Friday, September 30, 2016

HERE WE ARE

Matthew 13:22 
Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

Some don't have time for the Word of God; it's dull and boring to them,
But unfortunately this is a dreadful state, and one that will really condemn.
So many are lured by the cares of the world; there is no time for God,
And when all the facts are in, my friend, this really is something very odd.
Don't tell me you have no time for God, but you want to go to heaven some day,
I urge you to rethink your priorities right now, and please do not even delay. 
How awful to think that the Word of God, makes no impression on you,
Change your mind and think seriously, then His Word begin to pursue. (RP)

Friday is a welcomed day. We look forward to the class that begins at 10 this morning. We are praying some who were absent last week will return. It is quite amazing how the attendance fluctuates at times. We had a good day yesterday and were glad for the quiet evening at home. We trust your day goes well. Thanks so much for praying. 

Thursday, September 29, 2016

FOG

Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. Psalm 30:4
You may not think you have a voice to sing God's praises here,
God instructs us to sing anyway, and we hope His voice you hear.
Just to think upon His name is the motivation for all of us to sing.
And when we do, glory and majesty to His holy name we bring. (RP)

Yes, it was sunshine yesterday, but today there is fog. That really doesn't make any difference. I take Margie to the hairdresser this morning and this afternoon we attend prayer meeting. Our church is seeking a pastor and it requires much prayer. The elder board appreciates this help in prayer. We thank you for praying also. 

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13

As we look into the future and are instructed by His Word,
We delight with thankful hearts for what we have heard.
God promises great things that are all ahead for us,
And for every believe in Jesus, these are a great plus.
We have much to look forward to as we live for Him down here,
Because a new heaven and earth await us and we cheer. (RP)

We awakened to another beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly and the temperature will be in the mid 60's.  This is wash day at the Poulsons. I am doing that with the clothes, along with this blog.  Margie is making zucchini bread. Doesn't that sound good? We have a full day planned out but thankfully all is at home. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

ROUTINE

Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:18

Jesus is coming, what a glorious thought,
This event by every Christian is sought,
We comfort each other with this fact,
It is a topic that always will attract.
We trust you are waiting for Him to appear,
And anxiously hope that the day will be near. (RP)

I am in a routine that I am pleased with.  It is a joy for me to go to our church and be there for several hours in case someone comes by for prayer or some other help. While there, I have my laptop and I work on the weekly prayer sheet for the church or my Bible class on Friday. there is never a dull moment. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, September 26, 2016

UP AND DOWN

Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:18

There are many things to be happy about,
But of some of them we may have a doubt.
To rejoice in the Lord is healthy indeed,
And certainly of this most are agreed.
We joy because God is our salvation sure,
And are confident of this and very secure. (RP)

The thermometer is going up and down these days. This afternoon we are told it will reach 74. That is amazing for this time of the year. Our favorite rose bush we call "Joybells" has beautiful buds all over it ready to burst into beauty. Yesterday was a good day at church. In the afternoon I installed a new light in the office. It is hard working in the dark. The sun is shining brightly and I will soon go to the drug store for some medicine for Margie.Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, September 25, 2016

DARK

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)

I though that new circular bulbs (fluorescent) would solve the problem for my office light Saturday. It turned into a project that is still ongoing. The switch needed replacement ( I thought) but that was not the end of the story. Now I realize a new ballast is needed to complete the job. So, I am still in the dark in my office. Perhaps by tomorrow I will finish this task.  I teach the Sunday School class this morning. We trust your day goes well. We were concerned when my brother Harold in Anchorage had to have more surgery for the kidney stone. We pray he is doing better this morning. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, September 24, 2016

LIGHT

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 2 Corinthians 12:7

We don't always get what we want, but God gives what He deems best,
And because He always knows what we should have, in this we rest. 
Sometimes God gives a thorn in the flesh; something that gnaws away,
We want this problem to go away, but God invariably wants it to stay. 
Things happen to the child of God, to make him humble and mature,
And God uses them to help us all, by making us content and secure. (RP)

When I turned the light off in my office last night, then went back in for something, the light would not work. So this morning I guess I go to Ace Hardware and see what I can do about getting another light fixture. It is cool this morning so I turned on the furnace. I will spend part of this day putting final touches on the Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. Our regular teacher is on vacation. I am glad to help. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for your prayers.

Friday, September 23, 2016

IT'S HERE

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Here on earth we mingle with mankind as it should be,
We face all kinds of issues; some we can't even see.
Another battle Christians wage; we read about it here.
And this one is not funny, I say it is very severe.
Evil forces confront us; there is a spiritual battle to fight,
And we must depend upon God or else we will be uptight.
He tells us in this chapter there is armor for each to wear,
And if we intend to have victory, we must pray and prepare. (RP)

Yes, it's here. What's here?  Friday, of course. We always look forward to this quality time at the Ferndale Senior Activity Center. The enthusiasm for this class is contagious. We are thrilled with the many who desire to gather and study the book of Genesis. We never cease to marvel at the great teaching the class members bring to this hour of study. We are honored to be part of it. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, September 22, 2016

FALL

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. James 1:19

So many are prone to quickly speak; it seems to be man's lot,
Perhaps today in the rush of things, maybe some of you forgot.
It is much better to listener well, as you travel along the way,
In lots of ways this is better than the many things we say.
These rules will keep you from anger; that's the way to go,
So just keep yourself in the running and the rest you will know. (RP)

The seasons come and go. Here it is Fall today. It will be with us until sometime in December, (according to Google). There is a chill in the air, but yesterday it was so warm we had to have the doors open in the house. But early in late afternoon we had to shut them because it was getting cool already. Today Margie goes to the hairdresser and in the afternoon we attend prayer meeting.  We are in the countdown for Bible class tomorrow, and we always are anxious for it to come. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

FAST

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.Proverbs 18:10

There is power in the name of the Lord, like a very strong tower,
A place where one can take refuge from someone trying to devour.
God's children find safety in Him as they run for help to this place,
And the consolation He gives is a reminder of His love and grace. (RP)

I don't need to remind anyone, that the days go so fast. It seems the week is over as soon as it begins. Life is not a drag when there is so much to do. We are grateful we can stay fairly busy. Margie goes to therapy today to help with the shoulder pain. That pain has been greatly reduced by the treatment the doctor gave. We are thankful. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

AT CHURCH

James 3:7-8 
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

God's handiwork is amazing, vast, and perfect in all its ways,
We see it and marvel excitedly, and all the wonderful displays,
God has given to man the ability to control and tame these things,
They include many beasts of the field, and those that have wings.
But with this ability in dominating nature, one problem remains,
God says no one can control the tongue; evil and poison still reigns.
So the answer to this is God Himself; He alone can tame our speech,
Christ relieves the untamed tongue, and his help is within our reach. (RP)

Today I will be at church to be available if my help is needed with any matters. I enjoy the time spent there, and of course it reminds me of the years we were allowed to minister there as pastor. While there I usually am able to do some necessary things on my laptop computer, like the weekly prayer sheet. Tonight the elders have a meeting so I will be away from home most the day. Fortunately Margie can call me anytime she needs me and I can be home in about 10 minutes. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, September 19, 2016

START OVER

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Joshua 1:8

God's Word is plain in giving help; right here we are told how to succeed.
We must follow His plan and instructions well; this is our greatest need.
His words should be in our mouth as we tell others of his great love,
And the wonderful things He has provided along with His father above. 
God's law in His Word is to be observed with care; this is our duty today,
Do it without fail and pay attention to all, and please don't forget to pray. 
If done God's way, you will have success, and He will prosper and guide,
Making your life a blessing indeed and the promise of Him by your side. (RP)

Each Monday we sort of start all over and do the regular things we do each week. We do not have as many appointments this week which gives more time to concentrate on Bible study. I also teach our Sunday School class so that will require some serious preparation. We enjoy it all and are glad we can serve. We had a very good sermon yesterday at our church by a person we did not know before. He was a good communicator.  Trust your day is going well. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, September 18, 2016

RAIN

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12

Christians have battles the world knows nothing about,
But even some of them are not informed; there is doubt.
Our enemy is spiritual, and wickedness is rampant here,
And he operates in all places whether far or very near. Satan is busy for sure, both in the heavens and on earth,
His work is incessant and he always leaves a dearth.(RP)

The earth in Ferndale got a good soaking yesterday. Maybe more will come today. Things were DRY. We are sure the rain is needed. We look forward to Sunday School and church this morning. Rawlie is still with us, but will return home this morning before we leave for church. As always, it has been good having him and our grandson Nathan, here for a few hours. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, September 17, 2016

RAWLIE & NATHAN

Jeremiah 29:11 
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

How lovely are God's thoughts of us; they thrill us through and through,
We read the Bible and see them there, and realize there are not a few.
He wishes peace for us, and gives it to us because He is our peace,
And the best of all is that these things endure because they never cease.
God has a future for us, planned from eternity past; this is our great hope,
And we thank Him daily for all these things, and because of Him we can cope. (RP)

Rawlie and Nathan are in Ferndale to work on one of their buildings. They will join us for lunch. We will enjoy having them for the day even though we won't get to see them much. Yesterday's Bible study was a blessing. The class participation is so special. They are an energetic group. I notice the pavement wet this morning, so it rained during the night. We are supposed to get more today. Rawlie and I will meet for coffee this morning. Thanks for praying. 

Friday, September 16, 2016

CHANGE

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

As we ponder this verse we see right away there is reason not to fear,
God's blessings are flowing my way, I have many blessings right here.
His strength helps my weakness and gives hope again; I am not afraid,
All the rich promises He gives in the Word; on Him my mind is stayed. (RP)

The weatherman says a change is coming. Tomorrow it is supposed to rain. It hasn't rained for a LONG time around here. Most lawns are brown. We are sure the rain will be a refreshing change for us.  Yesterday was filled with activities as we took Margie to the hairdresser and we attended afternoon prayer meeting. We look forward to the Bible study this morning and then a more leisurely afternoon and evening. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

GETTING READY

Psalm 46:10 
Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

We are busy people, and God sometimes has to tell us to be still,
When we are rushing around it is really hard to know how to do His will.
God is sovereign and always will exalt Himself among the nations. 
And because of this he exalts himself on the earth in all situations. (RP)

It seems we spend plenty of time getting ready for things. The Bible study always takes plenty of time. Besides the paper work for study sheets, there is the actual preparation by studying sufficiently to lead the class in its discussion of the text. It is all very enjoyable and I love every minute of it. Today I take Margie to her hairdresser and in the afternoon we attend prayer meeting at our church. Last night we had a very special time learning about the routine of conducting an after school Bible club at one of the local schools. It is a fantastic challenge and our church has taken this on. We are pleased. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, September 14, 2016

C.E.F.

2 Corinthians 12:9 
And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Trials overwhelm at times; sometimes it is health, other things also assail,
At these times in life we are pensive, and realize we are so very frail.
We thank God that in these special times, He comes with this thought,
His grace is sufficient for us, and this is something which cannot be bought. (RP)

In our Wednesday evening Connection Fellowship tonight, we are privileged to have our friend Natalie Finkbonner, giving a lesson on how to lead a child to Christ. It will be important for all of us to hear how this faithful servant has led Child Evangelism Fellowship after school Bible clubs and backyard Bible classes for many years. Again, the weather is fantastic. It is warm and beautiful. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

FURNACE

Proverbs 16:16 
How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

How much do we really want in life; have we really thought this through?
Please stop and consider what is said right here; ponder a minute or two.
Wisdom is always better than gold, because it is given to us by God,
It is so much better to get serious with Him; don't go through life slipshod.
Understanding is a gift from God to those who want to live godly each day,
It is better than silver any day and will help you much as you walk His way. (RP)

Within the hour, the furnace man comes to check our machine. Winter is coming (soon) and we need to have our furnace checked. The thermostat is also needing some attention. We are glad he is coming this morning.  Believe it or not, the weather will be in the 70's again today. It is amazing how much of a summer we have had.  But the 45 degree temperature this morning is an alert that things are changing. Thanks for praying. 

Monday, September 12, 2016

MORE OF THE SAME

For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.Mat. 24:24

Black days are coming down the road, Christ said it would be this way,
We better listen up and pay close attention to the things He had to say.
False christs and prophets are coming, and their purpose is to deceive.
We are to be prepared for this, and none of their doctrines receive. 
The devil is clever and tries very hard to catch those who are the elect, 
He is dangerous, and will try anything, because he has no respect. 
Jesus warned us long ago by telling us these things we should know,
And we trust that all will heed his words, and know these things are so. (RP)

We are having more of the same weather we have experienced for quite some time. Our summer has been unusual. We also have had practically no rain. It is unusual. Today and tomorrow will be in the 70's. It is amazing. We had a full day at church yesterday with a special speaker. Then we had a business meeting in the evening to update some of the projected plans for days ahead plus give a report concerning the pastoral search. It all takes time.  Thanks for praying.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

SPECIAL

Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord;Be of good courage,And He shall strengthen your heart;Wait, I say, on the Lord!

Waiting is such a boring thing I hear some say just now,
Because you never dreamed it so that God would this allow.
Many things move speedily, in this nervous world down here,
But wait a minute my dear friend, I have a word of cheer.
Waiting for God to work things out is the best thing you can do,
He gives courage, strength, and a happy heart, especially for you. (RP)

Margie did a super job of preparing lunch for 7 of us yesterday. It was a delicious swiss steak meal with the trimmings. She also made a delicious dump cake. It was nice having the family here. After they left, I did the dishes and cleaned up things, so Margie could just rest after her very busy morning. Rawlie is still with us and leaves shortly for Stanwood. It was nice having him and the others for the meal yesterday. Trust your day goes well. We go to church in about an hour. Thanks for praying.

Saturday, September 10, 2016

LUNCH

Matthew 7:7  
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Prayer is asking, don't you know, that's what we should do,
Just keep asking all the time for the things that you pursue.
Then seek and keep on seeking and surely you will find,
So when it comes to prayer, you will never be behind. Knock at that door of prayer and never give in or stop,
And the blessings you receive from this, you will never swap. (RP)

Part of our family is here this weekend, so at noon today Margie will prepare lunch for them. We plan on having round steak. She does is deliciously and we look forward to it. She also has some other goodies planned for the event. I will help her so she won't get too tired out in the process.  Yesterday's Bible class went well. We were blessed with 41 students. We had a great time. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying. 

Friday, September 9, 2016

IT'S HERE

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.II Tim 3:16-17

God wants us complete, His Word tell us so in words plain to understand.
Each word is inspired divinely by God and intended for us to mature.
So heed his instruction by reading this Book so you'll be what God wants you to be,
And He'll work in your life His will to perform and your future in Him will be sure. (RP)

We, and several others, have been looking forward to this day. Our Bible study resumes at the Ferndale Senior Activity Center. We will continue our study in the book of Genesis. It is a rich study and together in the class we learn so much. It is a blessing. I am honored to lead it, but I am so grateful for all who attend and contribute to the study.  Thanks for praying. 

(RP)

Thursday, September 8, 2016

YESTERDAY

Mt 4:4 
But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'

There's something more important than food, for man to think about,
And any person who is thinking, would not like to be without.
Jesus uttered these words so important, that bread is not enough,
And those who do not heed His words has a life that's really tough.
The words of Jesus are life for us, and we better take earnest heed,
Listen to Him and obey His words and it is certain you will succeed.

Some days get real busy, and yesterday was one of them. We just had a lot to do. Margie had her therapy in the morning, to help strengthen muscles and arm movements, we then had some things to do in town mid afternoon.  We met our good friends at Anthony's for supper, then headed to Ferndale to attend the Connection meeting at church. We were mighty glad to be home. Today will be busy also but we are used to this Thursday schedule. Thanks for praying. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2016

THERAPIST

The rich and the poor have this in common, The LORD is the maker of them all. Prov 22:2

When we stand before God we are all the same, there's no rank, position or class,
Whether rich or poor, sickly or well before God you can't pay for a pass,
Common ground before God is the place where we stand, no one can boast any thing,
We stand before Him in our helpless estate, and we can only our sin to him bring. (RP)

This morning Margie goes for her second therapy session. They are strengthening her arm muscles and toning up her body so it will help reduce the pain in her shoulder. The shoulder pain is temporarily gone, due to the injection he gives her, but he said this therapy will help even more.  She is pleased there is no shoulder pain. What a blessing. Thanks for praying. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2016

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Luke 4:18 
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.

The life of Jesus here on earth is touched with God's own hand. 
The things He did and said while here, are truly special and grand.
With the Holy Spirit's anointing, He preached to and helped the poor,
And as He ministered to the masses, his work was so very secure.
He brought liberty to the captives, and healed those who were blind,
And to the oppressed He gave liberty and to many others He could find.  (RP)

Now we are back to the regular schedules. Today I will be at the church for a few hours. In the afternoon we have missionary meeting. I need to take Margie's roller walker to Walgreens to have an adjustment made on its brakes and safety gear. We trust you all have a good day. Thanks for praying.

Monday, September 5, 2016

LABOR DAY

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.Ephesians 1:3

Believers enjoy things without end; God showers them with blessing galore,
And each can say without a doubt, that nothing like this has happened before. These blessings are ours because of Christ, who died to save our souls,In every tough spot we find ourselves, He is ready and willingly consoles. (RP)

Most people are on vacation today, I suppose. Our son and his family are traveling home from a wedding they attended. We are going to town to do some shopping. We are concerned about Harold who is suffering from kidney stones. Hopefully tomorrow he will get more help from the doctor. We had a good day at church yesterday. We trust you day goes well. Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, September 4, 2016

BEAUTIFUL DAY

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.   II Corinthians 5:21

The heart of the gospel is given here in words so simple and plain,
God laid our sins upon Jesus you see, and won't be repeated again.
When Jesus gave His life for us that day long ago on the cross,
He purchased salvation with His precious blood and we remember the cost,
The righteousness of God is ours by faith and oh what a gift this is,
Eternal life is ours through Him and the glory is solely His. (RP)

What a nice day it is. We can definitely tell summer is ending. It is cooler. We look forward to Sunday School and church this morning. We had a visit with my brother on Skype last night from Anchorage, but finished the conversation when he had a terrible episode of pain, following kidney stone surgery earlier. Please pray for Harold. Thanks for praying. 

Saturday, September 3, 2016

SLEEP PROBLEM

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18

In life we have degrees of suffering; some more and others less,T
he ways suffering expresses itself, puts some people in stress.
No matter how hard a Christian suffers, something great is ahead,
And I will tell you this right now, that what it is you need not dread.
God's glory will be revealed in us; He does things perfectly well,
There is no doubt that it will be the best, because no other can excel. (RP)

During the night, Margie awakened me wanting to go into the family room to sleep in her lift chair. I got her up but she didn't have the strength to push her rolling walker. She went back to bed. Later she managed, with my help to make it to the lift chair and as I write this she is still sleeping. That is a blessing. She was complaining her heart was pounding and took medication for that.  I realized I will need to get a wheel chair to transport her, if she is not able to walk at times.  Thanks for praying. 

Friday, September 2, 2016

PREPARATION

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 2:5

There is only one way to God; Jesus is the only way,
God cannot be bribed or persuaded; you cannot pay.
If you want to go to heaven when you die, come to Him,
You will not be sorry if you do; any other attempt is grim.
Jesus paid your way to heaven; receive it by faith today,
Then eternal life is yours forever and all will be okay.(RP)

I am making preparation for our Friday class that starts next Friday. I have everything ready for the class already. Now I am working ahead on future lessons. We have been in the book of Genesis for a year. It will be interesting what the class chooses for our next study. We got some rain yesterday. Things are really dry around here. With that little moisture, we are sure our front lawn will soon be green again. It has been brown for a long time. Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, September 1, 2016

ALL WENT WELL

Jeremiah 29:13 
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

God is there for anyone who really wants His aid,
You can call upon Him now, and do not be afraid. He's right there for us no matter what the cause,
Know for sure it matters not what may be your flaws.
Seek him with all your heart; He will not let you down,
When you do, you will be the happiest person around.(RP)

Margie checked into the Excel physical therapy place yesterday and after extensive paper work, saw the therapist.  The session went well and at home Margie continued doing some of the procedures taught her by the therapist. Margie really wanted to go to her friend in Lynden, but we decided the thirty mile round trip every few days may be too much. We hear that winter is going to be more severe this year. Who knows? Last night we attended the Connection Fellowship meeting at church. It was good to learn and pray. Thanks for your prayers. We appreciate it.