Saturday, December 31, 2016

BACK TO CLASS

You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

There is only one path of life; Jesus is His name,
Those who put their trust in Him never will be the same.
With Christ in your life there is boundless joy,
No earthly force can change this or ever destroy.
When Jesus takes us home, His is all that we need,
The pleasures He gives are limitless;this is guaranteed. (RP)

It was great getting back to class yesterday at the Senior Center. We did not have a full house, for some probably were away, or didn't check to see if we would have the class. It had been 3 weeks since we last met. Our son arrived last night to be with us today. A snow is predicted tonight, so he may return home before it hits. We are uncertain about church tomorrow because of the weather forecast. Thanks for praying. 

Friday, December 30, 2016

WHAT NEXT?

John 13:14 
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.

The servant heart of Jesus is a lesson for us all,
When I read this humble story it's the best I can recall.
Jesus showed such lovely humbleness, so what is the lesson for me?
He surely expects me to practice it on others, you see.(RP)

I wondered what could happen next. Then this morning as I was reviewing my notes for Bible class, I noticed that a printing glitch had left out the final questions (and my answers) on the master sheet. I immediately tried to print another answer sheet of my notes, but the new printer my brother gave us would not do it. Then I turned on the old Canon printer and it was a ditto of the first. So I had to laboriously hand 
write my concluding notes for today's class. That's okay. But I traced the problem back to the laptop ( I think). For several days it has been making an unusual noise. I think it is dying. I got a pro CC Cleaner program today and I am going to see if it cleaned things up enough for me to use the printer. I am not disturbed, nor upset about it because we know the Lord allows these things to happen and after all we are not all that special that He has to make it perfect for us. We are content. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, December 29, 2016

A-FIB PROBLEM

Ephesians 2:1-3 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins...


The day God gave me spiritual life was the greatest of them all,
And I'm rejoicing in this fact and this wonderful verse by Paul.
I was dead in trespasses and in sin, and He really rescued me,
When I put my trust in Him, from my sins He set me free.  (RP)

During the night we had another scare. Margie awakened me saying her heart was pounding hard. We know what that means. She did not want to go to E.R.,nor did she want me to call the paramedics. I prayed the next hour asking the Lord to give relief. I finally heard her sleeping, which was a blessing. Later on she complained the same, but soon settled down. We praise the Lord. This is the first attach she has experienced, that we did not take her to E.R. Thanks so much for praying. 

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

iPad Problem

"Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the Lord; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the Lord.Jeremiah 23:24

People think they can hide from God as they live and work and play,
But nothing escapes the eyes of God; for Him, everything's on display.
God fills heaven and earth, and nothing escapes his omniscient view,
So understand this, my friend who reads this, He is looking at you.  (RP)

Two days ago Margie complained that something was wrong with her iPad. This machine has been one of the best gifts she has received. My brother Harold gave each of us one. For some unknown reason, they both stopped receiving mail via the wifi connection to the central unit in my office. I worked on it for hours, and called both Harold and our son for counsel on what to do. Nothing works. I am perplexed about it but I am not one to give up easily. I will keep pursuing it as time permits and see what can be done. 
Thanks for praying. Margie had a good report from the retina specialist yesterday. We are thankful. 

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

DECORATIONS DOWN

Psalm 128:1 
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, Who walks in His ways.

Trusting in God brings happiness to all who are willing to go there,
This peace He gives is wonderful, and certainly without compare.
Walking in His way, we are given help which helps along the way.
And it pays great dividends to always walk this way every day. (RP)

Yesterday we took down the Christmas decorations. We got it all done just before receiving a visit from former missionaries. We had a super time talking about Brazil, where they served for many years. Margie complained that her iPad was not sending or receiving mail. I worked on it a long time last night, and will have to consult someone much more knowledgeable about these machines. Even this computer does not seem to be doing its thing correctly so maybe there is a problem of old age or a need for real cleaning of the files. Today Margie sees the retina specialist and I have duty at our church for a few hours. Thanks for praying.  

Monday, December 26, 2016

BLESSED

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

Waiting, for most, is a grueling chore, and one that we all need to hone,
The rewards are great for those who persist and its results will soon be known.
Our Lord gives strength unbelievable, for those who will hear His voice,
At journey's end, and we obediently walked, we will know we made the right choice. (RP)

What a great time we had both at church and at home yesterday. I was honored to be asked to preach, and I always enjoy that. And most of all we were privileged to have our family in the service as well. At home our yearly Christmas brunch took place. With the capable help of Gina and her son Nathan, the final touches to the meal were in place and we began. Boy, it was delicious. Margie had worked hard, as usual, to make the event a success. Her baking is what puts the icing on the cake (or cinnamon rolls). Earlier I had prepared the bacon the way they all like it in flat strips with no curls or bulges. We had a wonderful time and once again we were blessed to be able to sponsor this yearly event, even at our age. Thanks for praying.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2 Corinthians 9:15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

The wonder of it all: Jesus came on a mission meant for all,
And gave his life for sinners which includes both large and small.
This gift is more than words can tell;we accept it as it is,
And are thankful to our Savior for this blessing which is His.
As we celebrate His birthday on this great December day,
May we all give joyful thanks as today we sing and pray.(RP)

We pray you all have a wonderful Christmas. I am leaving now to go preach the morning message at First Baptist Church - Ferndale, WA. God bless. Thanks for praying.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

THE BIG QUESTION

Colossians 1:13-14 
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Christ has done so much for us; He delivered us from a world so dark,
And upon our lives something great took place. God left us with His mark.
We are in the kingdom of God's Son, redeemed though His precious blood,
And all His joy and peace and rest has filled our soul like a mighty flood. 
With sins forgiven we thank Him now, for what He did for us long ago,
And this was done because of Jesus, and because He loves us so. (RP)

We wonder what the weather will be tomorrow. Our family hopefully will be able to come here for our church service, and then have our traditional brunch after church. Rawlie is here now, but will go home today for their Christmas, before returning with them for our celebration here. We leave it all in the Lord's hands. We are glad He is in charge. Rawlie and I are going down to Starbucks and Hagen store this morning for coffee, and a bagel. Margie got all the extra baking done yesterday, and it came out very delicious. We know this because she gave us a sample. We trust this Christmas Eve is a blessing for you.  Thanks for praying. 

Friday, December 23, 2016

SNOW

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.Gal 6:7

Remember self deception plays some awful tricks on us,
Because we think we are alone but really God sees all.
And what we do is seen by Him and what we say He hears.
The sowing and reaping go hand in hand and soon the verdict will fall. (RP)

The weatherman has been talking snow for some days now and this morning we awakened to everything white. We believe it is mixed with rain, so will go away in the "heat" of the day. They forecast this even Sunday, so who knows if we will have church or not. I am looking forward to preaching, but perhaps there will be no audience. Our son Rawlie is here, and we were going to coffee, but Margie needs my help on some sticky buns she is baking.  Rawlie will bring coffee to me later. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, December 22, 2016

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 
Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Christians are commanded to pray; it is something they all should want to do,
If we thank Him for everything, it is obvious we would never really get through.
Just remember that it is God's will for us to pray, so why not begin today,
And when you do, you will be blessed more than what I or anyone could say. (RP)

We attended the Christmas program at our church last night. It was well done, and a blessing to participate in this evening of blessing and fun.  The children and young people of our church did a wonderful job in the program. We are proud of them. There was a time of fellowship in the Welcome Room with goodies provided for all. We had an enjoyable time, then returned home. Today our schedule is full, so we will keep busy, that's for sure. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

DAY AT THE OFFICE

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

The command to go is for us today and this is the way God directs,
And each is to do it with the help of the Lord -exactly what He expects.
So go my brothers and sisters in Christ, tell the lost who don't know how to cope.
And the lost will be saved and given God's grace and will definitely have new hope.(RP)

Yesterday was my day to be at the church office. I am glad I was there, because several things came up for me to do and talk to people. The elders do this when we are without a pastor. We are going now to get some more medication for Margie. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

FALL--WINTER

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Heb 4:12

This Book we call the Bible is God's word for all mankind,
Its pages are inspired and the best that one can find.
The message of the Bible cuts deeply to the point,
And those who pay attention, it will never disappoint.
This Book knows what you're doing and your thoughts it reads so well,
And in bowing to its power, all your fears it will dispel. (RP)

Winter comes in the morning, they say. Well, we had a bit of it last week. At any rate, we just keep on receiving a variety of weather patterns sent by our heavenly Father. We are so glad He is in control. We had a different night, in that Margie had to sleep in her lift chair. For some reason, when insomnia prevails, she can go to that chair and get some rest. recently I have also been going to the Lazy Boy while she is in the family room, because when she has to get up during the night, I need to be there to help her. We are glad for TODAY, and last night is history. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, December 19, 2016

SRONG WIND AND RAIN

James 1:22 
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

To listen and do nothing, is not God's plan for you,
For the one who only listens,deception will ensue.
God demands work from believers to fulfill His will down here,
And if done this way by Christians all deceit will disappear.(RP)

What a quick change in weather!  Yesterday several inches of snow, today most of it is melted. Strong winds during the morning hours left us without electricity. We are glad it came back on. Thankfully those workers with the power company were doing their job. This morning I take Margie to the foot doctor for a regular treatment. We trust you have a good day. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, December 18, 2016

NO CHURCH THIS MORNING

James 4:14 
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Our tomorrows are not known; we do not control these things,
We must commit our all to God, trusting Him for what He brings.
Our life is fragile at its best; only God knows what He'll do,
We trust Him everyday,for about tomorrow we have no clue, (RP)

Margie had a good night and we were looking forward to church today. Jim Hively called us from the church early, to report it was snowing hard there. The children's Christmas play was to be held at 10:30 this morning.  Now it is postponed until Wednesday night. So it goes with the weather. We trust you all have a good day. We will watch a TV pastor this morning, and that will be our church. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, December 17, 2016

ANOTHER TRIP TO E.R.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, (1Th 1:2)

Lord I need to enlarge my prayer list, and include more people today.
Please show me how to do this, and teach me Lord to pray. (RP)

This morning at 6, Margie complained her heart was pounding and she was sick. We went to emergency in Bellingham at St. Joseph hospital. She was taken in immediately. This time the doctor augmented her regular heart medication with another, to see if it would help bring things back to normal. They took all the tests they always do and much blood. Margie waited, was very cold and the warm blankets comforted her, (no pun intended).  She wanted to go home but first all the tests had to be done and then we waited. Finally this afternoon we arrived home. She had not eaten a thing since last night, so lunch was much appreciated. Thanks for praying. We appreciate it much. 

Friday, December 16, 2016

PRAYER

To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.Acts 10:43

The prophets spoke of Jesus so many years ago,
Many folks may be bewildered because this fact they did not know.
Oh how great to read the Bible for it tells of redemption's gift
Jesus paid sin's price that will give to all who receive it a lift. (RP)

It's been real cold (for us). It is 20 degrees right now as I write, but the report also reminded us that it feels like 5 degrees.  This morning we will have winds 40 mph. That is rough on garbage cans and recycling bins. It invariably happens on Friday - pickup day. Last night 5 friends came to visit us and pray - especially for Margie and her heart issues. It was a lovely evening and much appreciated. Margie's hairdresser called and said she was going to attempt driving to the shop this morning. Margie's permanent yesterday was cancelled. Today she will just have a regular hair appointment. The Senior Center was supposed to be closed today but we heard that it was going to open anyway. The rule they have always followed is when the Ferndale High school is closed, they are too. Our Bible class will not meet because our members go by that rule. Thanks for praying.

Thursday, December 15, 2016

BAKING

1 John 2:1 
My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

I'm thankful we have Someone who stands with us when we fall,
Jesus faithfully forgives us when we earnestly upon Him call.
God's word keep us from sin when we read it and study and pray.
And this is the way we should do it, faithfully every single day. (RP)

Yesterday was baking day. Margie was not happy with the outcome, but I say it is fine. I helped her as much as possible. I helped her do the things it is hard for her eyes to see and her hands to manipulate. We made it through the day okay. Last evening we were guests of our good friends to Anthony's for a delicious meal. We appreciated their hospitality very much. I am glad Margie felt like going after her busy baking day. Thanks so much for praying. 

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

COLD WEATHER

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.Matthew 24:35

One thing is certain in this sin-filled world; God is always in control,
No matter what mankind thinks, He is always and everywhere on patrol.
I'm so glad His words are in this book; the Bible is precious to me,
My prayer is that all will read what it says, and with Jesus want to be.
Thank God His words will never pass away; they are with us to stay,
So we praise Him for all He's done for us, and trust Him and obey. (RP)

Our temperatures have been quite cool. After the big snow Sunday night, the roads have been a mess. Many accidents are being reported. Before I could get our car out of the garage, I had to shovel a one foot snow drift in our driveway. I only shoveled the width of the car instead of the entire driveway. I guess at 85 I have that privilege. Boy it was cold. I could not find my nice warm face masks to protect me from the bitter cold wind, so I used my scarf and it worked well enough until I finished the project. Last night the elders of our church met for discussion and prayer. We are encouraged what God is doing. Thanks so much for praying. 

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

THE DAY AFTER

But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.Acts 16:25

At midnight Paul and Silas sang and prayed to God above.Who heard their cries and sent relief because of His great love.They suffered much for Jesus sake, but God had made a plan,To bring salvation in this jail and save the jailer man. (RP)

Yesterday was sort of a sluggish day. We had returned from the E.R. around 2:30.  We fell into bed and slept pretty well.  I awakened Margie at 9 AM for her medication. She went back to sleep again. So the day was slow and easy. We were glad we could be home. Our driveway has more snow and more so because of the wind that causes drifts of snow there. I hope I can get it cleaned off, because Margie needs some items at the store. I should go to church for a few hours, and tonight I have a meeting. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, December 12, 2016

ANOTHER TRIP TO E.R.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

When the Lord means these things to you, a wonderful thing happens to you,
His light and salvation fill your soul, and you'll have more than you ever knew.
When you are fearless and have God's strength this is more than a man can possess,
And when God means this in your life, you are truly a living success. (RP)

At nine last night Margie took her heart medication. We had enjoyed a wonderful day at our son's home in Stanwood and witnessed the baptism of grandson Benny. What a great day it was.  Her heart started its unusual thumping and behavior that forced me to take her to ER. She went through the normal tests (many of them). The doctor said she could return home and if the condition returns, for us to get back to ER quickly. All this would have to happen in a time span of 48 hours since the 9 PM medication last night. Then they would shock her heart into the normal rhythm again. We are praying that will not be necessary. Our story: On the way to the ER there was a torrential rain storm. Going home there was a ferrocious snow storm. We hardly made it home. Taking the route with the least incline uphill, at the round-about on Vista Drive, going 5 MPH the car turned sideways but corrected itself then within 10 ft onto Visa Dr, the car stopped, unable to move.  Margie was frantic, rightfully so. We prayed then I backed up and was able to get the left side tires on top of the yellow reflectors that divide the two sides of the street. That gave traction and we made it home. Praise the Lord. Margie is still in bed, only up long enough to take 9 am medication. Thanks SO MUCH for praying. We appreciate it more than we can express. 

Sunday, December 11, 2016

SNOWMELT

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.Matthew 5:8

I'm glad that Jesus knows each heart and does nothing slipshod,
And all whose hearts are pure indeed He says they will see God. (RP)

We are glad the snow melted and the weather moderated so we could see our family today. We will tell more about that tomorrow. It has been pretty cold but yesterday it started to warm up. We are glad. Our neighbor helped me shovel the driveway. It was real easy, especially with his help. We trust you all have a great day, and especially as you attend church today. Thanks for praying.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

QUESTION

2 Corinthians 9:6 
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

In spiritual and physical sowing, God wants us to generous be, 
This is His wonderful and insightful word which is His decree.
The generous soul will not be forgotten; God takes note of you,
Blessings that follow will encourage, because they are not a few. 
The balance between sowing and reaping is fixed: God is in charge,
And those who follow the rules, his life and means he will enlarge. (RP)

We wonder if we will be able to drive to Stanwood to see our grandson baptized tomorrow. We really want to go but we have about 5 inches of snow up here. We believe the temperature is going to moderate some.  It is presently 30 degrees. Rawlie was going to come get us and drive us down, but then we figured if things got worse, he could not return home and see his son baptized either. So we told him not to come. He is going to call in a few minutes and we will discuss all the options. Thanks for praying. I must get out and shovel the driveway before the car compresses the snow into an icy mess. 

Friday, December 9, 2016

SNOWBOUND

Matthew 5:16 
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are the light of the world; God tells us so in His word,
We are to let this light shine before all; now we have heard.
With the light of Jesus, men will see and hear what we do,
Faithful is is our command; be careful in all you pursue.
We want people to glorify our Father in heaven today,
And they will do this if you are faithful in all you do and say. (RP)

We wondered if the forecast would affect things today. To tell the truth, it did. All schools are closed here, Blaine and in Bellingham. That means we have no Bible class. The Center always follows the Ferndale High School. The school is closed so the Center is also. Accumulation of snow is already piling up in our driveway. I am not sure I will shovel snow. But if I don't, we won't be able to get out of the driveway. We live at the end of the cul de sac and the north wind brings the snow and deposits it there. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, December 8, 2016

MEMORIAL SERVICE

John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Abiding in Christ is the place to be, to have all he wants you to be,
In fellowship sweet you walk with the Lord and both of you do agree.
Prayer is special when you abide in Him, He gives what you request,
And living this way is the best for you, and you know it because you have rest. (RP)

This afternoon is Joyce Pulling's memorial service. Joyce has been our friend for quite a few years. We look forward to telling Joyce's spiritual story, using her Bible that she marked so well. What a joy to go through it in preparation for today's message. Margie goes to the hairdresser this morning, then will accompany me to the inurnment service at the cemetery. It is very cold so we must be careful. Snow is predicted for tonight. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

FINALLY

Ephesians 6:11 
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

To be rightly dressed is a command from God and we better listen now,
For His orders are right and meant to help so stand before Him and bow,
Put on His armor described by Paul and you'll be the better for it. 
And through the tests of life which come your way, you will never want to quit.
The ability God gives to withstand our foe, so put on His armor today,
And you'll be prepared to fight right and to be all He wants you to be each day. (RP)

We finally heard from a doctor yesterday when Margie consulted with the specialist about a shoulder replacement surgery.  We have been told for years and observed this ourselves, that oftimes after surgery on the elderly, there is a loss of mental alertness and capability. Her doctor yesterday affirmed this without our even asking him about it. We have asked other doctors and they said it wasn't true. My missionary brother's doctors refused to do some surgeries on him because they said they wanted him alert and capable of continuing his Bible classes and preaching. Now our concern is on Margie's pain, which at times is severe. This is why she opted for the surgery. But now we must trust the Lord for answers for her pain. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

SUCCESS

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8

God's love demonstrated at Calvary is what I see today,
For His own this love deed was then, and now on full display.
When I was in my lost state He died on the cross for me,
And He saved my soul when I trusted Him and now I am in jubilee. (RP)

The printer my brother Harold purchased for us, is a beauty. I finally got to a place yesterday where I could unpack it and try to install it. All went well but the installation process can be difficult at times. But after several hours of trial, it printed. I am so thankful for it. Today Margie goes to the orthopedist. We are praying he will be able to help her paining shoulder. thanks for praying. 

Monday, December 5, 2016

WEATHER

Isaiah 41:10 
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

We are a fearful people and we need God's tender care,
He speaks to us assuredly, urging us to come in prayer.
We need not be dismayed, for His promises are true,
His strength and help are with us, always fresh and new.
Be glad, dear fellow Christian, that our God has us in mind.
And thank Him daily for His love and the fact He is so kind. (RP)

The weatherman warned of possible snow today and tomorrow. A little is coming down right now and the radio reports other sections where plows are on the roads already. One radio listener just phoned in that in his section it was snowing heavily. Much colder temperatures are forecast, so we will bundle up more now when we go outside. I am having good progress in my preparations for Friday class and Thursday memorial service. I am hoping I get far enough ahead to be able to unpack this marvelous printer Harold got us Saturday. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, December 4, 2016

GIFT

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.Galatians 6:9

In doing good we tend to tire but the payoff's on the way.
And discouraged we must not become as we walk the Lord's highway.(RP)

One never knows what a day may bring. My brother Harold sent a text, because he knew our printers were not behaving. Later on he knew I had called stores about the availability of a certain printer we had investigated. He asked me to go get it and he will pay for it. What a brother!!  We appreciate so much this valuable gift to us. I use the printer a lot, and this new one is touted to print up to two years without buying more ink. Isn't that amazing. And the replacement ink only costs 13 dollars each tube.  We are grateful to my brother and the Lord for this wonderful surprise in our lives yesterday. Thanks for praying.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

FRIDAY CLASS

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs 16:33

Decision were made in different ways back in the Bible times,
Casting a lot in one's lap seems strange but so does flipping dimes.
In the good old days it worked this way: men wanted to do things God's way,
So when they cast lots, the decision was God's and that made the outcome okay. (RP)

When I was pastor I always enjoyed seeing a full house at church. It's the same thing for the Friday Bible classes. We know people travel, get sick, or other reasons, miss once in a while. So I have to get used to this up and down mode in attendance. Despite all this, we had a great group yesterday and a super participation by the members. We have new ones attending also and this is encouraging. I am preparing to speak also Christmas morning at our church. I am so happy to do this. We trust your day goes well. Thanks also for praying. We appreciate it. 

Friday, December 2, 2016

PRINTER PROBLEMS

We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. 1 John 5:19

To be in Christ, is vital to me, because in Him I am very secure, 
Having Him as my Savior and Lord today is something that is sure.
Without this spiritual anchor, one never can experience real joy,
The wicked one works in this world of ours and his aim is to destroy.
So determine this day to receive God's gift, and enjoy eternal life,
With Christ in your life, and sins forgiven, you'll know He takes away strife. (RP)

I had a real work out the last two days with our printers. Neither would print the memorial folder I was doing for the service which will be next Thursday. Finally after hours of trial, I got one of them to behave somewhat. For years we have been fans of HP printers, but recently our son changed to an Epson ( I believe).  One of the newer printers has large ink cartridges that one only needs to change yearly or even longer. What a deal. I don't know if our son got that kind or not. But anyway, for the moment, one of the printers is working (more or less). We look forward to the Bible class this morning. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, December 1, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAWLIE

We say Happy Birthday to our son Rawlie today. 
We are proud of him and glad for his walk with 
the Lord. He has a wonderful wife and super children. 
We pray for him on this his day and wish him God's blessing on the year to come. 
We love you Rawlie,
Love,
Mom and Dad

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

KEEPING BUSY

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Believers in Christ are to work for Him; because we love Him so,
There is much to do as we harvest, we want to help others grow.
God gives what we need as we do work for Him; this is His will, 
He promises us victory in service, as we faithfully His work fulfill.(RP)

Things get busy now and then. Have you noticed this? We have an accumulation of several responsibilities that must be taken care of. I just took care of one of them: our security system sent a message that our signal was not being received. We have corrected that. Today I work on the program for a memorial service next week, because our church is printing it and I have to get the format to the church office as soon as I can. Several other things are demanding our attention also.  We are glad the Lord knows our busy schedule and will help us. Thanks for praying.  

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

TOENAIL

1Jo 4:16 
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

The sweetest words in all the world are those that God loves us,
Imagine He loves even me, no matter all the confusion and fuss. (RP)

Margie has been to the foot doctor several times, wanting to have him remove her toenail which gives her unbelievable distress. Yesterday she had an appointment. They had an opening, and we went. Again the doctor saved the day for her by trimming the nail and explaining it did not have to be removed. He told her the recovery time after removing a nail is not pleasant. At any rate, Margie is happy to be pain free.  Thanks for your prayers,

Monday, November 28, 2016

LEISURELY AFTERNOON

Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.Matthew 5:8

I'm glad that Jesus knows each heart and does nothing slipshod,
And all whose hearts are pure indeed,He says they will see God.(RP)

After Sunday School and Church yesterday, we were glad to be home for a leisurely afternoon. We watched another sermon on TV, had a nice lunch, and spent the rest of the day reading, etc. There has been quite a bit of rain lately, so we are thankful for a nice dry house. We trust your day went well and today will be a repeat of that. Thanks for praying. 


Sunday, November 27, 2016

VISIT

Mt 22:42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said to Him, "The Son of David."

Christmas is over and I ask you today, "What do you think about Christ?"
To get into the spirit of Christmas Day, did you really have to be enticed?
Does Jesus mean more to you than anything? Does he have first place?
Or do you feel more comfortable when nothing is said about His grace?
Please  consider and invite Him into your life, and know the joy He gives,
In every heart where Jesus reigns, you know for sure that's where He lives.
Allow Him to control your entire life right now, by telling Him so as you pray,
The joy He gives is a fabulous thing, and in your life He will be on display.  (RP)

We received word from our friend Tom Knight yesterday that his mother-in-law, Joyce Pulling, died yesterday morning at 10:30.  In the afternoon Margie prepared a plate of goodies and we visited the Knights. Joyce was a long time friend and she was ready to meet the Lord. Her husband Al died 3 years ago. We will have the service later on when all the family can arrange to be here. Margie baked yesterday some delicious pecan bars and I stuffed 10 green peppers. Our son and his wife left yesterday. It was nice having them here overnight. We look forward to Sunday School and church this morning. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, November 26, 2016

THANKSGIVING AGAIN

Titus 3:8
This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

This word is for those who have trusted Christ and their personal Savior is He,
Their job is good works done in Jesus name and to this we all agree.
We do this carefully as we trust the Lord and it is acknowledged by God to be good,
We profit by this in a special way as each one faithfully does what he should. (RP)

We had our second Thanksgiving yesterday. Our son and daughter-in-law, Rawlie and Gina arrived bringing some of the delicious food they prepared the day before for their outreach ministry in Stanwood. We sat down and enjoyed the meal with them last night then spent the evening visiting. What a nice time it was for us. This morning I am going with Rawlie and Gina for coffee at Starbucks, then return home and prepare stuffed green peppers. While I am doing this, Margie will be baking some bar cookies. It has been a long time since I did this, and finally we finished the last ones (peppers)  we had frozen. Thanks so much for your prayers. 

Friday, November 25, 2016

NO CLASS

Mark 12:30 
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength, this is the first commandment.

Total commitment is God's rule; this principle we must always obey,
Half-hearted allegiance is not right, with God,we don't do it this way.
So we must love Him with all our heart; this is what He commands,
To do this with all our soul, mind and strength, He also demands. 
With God this is His first commandment; we must never do less,
And from this grand word, we never really want to digress.(RP)

We have no Bible study today because the Ferndale Senior Activity Center is closed. The next class is December 2.  We had a quiet day at home yesterday. I got a roasted chicken and Margie prepared sweet potatoes and another vegetable. It was a very windy and rainy day, so we were glad to be inside. We finished the day by listening to one of our favorite radio preachers, Adrian Rogers. We trust you all had a good day. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, November 24, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Ps 100 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! 2 Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. 3 Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

It is our prayer that each of you has a wonderful day and we will all give thanks to God for all His blessings to us. We are spending a quiet day at home. We are so thankful for each of you our friends and family. Thanks for praying.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

MISTAKE

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.Ephesians 1:11

In a topsy turvy world it's refreshing to read this verse,
We serve a God who is in control in a world that is so perverse.
Our inheritance through Christ is to those who believe,
And is a gift beyond words that brings peace to relieve.
We rejoice that our Savior never ceases to work.
And of all things he wills not one will He shirk. (RP)

You would think at my age, I could remember my brother's birthday. I did, but it was a day later than what I blogged about yesterday. TODAY is Harold's birthday. Sorry Harold for the goof.  Yesterday was my day to sit in the church office and be there in case someone wanted to talk.  I was pleased with the visit from a friend who was in our church but later moved south. It was good to visit.  Last night I had a meeting with the elders. I always get back home earlier so I can give Margie the special heart medication. Thanks for praying.

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAROLD

Psalm 143:8
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.

Lord help me read your Word each day and learn Your will for me,
And make my life so full of you,so others my Savior will see. (RP)

This is Harold Poulson's birthday. He is my brother and lives in Alaska. We are 10 years apart. He lives in Anchorage. Thankfully for Skype and phone, we visit often. We are so glad we can.  We wish Harold God's best on this his day. Yesterday Margie went to the doctor, a follow-up after her stay in the hospital. She got a couple of vaccinations also. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, November 21, 2016

GREAT DAY

James 4:17 
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.

Most people know what they should do; for them it makes good sense,
Others however waver, because for them the pathway seems dense.
For those who do not do what seems best, there is trouble ahead,
God says it is sin, so for that person there is something to dread.
We should learn to lives God's way by paying attention to His Book,
Then we can live to please Him and know that the right way we took.(RP)

We had an enjoyable day at church yesterday. We were surprised by a visit of our grandson, David and his girl friend. They wanted to hear me preach. We took them for dinner after the service. We appreciated their visit very much. In the evening there was a Praise and Pie fellowship. The first hour we sang and gave Thanksgiving praises, then went to the fellowship hall for delicious pies and more fellowship. It was a fun day. We are so grateful Margie could attend. She even made a gluten free pecan pie for the evening. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, November 20, 2016

THANKSGIVING SUNDAY

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and
thirsty land Where there is no water..
Psalm 63:1

When in the desert all by yourself how do you commune with God?
Do you sleep on more and take more rest, and continue with a nod?
King David teaches much today with this early morning act
He sought the Lord so early on before other things distract
His soul was thirsty for his God and his body felt it too,
So he called upon the Lord right there His refreshment to pursue.
Oh what consolation for us when we early seek the Lord,
Knowing very well we'll get it and great will be our reward. (RP)

Thanksgiving is Thursday but today in church we celebrate it by giving a message appropriate to the day.  I am honored to be asked to preach this morning at our church. Margie so far is adjusting well to the new medication to control her heart rhythm. We are pleased and rejoice she has had no more upsets. Thanks for helping us in prayer. It means very much to us. 

Saturday, November 19, 2016

EKG

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided. Exodus 14:21

We never know how God will work as He leads His dear children along,
In our story today they were by the sea and there was a mighty throng.
In a miracle never seen, God divided the sea and His children walked over on dry land,
And his love and strong arm were seen by all as the One with the very strong hand.(RP)

Yesterday Margie had another EKG. This was a follow-up to her hospital stay. The technician is going to talk to the specialists about Margie's condition. The medication she is taking supposedly regulates the heart rhythm and gets it back to normal activity. For some reason Margie's rhythm is periodically erratic, thus the afib diagnosis.  Please pray the medication will do the trick for her instead of having to augment the present medication with others to accomplish this task. Thanks for praying. 

Friday, November 18, 2016

ANOTHER SCARE

1 Corinthians 3:7  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

The harvest field is the world and souls are saved every day,
We are the laborers in this field, and we must our Master obey.
We give the lost God's Word, and preach, and work and pray,
Only God gives the increase, as we His great love display.
(RP)

We had another scare during the night. Margie awakened, or even before she had slept, and complained her heart was pounding. It was just like our two previous trips to emergency. I called the cardiologist unit and they called a Dr. Phillips, who instructed me to give her a TICOSYN capsule. I did and eventually she went to sleep. We go this afternoon for an EKG on her anyway, and I will explain what happened during the night. Please keep praying for her. We are concerned. Thanks for praying.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

ANXIOUS

Psalm 143:8
Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.
Lord help me read your Word each day
And learn Your will for me
And make my life so full of you so others my Savior will see. (RP)

For the women who have been in the hospital, you know why Margie is anxious to get to the hairdresser this morning. She said her hair is in a mess. It will be great to have that trip this morning to care for that project. We are trying to get caught up after our two episodes in the hospital.  I am getting things ready for the class tomorrow, and also preparing an outline of Sunday's message to insert in the bulletin. I will preach this Sunday. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

GOING WELL

Psalms 27:14   Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.

It takes so much work to just wait, and that's why God orders it so,
Don't ever go ahead of the Lord so that he will have to say whoa!
Wait for the Lord, that strengthens you, and gives your heart new life,
And prepares you so well for God's joy today and keeps away added strife.

 (RP)

We are pleased that things are going well with Margie after her two trips to E.R. last week. She is taking the new medication and until now all seems to be going well. We received a call from a friend that his mother-in-law had a stroke. Margie and I went immediately to the hospital to pray with Tom and Sylvia Knight and her mother Joyce Pulling, who had the stroke. It was interesting to see how quickly the speech therapist was working with her to help her speech difficulties. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

STRICT DISCIPLINE

James 1:22 
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Deception is waiting for some right now; so listen to God's word,
You will be surprised when you hear something you've never heard.
It is never enough in God's sight to just listen to the word of God,
For His children something more is required to get from Him a nod.
God expects us to work for Him, and do always those things that please,
And then you will be a winner because your work for Him agrees. (RP)

After receiving instructions about how to take Margie's new medication, called TICOSYN, we messed up on it yesterday morning. Margie had an early appointment with her eye doctor. In the haste of trying to get to the next town for that appointment, we missed her medication schedule. I remembered it while Margie was in her exam. I asked the secretary to inform Margie I had gone home to get it. On my way back to Bellingham, I called the heart doctor to find out if this time we could give the medication later than usual.  He said we could. We were relieved. Now I have my smartphone set up to let us know and remind us this schedule every 12 hours. Thanks for praying. 


Monday, November 14, 2016

HOME AT LAST

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. For I am called by Your name,O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

When you belong to the Lord, how the Word touches you!
The Word in the prophet like food made him new.
The joy and rejoicing of his heart was real.
And his love for the Lord he could not conceal. (RP)

We are home and I hope and pray it lasts.  After getting in the E.R. again Saturday night, they transferred Margie later to room 402 in the hospital. At 6:20 in the morning, her system returned to what they call "normal sinus rhythm", which means the A-fib was not acting up and things were looking good. The doctor said she could go home. This was good news. He facilitated the discharge papers and we were on our way. At home we literally slept most of the day in our chairs. Last night was the same. What a sleep. We are grateful. We leave within the hour because Margie has an appointment with the eye doctor. Thanks so much for your prayer support. 


Sunday, November 13, 2016

BACK TO E.R.

Romans 10:17 
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It is by grace we are saved through faith; God tells us we get faith one way,
Faith come by hearing God's word which is forever with us us on display.
So we must get His word to the world, so all will hear His message plain,
And receive the faith that only God gives, so that lost salvation will gain. (RP)

We came home Saturday from the hospital after spending 6 days there, then by midnight last night (Saturday) we were back there. Margies A-Fib was back in play and her heart pounding. Her restless legs were giving her unbelievable pain with no relief. She decided we better get back to ER.  They ran the tests again and she did have A-Fib. X-rays were taken, and several other things. At 5:30 Margie was moved to the 4th floor and room right next to where she was all last week. The only drawback was that the room had two patients, so Margie shared with another lady. That's okay. By 6:20 this morning Margie heart rhythm normalized, called normal sinus rhythm, so she was allowed to go home. That's a process, but it went quicker than usual. We are glad to be home. But please pray that the 9 PM medication for heart will not cause any violent reaction. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, November 12, 2016

HOME

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. Lu 6:31

We yearn to be treated so well by all men,We expect it and go our way.
But Jesus remind us again and again, to receive we give back, and not sway. (RP)

We are back home. We took Margie to the E.R. Monday night and today she was discharged. She has a new medication which she will take the rest of her days to regulate and do what a pacemaker would normally do. We appreciate prayer for her. She has a-fib (for short) so will be treating for this. All the EKG's she had were showing normal readings and this is good. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, November 10, 2016

TRIAL PERIOD

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Mark 10:45 

Jesus came to serve mankind; He gave His life for our sin,
He never meant to be served, but He came to bring the lost in.
When He died upon the cross, the shed blood paid my way,
And receiving Him as my own, I then pray to Him and obey. (RP)

Yesterday the heart specialist started the low dosage of TICOSYN medication. It has to be monitored for 3 days. She took her first pill at around 9:30 and I suppose the second last night after nine.  They do EKG's periodically to determine if the heart rhythm is correct with the new medication. If it works, it will eliminate the need for a pacemaker.  We pray she had a good night last night.  During the day we walked around the triangle shaped configuration of the cardiac unit on the 4th floor. She wanted to walk, and they are delighted she does. We made 5 laps around the area during the day. The nurse was pleased. I plan to leave shortly to be with her at the hospital. I need to be there to help her with getting to the bathroom, walking, etc. I also want to be there to try to understand all the many details the doctors give in explaining what they are doing. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

NEW MEDICATION

Mark 9:23
Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.

A man who wanted his son to be healed,
Had no success with disciples, so to Jesus appealed.
Jesus was willing to heal him if only he believed,
The man said he did, and healing the boy received.(RP)

I spent the day yesterday with Margie. The doctor ordered an echocardiogram. This will tell them if there is a clot in her heart. If there is not one, then they can start her on a medication that has to be monitored three days. It is very critical, because of the possible danger involved with it. Please pray. I am trying now to get all done and get into the hospital before the heart specialist visits Margie this morning. She wants me there, and I want to be there to get the instructions clear. Thanks so much for praying. Margie's pressure has stabilized with medication and she had a restful day. We will keep you informed. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

E.R.

1 John 1:5 
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you,that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

In a world filled with darkness and sin, what hope is there for me?
It truly is a dark picture, for almost all people, we agree.
Christ makes the difference for all who receive Him as Lord,
With Him as your Savior you win, and great will be your reward. 
Jesus is the light of the world and we His children are light, 
Receive Him today for salvation and you will do what is right.  (RP)

Margie complained her heart was pounding. She tolerated it for awhile, took some medication, but then asked me to take her to emergency. We arrived around 8:45 and and EKG indicated very erratic heart beat. Her blood pressure was so low they could not give medication so she was on IV to improve that. The doctor said he would refer her to a heart specialist. I left at 11 last night and will be going back in shortly to be with her. Thanks for praying.
I just called the hospital and she was sleeping so I didn't disturb her. I will try later. 

Monday, November 7, 2016

MORE TIME

Eph 3:12 
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Faith plays a vital role in the life of each of His own,
With Him we live here, and we are never alone.
Access to God with boldness is ours; this is our joy,
And nothing that comes against us can ever destroy. (RP)

We have more time this week to squeeze in a few extra things because Friday we do not have the Bible class. That day the Senior Activity Center is closed for Veteran's Day.  I am doing more work on the Shepherd's book and also working ahead for our next study which will begin in a few weeks on the book of Matthew.  And beside this, I am studying for two messages which I will bring at out church Nov. 20 and Dec 25. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, November 6, 2016

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Colossians 3:23-24 
And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

God expects His children to live for Him and work,
And this duty they should never take lightly or shirk.
Whatever we do let us do it with zest; it is for the Lord,
He takes note of all this and be sure for it He will reward.
Be diligent in serving the Lord, dear friend; He will repay,
And you will be blessed as you live for Him, all along the way. (RP)

At church we are back to the normal schedule now. October was Missions Month so we had each missionary take the Sunday School hour also. We have a missionary next Sunday who was not able to come to our regular conference so Jon Wright will have Sunday School and church next Sunday. We look forward to that. This morning Rob Robbins will be speaking. He has spoken several times here. Our son Rawlie is here and will be returning home today sometime. It is always nice when he is here. Margie yesterday baked and prepared lunch for him. We had a great time. Thanks for praying.