought was quite impressive!

And going fishing, well, that is another story.......
I enjoy fishing, but I never seem to catch any fish so sometimes I think fishing is a waste of time. I don't do it very often and I cannot even remember the last time I tried to catch a fish. It is a lot of fun hooking the worms to the hooks, but the fish always seem to grab my worms and stay off the hook. I think I end up fishing where all the smart fish live!

According the the U.S. and World Population clock (the US Cenus Burea) the number of people alive in the world as of today, June 16, 2008 are as follows:
In the U.S.- 304,354,840
In the World- 6,674,562,991

Now folks, that is a lot of people! As a matter of fact there are at least 3,000 Bibleless nations in the world who number over 380 million people.

8,000 Kumwenu people in Cote D'Ivoire, Africa

402,600 Tibetan Drukpa of Bhutan

300,000 Bella people of Burkina Faso

600 Gbadogo people of Burkina Faso

113,500 Jula (Dioula) people in Burkina Faso, Africa

8,000 Komono People of Burkina Faso

83,000 Malinke people in Burkina Faso

28,000 Tagba Senufo People of Burkina Faso

810,000 Amdo people of China

There are many, many more countries that I will not take the time to list you can read more about those Bibleless countries at: http://www.baptisttranslators.com/ and click on "The Need".

Jesus has called us to be fishers of men. To prepare ourselves for the our fishing experience we must be well supplied with bait and tackle (the Bible, tracts, your own personal testimony). As a Christian we can go out fishing in many different lakes, oceans, and even little creeks that are filled with fish swimming in one direction (the school of fish represents the people in the world and the lakes, oceans, and creeks are being used to represent the many countries of the world). These small little fish joined by the larger school of fish and were swept up in the direction of the current (things of this world). It is hard to swim against the current. Many times those fish are eager for bait and will nibble at the end of your line, but you aren't able to reel them in because they will not latch onto the hook. They will listen politely to what you have to say yet they don't feel strong enough to begin swimming against the current while their fellow fish continue in the other direction.

Sometimes the fish will completely ignore you! It makes you feel that it was a huge waste of your time to sit along side the water waiting for a fish to latch on. Don't give up -keep fishing! There are many people in this world and God is working on hearts and changing lives. And I'm sure everyone would agree that the best part of fishing is when you catch something!!! There will be fish that God will send along for you to reel in. Pray and ask the Lord to show where He wants you to fish - there are so many good fishing holes all over this world.

(I found this clipart art and thought it went so well with this post!)

Missions Games and Activities - Royal Ambassadors

2008-06-04T10:55:00.000-04:00

Missions Games and Activities - Royal Ambassadors

Preparing to serve as a missionary...

2008-06-02T21:23:00.004-04:00

Preparing to serve as a missionary...

Being a great missionary or man/woman of God is not something that happens overnight. Yes, it would be nice if life was easy and all directions straightforward, but it's not. We must seek the Lord daily and learn from our mistakes.
Do you feel God calling you to serve Him as a missionary?
Here are steps that you might want to consider while you prayerful consider and wait on the Lord to show you exactly His plan for your life.

Read, read, read......read missionary biographies, read sermons written/preached by Spurgeon, D.L.Moody, and other great preachers. Study your Bible.
Read about the different countries - find out about their religions, the culture, the languages spoken in that country, their history, their government, etc.

Find a missionary to correspond with and write to them.

If possible take a short - term mission trip to the country you believe God is leading you to serve.

Witness and pass out tracts to those you come in contact with here in the USA and abroad.
If you can't witness in your own land, city, and street then there is no way that you can go out into the world to share Christ with others. It isn't something that just happens when you reach your "mission country"- to be an effective missionary you must reach out to others.

Pray, pray, pray.

Serve (I'll post soon with more details on finding ways to serve)

Recommended website...

2008-06-02T21:19:00.002-04:00

Check out: www.SermonAudio.com
Browse around the site and listen to great sermons & speakers.

Listen to Paul Washer http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?keyword=paul%20washer

Good-byes are so hard!

2008-05-29T10:57:00.003-04:00

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.

2008-05-25T08:34:00.002-04:00

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...

2008-05-24T12:47:00.006-04:00

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

2008-05-23T12:02:00.003-04:00

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

2008-05-23T11:33:00.002-04:00

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

2008-05-15T09:21:00.008-04:00

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

2008-05-14T07:28:00.003-04:00

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

2008-05-12T09:05:00.003-04:00

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

2008-05-03T11:43:00.014-04:00

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!

May & Mothers

2008-04-30T17:15:00.002-04:00

Wow! The month of May will be here tomorrow! Isn't it amazing how time flies!?!? It is really scary when you begin to think of all the things that you should and could be doing for the Lord. Sometimes we like to sit back and say "someone else will take care of it" - there are other Christians around.
We are all able to minister in many ways - young, old, married, single, healthy, bedridden, etc. We are living and breathing for a purpose and our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
Here is a service opportunity to consider in the next couple weeks to show someone the love of God.
Love a Mother or Grandmother...
-Look around to see if you can find an older lady (a shut - in, widowed, in a nursing home, a missionary wife that is away from her family, a neighbor).

Look at your calendar to plan a day near Mother's Day or just in the month of May to go visit an older lady and make her day special by showing her that someone cares.

Make or buy a card, bring flowers (artificial work too - if you aren't sure the person you are visiting can handle the smell of flowers), candy, give her a good book to read, give her a pretty craft that you just made or drawings that the kids made, perhaps you might even go all out and schedule some time to help her clean her house, decorate for summer, or even give her a beauty/hair make over. If the person is unsaved use this as a time to share the gospel message of salvation -even if you don't use words, your actions will speak. Take the time to just sit and talk - it is very important to people to know that you aren't in a rush and that you truly do care about them. Pray with them and pray for them.
Give them a hug and tell them that you love them!

Question: Does anyone know if you can post a sound recording onto blogger??? If you do please e-mail me at happyhelpfulheather@yahoo.com and let me know how I can go about doing that because I would love to share some scripture verse songs on the blog. Thanks!

Love

2008-04-23T09:19:00.005-04:00

The word 'love' has so many definitions.
Have you ever considered the meaning of the word love the way God defines love?

Love is a sacrifice. Love is being willing to direct someone when the go astray and with loving words help them along the right pathway. Love is giving of yourself. But love is so much more than all that. We wonder how God could LOVE us so much to send His One and Only Son to earth to pay the price for our sins. Love is to obey. Christ obeyed His Father and took the sins of the world upon Himself suffered a cruel and painful death on the cross. He did that for US - so we wouldn't have die only if we accept His free gift of salvation. There is no other way to Heaven.

If you don't love God, you will not love others. If you are really in love with the Lord you will have a longing and a great desire to spend time with Him, to talk to others about Him, and to show Him love by following Him.

It is easy to say the words, "I love you" - but it is harder to show love when we don't mean what we say.

Missions requires love - a love for God and a love for others.

John 15 KJV
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
9As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17These things I command you, that ye love one another.
18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
21But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me.
22If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
23He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
24If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
25But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.
26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:
27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.

Mark 10:30-31 KJV
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these."

Teaching Children To Pray for Missionaries

2008-04-19T13:36:00.013-04:00

When I was young my mom helped me and my siblings make a missionary prayer book.
We would paste a photo/prayer card of the various missionaries our church supported or just of missionary friends that we knew personally and each night at family devotions would bring our missionary prayer book with us to help us remember all those missionaries.

We would also have assigned prayer nights - Mondays would be for the "Missionaries" , Tuesdays for our government leaders, Wednesday for our church leaders, Thursday would be for the unsaved, and Fridays we would pray specifically pray for our "Friends & Family" those that were sick, etc. - of course the list of who we prayed for when wasn't set in stone. We of course could pray for sick friends or family members on Monday or any other day of the week even though the "assigned" day was Friday. The prayer list was made to help us faithfully pray for those around us both here and around the world.

Perhaps this week you can help your child make their own missionary prayer book (or make one for yourself!). Be creative. Gather up photos and prayer cards of missionaries you know and that your church supports. Those of you that have a creative touch - find scrapbooking paper and stickers (e.g. globes, kids from other countries, Bibles, etc.) to put into your book. You could also look through old magazines or newspapers for "mission" themed pictures. If you can't find any good stickers in the craft stores - try searching for free clipart on google - print it out and glue it into your book. Have fun.

You can also type or write out a list of e-mails/addresses/birthdays of the missionaries - so you can use as a reference later in the year for correspondence. You might even want sign up to receive their prayer letter so you can know how to better pray for them and their family.

Set a time during the day/week to bring out those prayer books and pray for those missionaries together with your child(ren). Take that time to explain what missionaries do and as a child even though they are young they can be a missionary too - right where they live!

Here are a few other things that I have done:

-Written a different country name on every single day of my 12 month wall calendar to remind me to pray for those countries - whether or not I know of a missionary serving there or not. That God would soften hearts of the people there to accept His word and for those that He would call/has called to go take the salvation message to those people groups.

-Check out books from the library (or do research online) on those certain countries of which you are praying for that day/week. Type out a paper with facts/brief info. on that country and people group and start yourself a geography note book.

Here is something I thought of doing, but wasn't able as I couldn't find a paper map (the only ones I have are plastic):

Finding a large paper world map to post on the ceiling of my bedroom with photos of missionaries surrounding it, as a reminder to pray daily for each one and for the people in the countries they serve. You could of course adjust and post the map down on the wall and doing the same thing with taping up pictures of missionaries around the boarder of the map.

Recipe Time Again...

2008-04-18T18:52:00.002-04:00

Here is a recipe from Brazil.

Cantaloupe With Whipping Cream

Ingredients:

1 Medium Cantaloupe, split in four
1 Orange slice for garnish
1 Pint whipping cream, whipped by hand

Whip the whipping cream in a stainless steel bowl until, thick. Place the cantaloupe in a serving dish, top with the whipping cream. Garnish with the sliced orange and serve.

Anyone with a great tasting international recipe is more than welcomed to post it as a comment (I'll add it to the blog)!!!

Hinduism

2008-04-16T08:16:00.005-04:00

After reading about the believers in India I thought I'd post some facts on Hinduism. I'm currently reading the book, Sharing Your Faith with a Hindu by Madasamy Thirumala. The author grew up as a Hindu in a small town in southern India. He believd in idols, gods, witchcraft, etc. His parents devoted their time and money to the Hindu gods and godesses. He speaks of how it was considered shameful and degrading to become a Christian.

The author was given a book "simple looking lady offered me a storybook in my own language" - it happened to be the gospel of Luke. He read it and admired the life of Jesus, yet he wasn't ready to give his life to Christ and become a Christian. He was an educated person and felt shame of being Christian. Yet, God worked in his heart and brought him to Himself.

One interesting fact in his book that he mentioned was that it is estimated that 1.4 million Indian people live in the United States; of those more than 85 percent (1.2. million) are Hindus. Talk about a mission field right here - next door, at work, etc. You don't need to think about always going to a country far away - God might have a plan for you to serve Him in the USA!

Hinduism

Meaning of name:
Hinduism, from the Persian hindu (Sanskrit sindhu), literally "river." Means "of the Indus Valley" or simply "Indian." Hindus call their religion sanatama dharma,"eternal religion" or "eternal truth."

Date founded: Earliest forms date to 1500 BC or earlier

Place founded: India

Founder: none

Adherents: 900 million

Size rank: third largest in the world

Main location: India, also United Kingdom and United States

Major sects
Saivism, Vaisnavism, Saktism

Sacred texts
Vedas, Upanishads, Sutras, Bhagavad Gita

Original language
Sanskrit

Spiritual leader
guru or sage

Place of worship
temple or home shrine

Theism
pantheism with polytheistic elements

Ultimate reality:
Brahman

Human nature:
in bondage to ignorance and illusion, but able to escape

Purpose of life:
to attain liberation (moksa) from the cycle of reincarnation

How to live:
order life according to the dharma

Afterlife:
if karma unresolved, soul is born into a new body; if karma resolved, attain moksa (liberation)

Major holidays:
Mahashivarati (mid-February)
Holi (Spring)Ramnavami (late March)Dusserah (early November)Diwali (mid-November)
Hinduism by the Numbers

Three paths:
-karmamarga - path of works and action
-jnanamarga - path of knowledge or philosophy
-bhaktimarga - path of devotion to God

Three debts:
-debt to God
-debt to sages and saints
-debt to ancestors

Four stages of life:
brahmacharga - school years - grow and learn
grhastha - marriage, family and career
vanaprastha - turn attention to spiritual things
sanrgasu - abandon world to seek spiritual things

Four purposes of life:
dharma - fulfill moral, social and religious duties
artha - attain financial and worldy success
kama - satisfy desires and drives in moderation
moksha - attain freedom from reincarnation

Seven sacred cities:
Ayodhya
Mathura
Gaya (Bodhgaya)
Kasi (Varanasi, Benares)
Kanci
Avantika (Ujjain)
Dvaraka

Ten commitments:

1. Ahimsa - do no harm

2. Satya - do not lie

3. Asteya - do not steal

4. Brahmacharya - do not overindulge

5. Aparigraha - do not be greedy

6. Saucha - be clean

7. Santosha - be content

8. Tapas - be self-disciplined

9. Svadhyaya - study

10. Ishvara Pranidhana - surrender to God

Sources
"Hinduism." Oxford Concise Dictionary of World Religions.
"Hinduism." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service. 2004.
Huston Smith, The World's Religions.
Linda Johnsen, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Hinduism, pp. 222-24.

Probably the most well-known Hindu saying about religion is:
"Truth is one; sages call it by different names."

However, there are some beliefs common to nearly all forms of Hinduism that can be identified, and these basic beliefs are generally regarded as boundaries outside of which lies either heresy or non-Hindu religion.

These fundamental Hindu beliefs include:

the authority of the Vedas (the oldest Indian sacred texts)
the Brahmans (priests); the existence of an enduring soul that transmigrates from one body to another at death (reincarnation)
the law of karma that determines one's destiny both in this life and the next.

Note that a specific belief about God or gods is not considered one of the essentials, which is a major difference between Hinduism and strictly monotheistic religions like Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism. Most Hindus are devoted followers of one of the principal gods Shiva, Vishnu or Shakti, and often others besides, yet all these are regarded as manifestations of a single Reality.

The ultimate goal of all Hindus is release (moksha) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). For those of a devotional bent, this means being in God's presence, while those of a philosophical persuasion look forward to uniting with God as a drop of rain merges with the sea.

Children Passing Out Tracts...

2008-04-16T08:16:00.002-04:00

Children are a wonderful "tool" in passing out tracts and witnessing. People are willing to take tracts from a little child and hear things they have to say because "they're so cute". Yet, words are words and the words of the Lord can't be ignored whether spoken by a child or an adult. The unsaved may try to let it pass by, but you are planting a seed and farther along the road God may bring someone around to water and tend to that little seed you planted.

Since I've been on the topic of tracts and since I just got an e-mail this morning telling of Christian children attacked in India by Hindu extremists because they were passing out Bible tracts at school. I thought I'd post it on here so you can pray for those Christians around the world that are standing firm in the Lord.

Christians Attacked, Children Beaten for Distributing Bible Tracts -
" On April 2, pastors and members of the Manna Ministry in Krishnapuram, Andhra Pradesh, were beaten by a group of 20 Hindu extremists. "Believers were returning from an evangelistic outreach when their car was stopped by the attackers. One of the ministry's leaders, Pastor Gopal, sustained serious injuries. The militants also tore up the Christians' evangelistic tracts." Ask God to heal Pastor Gopal. Meanwhile, on March 17, school children from Toopran School in Telungana Village, Andhra Pradesh, were threatened and beaten by Hindu extremists while they were distributing Bible tracts in the school compound. "A group of Hindu extremists stopped the school children from further distribution of tracts. The extremists beat the children and threatened them." Pray believers in Telungana Village will be encouraged and protected. Pray that Indian Christians will continue to share the gospel with boldness despite increased persecution. Ask God to use their testimonies to draw nonbelievers into fellowship with Him."

Tracts

2008-04-12T20:37:00.002-04:00

I know that many people have different views of tracts, but I think that tracts are a great thing to pass out to those that we come in contact with. Hudson Taylor, a missionary to China gave his life to the Lord after reading a tract. I have just posted a list of links with great gospel tracts - that use the KJV....so look down at bottom of this blog.

Gospel tracts have the amazing ability to deliver their message to many souls that the distributor of the tract will never even meet. Hudson Taylor, who was used of the Lord to reach countless souls in China, was one such soul. What a marvelous harvest was reaped from just one seed sown!

Seeking something to while away his time, Hudson Taylor turned over a basket of tracts in his father's library and selected one that looked interesting. While reading it he was struck with the phrase, "The finished work of Christ."

Immediately the words attracted his attention. "What was finished?" he asked himself. Reading further, the tract explained the finished work as "A full and perfect atonement and satisfaction for the sins of the whole world. "

Then Hudson thought, "If the whole work was finished on the cross of Calvary, and the whole debt of sin paid, what is there left for me to do?"

Hudson was thus convinced, as the light of God's truth flashed into his soul by the Holy Spirit, "There was nothing to be done but to fall down on my knees and accept the Saviour and His salvation and praise Him forever."

Hudson Taylor was seventeen years old at the time. He then went on to faithfully serve His Saviour for many years in China.

Corresponding with Missionaries

2008-04-10T10:36:00.004-04:00

O.k. perhaps by now you have finally found a missionary whom you can correspond with, perhaps you have already written them and received a reply. For most people the problem is what to talk/write about in order to keep a corresponding relationship going you must have something to say. Sometimes you may not have anything to say except, I'm praying for you, or I prayed for you today. That is VERY important. Do not become discouraged because you are a quiet person and have no idea what to talk about with this newly found missionary friend. I have found from experience that a quiet missionary that visits the church and you cannot seem to strike up a conversation with them often will write the longest letters/e-mails in reply to your cards, if you write to them.

EVERYONE has time to write - there are no excuses (missionaries included)!!! God has given us 24 hours a day to serve Him. We can serve Him by encouraging other fellow believers in our church or on the mission field. There is not a single person in this world that cannot take the time out of their day to write a note saying, "I'm praying for you or I've prayed for you today, write a verse, or a thinking of you card or e-mail. We must prioritize our life. Being too busy can become an excuse for laziness. When we become too busy in the things of the world that we neglect time with the Lord and fellowship with His people - we must stop everything at once and refocus our goals so that we can be in sweet fellowship with the Lord and do His will.

What can you ask a missionary? Here are just a few things to get you going...

Ask them questions related to daily living.
Do not generalize about missions or missionaries.
Ask about financial needs.
Ask for specific prayer requests about their personal lives & families.
Do not forget to ask about the missionary's spiritual life.

Remember, depression is a terrible tool the devil uses to discourage the people in the front line of evangelism.

-Take a minute to encourage someone today!

Write to a shut-in (perhaps a older missionary couple that had to come off the field because of health problems), a sick member of your church or in your neighborhood, a young mother dealing with challenges of raising a Christian family in this ungodly world, a thank you for all you do note to your Pastor and/or wife....the list goes on and on.

Building Relationships with Missionaries

2008-04-07T19:25:00.004-04:00

Take a moment to think about.... the last time you had dinner with a missionary family that is on furlough or deputation, the last time you called them up on the phone just to let them know that you are thinking and praying for them, when the last time you took the time to write an encouraging note to those far away from family and friends?

As Jim Elliot put it, " Missionaries are very human folks, just doing what they are asked. Simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody."

Getting to know a missionary is a great blessing, but yet how does one get to know missionaries?
Basically the list is this:

Start receiving a missionary newsletter.
Write personal letters (missionaries long for news of home)
How about a phone call? (Call them up on b-days or just to encourage them)
Be faithful in prayer. (Pray daily for the missionaries)
Invite missionaries into our homes
Visit missionaries at their field of work.

First, take a look at the list of missionaries that your church supports. Take notice of the following: the country they serve, take in consideration of the age of the missionary and their family, how long they have been serving and what their mission goals are for their future ministry. Now ask questions like, when will they be in the States and when will they be speaking at my church.

Second, grab a pen and paper and start writing a note to a missionary family (perhaps one that has children the same age as your own, or those serving in a country that you have an interest in learning more about, or whatever). Introduce yourself and tell them what church you are a part of, tell them that you are praying for them, give them little bits and pieces of interesting things going on in your family or city. Missionaries love to receive letters, but yet are also very busy so it may take them a while to reply to your note. BE PATIENT.

If you know that a missionary family is coming to speak at your church or visit in your area take the time to offer your home to them. Invite them over for a meal or perhaps even invite them to spend a restful night at your house. Don't use the excuse, "I don't know what to talk about"..... We are all humans that work in different workplaces for the Lord.

Pray not only for them, but also with them.

- I will post another section on this topic of corresponding with missionaries later this week.

Pray Without Ceasing...

2008-04-02T09:10:00.005-04:00

PRAYER

Last night I was typing the web address for this site, but forgot to add blogspot.com so it looked like: pray-without-ceasing.com. I must say that the sites that I found on the search engine were quite interesting. I found a site on C. H. Spurgeon. To my amazement I found that he had preached a sermon in 1872 with the topic of "Pray Without Ceasing" using 1 Thessalonians 5:17 as his text. ("Pray without ceasing."—1 Thessalonians 5:17). Since this blog address is focused on 1 Thessalonians 5:17 I read through the sermon with great interest to see what he had to say on the topic of prayer without ceasing.

I believe that prayer is essential in all our lives. To become a strong Christian one must pray. To grow deeper in love with the Lord we must talk with Him and allow Him to speak to us. We must pray and seek His direction in all things.

Here are some notes I took from the sermon.

-The posture of prayer is of no great importance, for if it were necessary that we should pray on our knees we could not pray without ceasing, the posture would become painful and injurious. To what end has our Creator given us feet, if he desires us never to stand upon them? If he had meant us to be on our knees without ceasing, he would have fashioned the body differently, and would not have endowed us with such unnecessary length of limb.

- Praying on one's knees expresses humility, but that is not to say that you cannot pray while flat upon your face, pray while sitting, pray while standing, etc.

- "Pray without ceasing." It would be impossible for us to pray aloud constantly.
There would of course be no opportunity for preaching and hearing, for the exchange of friendly intercourse, for business, or for any other of the duties of life; while the din of so many voices would remind our neighbors rather of the worship of Baal than that of Zion.

-God did not design our throats, lungs, and tongues should be for ever at work.

-Audible language is not essential to prayer. We may speak a thousand words which seem to be prayer, and yet never pray; on the other hand, we may cry into God's ear most effectually, and yet never say a word.

-The place where you pray is not essential to prayer. If there were only certain holy places where prayer was acceptable, and we had to pray without ceasing, our churches ought to be extremely large, that we might always live in them, and they would have to comprise all the arrangements necessary for human habitations.

- If I am to pray without ceasing, then every second must be suitable for prayer, and there is not one unholy moment in the hour, nor one unaccepted hour in the day, nor one unhallowed day in the year. The Lord has not appointed a certain week for prayer, but all weeks should be weeks of prayer: neither has he said that one hour of the day is more acceptable than another.
Therefore I can pray while driving, while in the shower, while lying awake in the middle of the night, doing housework, while mowing the lawn, etc.

-It is good to set aside a certain time of the day to pray.

- Pray without ceasing means that you may pray without ceasing. There is no time when we may not pray. You have here permission given to come to the mercy-seat when you will, for the veil of the Most Holy place is rent in twain from the top to the bottom, and our access to the mercy-seat is undisputed and indisputable.

- Never abandon prayer!
"Never abandon prayer. Never for any cause or reason cease to pray. Imagine not that you must pray until you are saved, and may then leave off. For those whose sins are pardoned prayer is quite as needful as for those mourning under a sense of sin. "Pray without ceasing," for in order that you may persevere in grace you must persevere in prayer. Should you become experienced in grace and enriched with much spiritual knowledge, you must not dream of restraining prayer because of your gifts and graces. "Pray without ceasing," or else your flower will fade and your spiritual fruit will never ripen. Continue in prayer until the-last moment of your life.

"Long as they live must Christians pray,For only while they pray they live."

- Never give up praying!
Do not abandon the mercy-seat for any reason whatever. If it be a good thing that you have been asking for, and you are sure it is according to the divine will, if the vision tarry wait for it, pray, weep, entreat, wrestle, agonise till you get that which you are praying for.

- Loving is praying.

-Prayer is hard work. Satan tries to distract and discourage us in our prayer life.

- Spurgeon, believe that no man loves prayer until the Holy Spirit has taught him the sweetness and value of it. If you have ever prayed without ceasing you will pray without ceasing.

-Let us pray without ceasing; carry our swords in hand, wave that mighty weapon of all-prayer of which Bunyan speaks. Never sheathe it; it will cut through coats of mail. You need fear no foe if you can but pray. As you are tempted without ceasing, so pray without ceasing.

I hope that as you read these few notes that you were encouraged as much as I was. Praying is a spiritual battle as the devil trys all that it is in his power to keep us from talking with our Lord.

America Defines Sin...

2008-03-27T10:07:00.005-04:00

I just read this today and wanted to share it with you. This is a long post, but worth taking the time to scroll down to take a look to see how far America is sliding away from the Lord and how we need to reach neighbors, co-workers, and everyone we come in contact with with the gospel.

The info. was just released on March 11th. Isn't it amazing? So many people think that they are good. Some have even told me that they don't think they are a bad person and they have never broken any of the 10 commandments. Yet, I believe that each and every person knows the difference between right and wrong. The problem is that they are too full of pride to admit that they have sinned. They just try to become immune to their sin (they reach the point where they can't stand hearing about the Lord because they feel guilty) so that in a little while of living in sin it becomes "o.k." in their mind.

I wanted to add a few Bible verses before you read the survey.

Romans 3:12 "They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

Remember, the Bible says in Romans 3:23
"For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."

Also, if you look up a couple verses to Romans 3:20 it says that
"... for by the LAW is the knowledge of sin."

Also in Galatians 3:24- " Wherefore the LAW was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

James 2:10 says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole LAW and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."

James 4:17- "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

James 4:4 -"... whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

There is HOPE for sinners...Christ came into the world to save SINNERS!

Isaiah 55:6 -"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: "

Romans 10:12 -"For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. "

Romans 10:13- "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

Mark 1:15- "And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

Most Americans believe in sin, but differ widely on just what it is
Study results released today from Ellison Research (Phoenix, Arizona) show the vast majority of Americans (87%) believe in the concept of sin.

“Sin” was defined in the research as “something that is almost always considered wrong, particularly from a religious or moral perspective.”

The findings are from a study independently designed, funded, and conducted by Ellison Research among a representative sample of over 1,000 American adults.
Ellison Research is a full-service marketing research firm.

People who believe there is such a thing as “sin” were asked whether they would personally define each of thirty different behaviors as sinful.

The behaviors a majority of all Americans describe as sinful are:
Adultery 81%

Racism 74%

Using “hard” drugs such as cocaine, heroine, meth, LSD, etc. 65%

Not saying anything if a cashier gives you too much change back 63%

Having an abortion 56%

Homosexual activity or sex 52%

Not reporting some income on your tax returns 52%

A number of other behaviors are considered sinful by a significant portion of all Americans, although not a majority.
These are:
Reading or watching pornography 50%

Gossip 47%

Swearing 46%

Sex before marriage 45%

Homosexual thoughts 44%

Sexual thoughts about someone you are not married to 43%

Doing things as a consumer that harm the environment 41%

Smoking marijuana 41%

Getting drunk 41%

Not taking proper care of your body 35%

Then there are behaviors that fewer than one-third of all Americans see as sinful:

Gambling 30%

Telling a “little white lie” to avoid hurting someone’s feelings 29%

Using tobacco 23%

Not attending church or religious worship services on a regular basis 18%

Playing the lottery 18%

Watching an R-rated movie 18%

Being significantly overweight 17%

Not giving 10% of your income to a church or charity 16%

Drinking any alcohol 14%

Working on Sunday/the Sabbath 14%

Spanking your child when he/she misbehaves 7%

Making a lot of money 4%

Dancing 4%

A clear majority of just about every type of American believes in the concept of sin, although there are a few differences. For example, 97% of Black Americans believe in the concept of sin, compared to 86% of Whites and 80% of Hispanics.

Not surprisingly, religious people are much more likely to believe in sin, but the concept is commonly accepted even among those who are not religiously involved. Among Americans who regularly attend religious worship services, 94% believe in the concept of sin, although this only drops to 80% among those who do not attend services. Among those who attend services, the concept of sin is fairly universal among Protestants (96%), Roman Catholics (91%), and those who attend other types of religious services (94%).

One of the biggest differences in whether people believe in the concept of sin is actually not even religious, but political. Among political conservatives, 94% believe there is such a thing as sin. This is also true among 89% of moderates. But only 77% of political liberals believe in the concept of sin.

These kinds of differences can also be seen in whether people define various behaviors as sinful. Overall, people who attend religious worship services not only are more likely to believe in the concept of sin, but they are more likely to include numerous behaviors under that heading than are those who are not religiously involved. However, there are also differences within the religious world.

Protestants are more likely than Roman Catholics to include most of the thirty different behaviors as sin – sometimes dramatically so. The biggest differences include gambling (50% of Protestant churchgoers define this as sinful, compared to just 15% of Catholics), failing to tithe 10% or more of one’s income (32% to 9%), getting drunk (63% to 28%), gossip (70% to 45%), and homosexual activity or sex (72% to 49%). Catholics and Protestants are equally likely (or unlikely) to list as sin having an abortion, spanking, and making a lot of money, while Catholics are more likely than Protestants to believe that failing to attend church is a sin (39% to 23%).
Evangelical Christians are far more likely than almost any other group to include numerous behaviors under the definition of sin, and the difference between evangelicals and other Americans is often quite large. For instance, 90% of evangelicals believe getting drunk is sinful behavior, compared to 35% of all other Americans, and 92% believe sex before marriage is sinful, versus 39% of all other Americans. Still, evangelicals do not consider all types of behavior sinful – only a minority believe it is a sin to work on the Sabbath, not attend church, drink alcohol, dance, play the lottery, watch an R-rated movie, or not tithe 10% of their income to church or charity.

The findings also show that Americans tend to define sinful behavior partially by degree. For instance, 81% feel adultery is sinful, but only 43% say the same thing about having sexual thoughts about someone to whom they are not married. Forty-one percent believe getting drunk is sinful, while only 14% believe drinking even a little alcohol is a sin. Thirty percent say gambling is sinful, but only 18% feel this way about playing the lottery. And while 65% feel drugs such as meth or cocaine are a sin, just 41% say this about marijuana.

There are also numerous demographic differences in what people define as sin. Women tend to have a longer list of what is sin than do men – women are more likely than men to include racism, gossip, use of hard drugs, marijuana, adultery, pornography, not reporting income on taxes, abortion, failing to say anything if given too much change, and swearing as sinful behavior.
African-Americans are also significantly more likely to list many of the different behaviors as sinful than are people of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.
There are also differences by age. People under age 35 are less likely than Americans in other age groups to believe adultery, getting drunk, not reporting income on taxes, homosexual activity, pornography, and gossip are sin. At the same time, younger people are more likely than others to say using tobacco and working on the Sabbath are sinful.

There are also strong differences of opinion according to political perspective. Conservatives are almost always the most likely to name each of the 30 behaviors as sinful, while liberals are almost always the least likely to do so, with moderates somewhere in the middle. The only activities liberals were about as likely as conservatives to categorize as sin are harming the environment, dancing, making a lot of money, and spanking a child.

Ron Sellers, president of Ellison Research, noted how many inconsistencies Americans show in their answers. “We can see numerous inconsistent patterns of thought and belief throughout the responses,” Sellers stated. “For instance, over a third of all Americans believe failing to take proper care of their bodies is sinful. Yet far fewer believe tobacco or obesity are sins – even though medical science consistently shows using tobacco and being overweight are two of the most harmful things they can do to their bodies.”

Other inconsistencies Sellers pointed out:

Over four out of ten evangelicals believe it is a sin not to tithe, while other studies consistently show relatively few evangelicals actually do so.

The Roman Catholic church consistently teaches that sex before marriage, abortion, pornography, and homosexual activity are sins, yet as many as half of all practicing Catholics do not personally define each of these as sinful.

Forty-three percent of Democrats believe homosexual activity is sinful, and half believe this about having an abortion, even though their political party consistently supports gay rights and access to abortion.

While most religions teach that lying is morally wrong, the vast majority of Americans – including a third of evangelicals, a majority of all Protestants, and three out of four Catholics – don’t feel telling a “little white lie” is a sin.

“But then inconsistency of thought is fairly common in this country, when studies consistently show a majority of Americans simultaneously want increased government services, decreased government debt, and lower taxes,” Sellers observed.

Sellers cautioned that the study only measured what people define as sin, not necessarily what they believe to be positive behavior, or what they feel is okay to practice in their own lives.

“Because only 23% believe tobacco use qualifies as sinful behavior doesn’t mean the vast majority feel it’s perfectly okay to smoke – it just means they do not believe smoking is actually sinful.”He also suggested that religious leaders take a hard look at how the findings of this study compare to their own teachings. “If your church is teaching that working on the Sabbath is sinful, or that drinking or abortion or gossip are sinful, it’s likely that many of your own people don’t agree with you. Leaders need to understand why this is, so they can figure out how to respond. Rather than just teaching, they need to discuss these issues with people – getting feedback on why so many of their own people differ with them may help them understand how to reach those people more effectively with their teaching.”

Pass them out!

2008-03-25T10:58:00.003-04:00

I'm so excited! God has been speaking to me about several mission outreach ideas for the summer. The month of June seems like a long ways off, but I know time flies!

Anyway, here are some ideas for those who like creative ways to pass out tracts.

Hand a tract to the cashier

Leave tracts on the shelves in the stores

Place tracts in the dressing rooms

Place a tract in the pockets of the clothes

Hand tracts to the passengers on the elevators

Leave a tract next to the handrail on the escalator

Place a tract under the windshield wiper on the cars in the parking lot

Leave tracts on your coffee table for your guests

When paying bills enclose a tract with your payment - -just make sure that you send it on time!

Having a garage sale? Set up a "free tract" table

Hand them out to:
• Waitresses• Cashiers• Flight Attendants• Cab Drivers• Local Employees• Gas Station Workers• Truck Drivers• Fast Food Employees - the list is endless!

Be Still...

2008-03-18T21:04:00.014-04:00

After a busy day of teaching, I sit here thinking of what a tiny impact my life has on so many and I'm humbled by the thought. I currently have 26 piano students, which is currently one of my mission fields. For the longest time I had asked God to allow me to go on several missions trips, but so far that is not what He wanted from me. I was disappointed several times and wondered, why Lord? As I always say, His plan is totally perfect.

I have been able to make international friends in several countries around the world whom I've grown to love and pray for daily (Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Germany, not to mention several missionaries in many other parts of the globe) without even leaving my home town and I thank God for those friends He allowed me to meet.Several years ago, I asked God to send me to the mission field. I was expecting Him to answer my prayer and to send me somewhere far away. Smile. I've really grown so much during these last few years and have learned to truly trust God totally with everything. It is so hard to be a living sacrifice that keeps jumping off the alter. I'm totally happy and content where He has currently placed me and love it!!! God has brought a mission field through my door. Why did I ever think I needed to go somewhere across the ocean to be a missionary?

I currently teach piano to the children of a Catholic/Luthern family from Germany. That is my mission field. I don't even need to leave my home. The way our God answers prayers is truly amazing! I stand in awe of His work.

The other missions outreach I'm currently involved is the medical office. After having 5 orthopedic surgeries in a little less than 3 years (I'm currently still on crutches from my January surgery) and thinking God: Why did you allow this pain in my life?!? I stopped asking questions and took action. I decided that if I have pain God has allowed it in my life for a purpose and since I'm to glorify Him with my life then that is what I'm going to do - full force. I've baked millions of homemade goodies & passed out dozens of tracts to patients, doctors, nurses, and other hospital and office staff. I pray for each of those daily by name. Just last year, I received a Christmas card from one my nurses who was from Guam. I pray for several orthopedic doctors from the East-West coast. It is so special to be able to reach out and share the love of God with these people and to be able to pray for them. I've enjoyed meeting several Christians that work in the different offices and pray that through their live and testimony that they will shine bright in this dark world.

Just the past few days songs have been running through my head and this one has been going through my mind all evening and I thought I'd share it.
Take a moment to read this hymn, take a deep breath, relax, and Be Still. Be renewed in the Lord. Listen to that still small voice speak- isn't it so refreshing!!

This hymn was reportedly the favorite of Eric Liddell, the athlete who became famous in the 1924 Olympics for refusing to run on the Sabbath (see the movie Chariots of Fire). Liddell later became a missionary in China, and was imprisoned during World War II. He is said to have taught this hymn to others in the prison camp (where he eventually died of a brain tumor).

Be Still, My Soul

1. Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide; In every change, He faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend Through thorny waysleads to a joyful end.

2. Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertakeTo guide the future, as He has the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;All now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know His voiceWho ruled them while He dwelt below.

3. Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart, And all is darkened in the vale of tears,Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart, Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears. Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay From His own fullness all He takes away.

4. Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past, All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

5. Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise On earth, believing, to thy Lord on high; Acknowledge Himin all thy works and ways,So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

William Carey

2008-03-17T18:00:00.001-04:00

Here is a brief overview of William Carey. I'm currently reading a biography of his life and ministry. I just love mission biographies!!

William Carey, born in 1761 and known as, "The Father of Modern Missions" stirred the imagination of the Christian world. By Carey's own humble example of what should be done to bring the gospel to the lost world he has impacted the church in as much a way as Luther's reformation.
Carey lived in poverty as a shoemaker in his twenties and never thought God would have a plan for him. He was converted as a teenager and shortly afterwards became actively involved in Bible studies and ministry. In 1785 he accepted the call to become a pastor of a tiny church where he served until he was called to a larger congregation. During these years as a pastor William Carey became fascinated by the writings of Captain Cook's Voyages. Carey slowly developed a biblical perspective on the subject of missions, and he became convinced that foreign missions were the responsibility of the church. His ideas were revolutionary. Most of his peers believed that the great commission was given only to the apostles, and therefore preaching to the "heathen" was no concern of theirs. When Carey presented his ideas to a group of ministers, one of them retorted, "Young man, sit down. When God pleases to convert the heathen, He will do it without your help or mine." But Carey could not be silenced and he proceeded to publish his book on the obligations of the church in the preaching of the gospel to heathens. After publishing the book, Carey, spoke to another group of ministers where he challenged his audience from Isaiah 54:2-3 and uttered his now famous quote: "Expect the great things from God; attempt great things for God." The next day the ministers formed a Mission Society, even though most of them lived in poverty, but they believed God would open the doors and He did.
Carey raised support for his family and him to leave for India, but his wife was unwilling to follow. Even though she refused William continued and in the end she submitted and left with him. Nothing would detour Carey from the plan put in his heart even if it meant sacrificing his family.
The times in India were difficult and not one person accepted Christ in the first seven years of his work. He was disappointed, but he tarried on and the fruits of his ministry became abundant through his translations of the New Testament into local languages, as well as his evangelistic work.
Carey served in India for 39 years never resting to bring the gospel to the unreached. And even though his efforts of evangelism were not as great as other missionaries, he put into motion the charge of modern day missions. William Carey was a man of action for God and the change he so passionately preached for missions was a change still felt today.

Gospel Illusions

2008-03-13T08:51:00.022-04:00

PLEASE READ ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.

The Corn Stalk....

Supplies You'll need:
*Several sheets of paper (newspaper or green & yellow contruction paper works well).
HINT: The more paper the taller the corn Step 3: Take your scroll and flatten (lightly press) half way down.
*Scissors
*A little corn seed
*Bible

Step 1: Roll your paper as if making a scroll
Step 2: Continue to roll scroll leaving approx.1-2 inches and adding another sheet of paper ( about 4 sheets of paper will make a nice size corn stalk).
Step 3:Take your scroll and flatten (lightly press) half way down - as shown above.

Step 4: Cut (or rip) your scroll straight down the middle until you reach the half way point.

Step 5: It should look like a "T" as shown. Step 6 : Flatten the "T"

Step 7: and cut again the "T" so that when finished it will have 4 sections... It should look like an "X" (or cross shape) as shown below:

Step 8: OK. Now take your finger, put intothe center of the scroll and grab the middle piece of paper. Gently pull in a slight twisting motion.

Continue to pull...

Until it looks like this:

Now you're finished and hopefully have a nice looking corn stalk. :-)
If you have any problems just leave a comment and I'll try to help.

I will hopefully be able to post some photos of several easy to do gospel illusions and how to do the trick info. later this afternoon or evening - so stay in tune!

"Gospel Magic (we prefer to use the word gospel illusions)" helps to "break the ice" so to speak, as people stand there saying: Wow! How did he do that?!

It then gives you an open opportunity to speak to a group of all ages about the Lord (as both children and adults are fascinated by the tricks).

You can also have someone else passing out gospel tracts to the listeners and those wandering by.

Here are the photos I took last night. I tried to add a slide show, but wasn't able to make it work. This the corn stalk, which we use to show a person who receives the good news of salvation (a seed), then the seed which is planted grows by rain and sun (which we use to represent the Lord, going to church, reading their Bible, etc.) and when we walk with the Lord and follow Him we start to grow (at this point you pull the stalk) and grow and GROW! HINT: The more papers you use the taller your corn grows but the tougher it is to rip (scissors come in handy).

Filipino Fried Rice

2008-03-13T08:51:00.014-04:00

Here is a recipe how to make Filipino garlic fried rice - our favorite way to eat fried rice is to put scrambled eggs with it (it makes a great breakfast, lunch, or supper!)
My aunt who is Filipino, taught us how to make some very yummy Filipino food!

Filipino Fried Rice

Things You’ll Need:
Salt
3 garlic cloves - we use minced garlic and it works just as well.
3 c. cooked white rice
You can also add a few drops of soy sauce to the rice mixture.

Instructions:

Step 1:Heat 3 tbsp. cooking oil in a wok or large pan on medium-high heat.

Step 2:Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.

Step 3:Add the rice and toss frequently for 1 minute.

Step 4:Sprinkle with about 1 tsp. salt.

Step 5: Cook rice on low for about 5 to 10 minutes, and toss rice occasionally.

**Serve with scrambled eggs cooked with diced tomatoes and sliced onions. Or serve with sausage, bacon, fried egg, or cooked, dried fish.

For variation, add leftover sliced meat and vegetables to the rice while cooking.

Now for a little info about the Philippines.

Capital of Philippines: Manila

Area of Philippines: 298,170 sq. km

Languages used in Philippines:

Filipino (official)
English (offiical)
8 major dialects (Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon or Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango, and Pangasinan

Religions in Philippines: Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Iglesia ni Kristo, Aglipayan, other Christian, Muslim

Who is a Missionary?

2008-03-12T09:18:00.004-04:00

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15

God has call every born again Christian to be a missionary. No, that doesn't mean that we all must leave our comfortable homes, our family, and our current job. Each of us is call into different areas of service. We are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel. We can do that in our work places, by our actions of how we live, and wherever we go. God does not always call people into the jungles of South America or Africa. God uses men (and women) who are weak and feeble enough to lean on Him. Just be willing to listen and to follow His call for you. If He calls you to another country - GO! If He calls you stay at home and reach the unsaved in your neighborhood or work place - DO IT! If He calls you to die for His sake -BE FAITHFUL! You may reach more people by your death than by your life.

"Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints." Psalms 116:15

Many people ask, how can I be sure that this is really God's call for my life? Well, we know that from the verse in Mark that God has commanded us to GO. If you feel a burden for a certain area or unreached people group take a step of faith and go trusting God. If it is truly His will for you to leave your job, your family, your country He will open doors. If not, He will shut the door and it will leave us to wonder, what are you doing Lord, I'm trying to serve You and You have shut the door -why? I can answer from personal experience that God has everything in control and will take care of you if you submit to His will. Always pray not my will, but Thine be done. We were created for His glory and we need to live according to His will. He may have to teach us a few lessons before opening doors.

Before my dad was married he planned to work a refuge camp in a very poor country. Well, the time came for him to leave, but for some reason he had to wait for the next trip. He had already quit his job and his money was beginning to dwindle. He was thinking, Lord, here I am trying to serve You, so why are You closing this ministry door? Well, as he waited he was offered a job, but he had to commit to working for a certain length of time (which was I think at least a year). Because he had continued to wait for another opening to go on the trip and it hadn't come. He decided to go ahead and accept the job. Well, I believe that it was the very next day he received a phone call telling him that there was room for him to join the group, but he had to tell them that he was no longer able to come because he just accepted a new position.

Well, to make a long story short he was working at the same place my mom was student teaching. They met, were married and a year later I was born. I'm glad that God closed the door for my dad so that he could meet my mom - or else I probably would have never been born. One of the lessons I have learned from my dad while growing up is to ALWAYS be ready to serve and to joyfully serve the Lord wherever He places you. God's plans are perfect!

While browsing the web I found this PDF file.
Take a moment to click on and read about the call for missions.
http://www.calebproject.org/userfiles/MIB-calling.pdf

2008-03-11T07:15:00.002-04:00

Have you ever wondered what a missionary really is and what is it that they do every day? Have you ever wondered what you can do while you are still young and at home to prepare yourself for God's call to mission service? Have you ever bumped into someone in the store or in a doctor's office that you felt was discouraged, had no hope for their future, and you so wished that you were "bold" enough to speak to them? Have you ever wondered how daily house chores could help you prepare for life on a foreign field?
Those are just a few questions that many people wonder and are afraid to ask. We all have our own ideas of what missions and missionary life really is like. Is it really God calling or is it my own desire?
In the next few weeks we will take a look at what missions really is and how we can serve both here and abroad.