CAUGHT UP

Matthew 6:15 

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Forgiveness is a powerful thing, that we all should learn more about,

Jesus gave some counsel so strong, we should read and be devout.

If we want forgiveness we must learn to forgive; there is no other way,

So get on board and quickly forgive and please do not ever delay. (RP)

Last week I did all the advance preparation for this week's Bible class. I am unable to teach it because I have a funeral at that time. A kind member of our class (and church), Tom Knight, has graciouisly consented to teach it. I prepared the answer sheet, leaving room for his own ideas as well. I also printed and gave him the photo and facts about the series I preface my class with called God's Handiwork in Nature. So even though I would surely like to teach the class, I am happy Tom will do it for me. We had a guest speaker at our church Sunday and it seems people enjoyed him very much. Thanks for praying.

HUNDREDS

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Anxious moments sometimes dominate and we aren't our very best,

We are frightened by what happens and for sure we are in a test.

God tells us here that worry has no place in our daily walk,

What He urges is to listen, and with Him have a serious talk.

When we take our worries to Him in petition, prayer and praise,

You will soon discover victory and that praying really pays.(RP)

I conducted a funeral yesterday and there were hundreds in attendance. It was a great opportunity to present the gospel. At the close of the service they went outside and released balloons. It was quite a sight. Our son and family were here Friday and Saturday. They all returned home except Rawlie and Monique. Rawlie attended our Sunday School class social in the evening. It was a very nice time to visit with friends. We are going, Lord willing, to Sunday School and church this morning. We trust you all have a super day. Thanks for your prayers. 

CELEBRATION

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 was treated very well at the celebration yesterday with our family. We had a delicious meal at the restaurant, and dessert here at home. Margie made my favorite angel food cake. In no time that was gone except one piece. The cards and unsolicited gifts were special also. My brother Harold in Alaska did not forget me either, and surprised us with a generous token of his love. What a day it was!! Thanks to all for Facebook, e-mail and cards received. I go for coffee this morning with our son, then I have a funeral at noon. Then we have a class social this evening. Thanks for praying.

MOTTO

Psalm 118:24 

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Every day with Jesus is a wonderful day,

On each one His great grace is on display.

He made today and we are told to rejoice,

And we know doing this is everyone's choice.

I have decided to thank Him for His gift to me,

And for the privilege of being saved and free.

Will you join with me today and praise Him too,

And keep on doing this in the days that ensue?(RP)

Our motto for life is: "Everyday is a gift from God and we do not take anything for granted". Each day brings new challenges, but He is able to help us through them. We are thankful we can still do a few things to serve the Lord. We are thankful for family and friends.  Today our son and daughter-in-law will be here and we will have lunch together. Rawlie will also attend Bible class. That will be nice. Thanks for praying. 

TROUBLE

Psalm 29:11   

The LORD will give strength to His people; The LORD will bless His people with peace.

Two things we desperately need today are promised in this verse.

But all around are the enemies of God who fight Him and wish to curse.

Oh that mankind would call upon God to give them the strength that they need,

Then He would bless them with power and peace, and from their sins be freed.

Make this your prayer today, my friend, and you will get more than you ask,

He'll answer you with a loving heart and in His grace you will bask.(RP)

During the night Margie had trouble with her foot, so we got up and she soaked it in hot water. Then she got more sleep. Today will be a busy day and we hope you all have a good one. Thanks for praying. 

FUNERALS

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul.Psalm 19:7

God's law is always right, He tells us so right here,

He who obeys that law, will be saved, and that is clear.

Jesus came to save sinners, and He calls them even now,

He saves every person, who will come and humbly bow.(RP)

I am working with two families who have lost a family member and they asked me to do the service. One is Saturday, the other March 4.  I will miss the Bible study which I really would like to teach, but family travel schedules made it necessary. We are working on finding a substitute teacher, but the one I want is presently ill.  Hope he gets better soon. Margie is doing well since her foot treatment Monday, and we are glad. Today is wash day so back and forth we go from our study to the garage, caring for it. Thanks for praying.

TREATMENT

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Oh the Love God showed us before we knew His love,

Is more than we can comprehend, coming from above.

In our sinful state we were lost, and without any hope at all,

And all this started in Eden where we read about the fall.

Christ died on the cross, and shed his blood for me,

And when I received Him into my life, I was set free. (RP)

Yesterday's trip to the foot doctor was successful. He worked on her toenail that was causing the problem and fixed up some other issues on her feet. Thankfully she was relieved of the severe pain and had a fairly good night, even though she went to bed with a headache. I am working ahead on messages because I have two funerals. I am also trying to get ahead on the Bible class because I will miss one. I will prepare a lesson for the substitute teacher to use. Thanks for praying. 

FOOT DOCTOR

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

In a world that's so agitated, and so many very high-strung,

I'm glad the Lord has answers for the old and also the young.

He gives peace for needy souls;what a blessing to receive,

And to think it's here for you if you just claim it and believe.

When God's peace controls your heart, you are truly blessed,

Let not your heart be troubled, because you have the best.

Fear is gone forever when His peace reins in your soul,

When my heart grows anxious, my burden upon Him I roll.

After Margie's terrific ingrown toenail pain Saturday, I called her doctor's office and left a message requesting an appointment in case of any cancellations. Thankfully this morning they called and she sees him this morning. We are thankful. Yesterday was a good day at church. The morning services were a blessing. In the evening I gave a short meditation after our pastor spoke on some helps as we seek another pastor for our church. Thanks for praying. 

PAIN

Proverbs 6:16-19 

These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Some may think that God can't hate but some things he won't stand,

In English plain they are listed here just as He has planned.

There are only six in this important list so listen to them now, 

And please remember for the child of God, these things he does not allow.

Each one of these is a serious thing and please don't let them in,

Disobedience to this great command is indeed an ugly sin.(RP)

Margie's toe started aching yesterday and got worse and worse. She has gone through this before with an ingrown toenail. I even went to the drug store and got some items to protect and treat the toenail, but all was futile. Nothing worked. She could not sleep and finally decided to take a strong pain pill which gave her a good night. She plans on going to church but will wear slippers. I put a call into the doctor's office and left a message requesting an appointment, in case there are any cancellations. Thanks for praying. 

OPEN HOUSE

Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again ... but the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4:13-14

The spiritual water that Jesus gives, satisfies and saves the soul,

It satisfies more than anything and makes all who receive it, whole.

Refreshment from God never has an end; it keeps coming all the time,

This life in Christ is a blessing, my friend, that is precious and sublime(RP)

Our schedule today is filled. At noon I will be with a family who requested my help for a funeral. After that we will be going to an open house at Ardelle Hanowell's place. We look forward to this. I am preparing in advance more study sheets for Genesis, and also working on a devotional at church Sunday night. We trust your day goes well. We just had a nice phone visit with our son.  Thanks for praying

HOMEGOING

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)

Our friend Jim Tiesinga died yesterday morning. His wife, Mae Rose, called us with the notice. We visited with them Saturday in the rest home. His family was there. The service will be March 4th at Sunrise Baptist Church. As I mentioned yesterday, Thursday was a full day for us. Today we look forward to Bible class. In the afternoon the service man for our security system will be here. We will be so glad when our contract runs out and we can start with the new digital system I already have installed but not yet activated.  Thanks for your prayers. 

PRINTER

Psalms 34:8

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Oh the joy to taste of the Lord, and savor His spiritual food, 

It gives strength to my soul, with negative passions subdued. 

If you take refuge in the Lord you have made the right choice,

You will be blessed indeed and in Him you can rejoice.(RP)

The HP printer was on "strike" yesterday and gave me tons of fits, trying to get it to work again. It has been a good printer but its actions concerned me. Finally it worked more or less but would not print on both sides which we need to produce the study sheets for Bible class. It rained almost all day but the weather is mild. Spring must be around the corner. Today will be busy. Thanks for praying. 

GOOD REPORT

 Ephesians 4:29  

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Be careful little mouth what you say, is more than just a song,

It is a command from God, and keeps us from doing wrong. 

Christians who encourage others, are doing their Father's will,

Which edifies the recipients and helps them God's will to fulfill.(RP)

Yesterday the retina specialist did a dye test on Margie and it proved that the tests were better than her previous one done in 2014. We thank the Lord for this good report. She had another injection in her right eye. He does this every eight weeks. Thanks for praying.

RETINA SPECIALIST

Hebrews 3:12-13   Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;  but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin is deceitful in many forms, trying to estrange us from God,Don't minimize it with it's many plots, and go through life slipshod.Stay close to the Lord, don't depart from Him, allowing sin to detract,Help fellow Christians with encouragement, keeping them on the right track.Daily seek what is right for each one and don't let sin harden you,God will repay you and doubly so if His will you faithfully pursue.(RP)

I take Margie to the retina specialist this morning. He will do the dye test to determine how her left eye is. We are praying it will not have wet macular degeneration tendencies like her right one. We appreciate your prayers. 

HOPE TO FINISH

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

Humility God demands of us if blessings are to flow,

And we are exhorted to pray also if we expect to grow,

Seeking God's face for everything, will help us everyday,

And heaven will answer with blessings galore as always His will obey.

Healing of land and forgiveness of sin is for all who listen to Him, 

So begin right now and do what He says and your life will be filled to the brim.(RP)

I didn't work on my office yesterday, so hopefully today I can get it finished. We had good services at church yesterday morning and evening. Today it is raining again, but we are used to this.  We have some meat cooking in the Crock-Pot and it smells like a good meal. We trust your day goes well. Thanks for your prayers. 

NOT FINISHED

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Cor 5:7

I am glad we don't have to see what's ahead. right around the next bend,

We are only asked to walk by faith and totally on the Lord depend,

He knows so much better what's ahead and I can trust Him for that,

But if I go it alone and walk without Him, I know I will fall down flat.(R)

I worked all day on my office and I think it is now half-done.  It is unbelievable how much stuff can accumulate. I threw away a lot of things. In mid-afternoon we visited Jim Tiesinga who is ill. His wife and children were there so it was a nice time to visit them. Jim is nearing his departure for Heaven. Please pray for the Tiesinga family. We look forward to church this morning and tonight. Thanks for your prayers. 

OFFICE CLEANING

Proverbs 16:25

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Something that seems is not always right when you speak of eternal things,

Because choosing wrong roads is a terrible thing with all the agony it brings.

Choose Christ who is the way to eternal life and entrust your life to him,

And your life will be bright with His holy life and one that will never grow dim.(RP)

Today is the day for me to clean the office. I waited too long, and it must be done. Things seem to accumulate so easily, and before you know it, we are in a mess.  That's the story of my office. Yesterday the Bible class went well, and even with several gone, we still had a good number. In the afternoon I was able to go through more Shepherd book chapters and make changes. Margie proofed them. There is still much to do. I have to take ALL those she has proofed, and make  corrections before we can send them to an editor. That will come later. Thanks for praying. 

ABSENT

Psalm 37:4 

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

What a privilege God gives to His children who will obey,

The things He promises keep us enthused everyday.

When we truly delight in Jesus our Lord, He begins to work,

He keeps on doing this because His duties he does not shirk.

You may think that this promise is too much and is not real,

When you delight in Him, then your desires will be ideal.(RP)

Several will be missing from our Bible class this morning for various reasons. One just had surgery, others have doctor's appointments and two more have family visits, making it impossible to attend. One couple informed us they should be back in class. They have been out almost 4 weeks, due to illness. That's the way it goes. We are sorry for those who cannot be there, but happy for all who come. It will be a wet, windy morning we are told, but that does not usually keep people away. Thanks for praying. 

LOOKING AHEAD

1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

What a command is given us here; am I able to really obey?

Yes I am because God's word about this has much to say.

We pray all the time in our mind and heart; this is right for me,

And the attitude of prayer is so special; I am sure you agree.

Let us learn to pray about all things, and stay in touch with God,

We know things will be better, and from Him we get His nod.(RP)

We got the washing done and Margie did the ironing. I worked up the minutes for the Elder's meeting and sent them to the members. Pastor has invited the Elders to attend a Ministry Conference in Bellevue April 7-9. I will not be attending, because it is more important for me to be with Margie. Yesterday I got most of the printing done for Bible class. We received several calls and e-mails from some who will not be in the class Friday.  It's the time of year and we have to expect this. Thanks for praying.

PRIVILEGE

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

Psalm 18:2

We need strong foundations in everything, especially in spiritual things,

And how great to know the Lord is my Rock, what a thrill to my heart this brings.

And yes He's my Fortress to shelter me well, and keep me secure in His place,

When the enemy attacks, He delivers me; what a refuge for my soul,

With His shield I'm protected and my salvation is sure--all beneath His control.(RP)

I had the privilege of meeting with the elders of our church last night.  Our concern is the search for a pastor. Our present pastor, Dave Lunsford, is transitioning to be executive director of Baptist Network Northwest. We appreciate your prayers about this. Yesterday Margie cleaned bathrooms, fixed our meals, and several other things. I completed the weekly prayer sheet for our church, and spent other time putting the finishing touches to our Friday Bible study.  Thanks for praying.  

COOLER

Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. Prov 8:32 

Wisdom speaks clearly right here to us, to keep her ways each day,

And those who do will be blessed indeed for they have learned to obey.

So listen to wisdom dear friend, as you read God's holy Word.

It's the only reliable counsel you'll get and the best thing you have heard(RP)

These two days we have sun. That means it is cooler. This morning it is 33 degrees. Compared to some places, I guess this is mild. Yesterday after getting two more study sheets prepared for future Bible classes, I did more correction work on our Shepherd book stories. We are slowly getting them processed. My big job will be to go through ALL of them and make the final corrections that Margie made. It is quite enjoyable reading the stories again and realize the wonderful experiences we witnessed while on the road for Shepherds. Thanks for praying.

SUN

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,seeking whom he may devour. I Peter 5:8

God wants us to be aware of our enemy out there; and are sure we know all his tricks,

He works with such cleverness and is vicious for sure, and believers he carefully picks.

Our adversary he is, with an appetite strong, like a lion he desires us dead,

But be sober and vigilant and on your toes, making us the object of his dread.(RP)

The weatherman tells us we are going to have sunny days. It is true, the mornings are lighter already, and in our front flower bed, things are starting to sprout. We still could get some cold weather, I guess, but we will have to wait and see. Yesterday we had a good day at church, and enjoyed a quiet afternoon at home. This morning I will be doing some book work. Margie is cleaning the bathroom. We manage to keep busy. Thanks for praying. 

ANOTHER VISIT

Psalm 16:11 

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

The way of salvation is plain; God has shown it to us in His Book,

All who want what is offered, just has to come to Jesus and look.

When you look at Him and receive Him, eternal life is given to you,

Then starts a wonderful journey, with many blessings that will ensue.

The end of this journey is heaven, and we know that great joy is there,

Pleasures abound up there and nothing anywhere else can compare.(RP)

We have a dear friend in the rest home in Blaine, WA. Yesterday Rawlie and Gina came to our house, and Rawlie drove us to visit with Jim and Mae Rose Tiesinga. Jim has been in the home about a month. It was a privilege to visit with them and have prayer. His wife is faithfully by his side many hours each day. This morning we will be attending services at our church and we look forward to this. Thanks for praying. 

VISIT

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.Proverbs 18:24

Jesus the friend of sinners; oh how sweet to hear His name,

Invite Him into your life, and this marvelous name acclaim.

He is closer than a brother, and will always be that way,

No matter what may be your lot, or even the things you say.

Just stick close to Him as He so devoutly does to you,

You will always be rejoicing, and have blessings not a few.(RP)

After our Bible class which, as usual was a blessing to us, we returned home for lunch. In the afternoon our grandson, Nathan dropped by for a visit. We had not seen him for quite a few weeks. It was refreshing to hear his stories of witnessing to people along the line. Surely he has touched many lives as he boldly helps and talks to people about the Lord. We are blessed to have him. I will do some shopping this morning and Margie may do some baking. Thanks for your prayers.

HIGH WINDS

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.Ephesians 5:8

Our spiritual history is given here in words so clear and plain,

We heard God's word,received His son; we were born again.

We are lights for Jesus, and are commanded to let that light shine,

Our desire is to live for Him and from this principle never resign.(RP)

I just heard on the radio the weather report. High winds are predicted for this morning and afternoon. It happens this way many times when it is recycle day here. I will have to weigh down the paper with bricks or else it will be in all the neighborhood. We look forward to Bible class this morning. Thanks for praying.

GETTING READY

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.

Blessings galore come from our Father above in unceasing streams of grace,

Through Christ these come to us every day and each one we sweetly embrace.

Our Father withholds nothing good from us because of what Christ has done,

And these blessings flow daily in countless ways and for each one we thank the Son.(RP)

Each week we have the delightful process of getting ready for Friday Bible class. I print new study sheets for the members, and prepare the God's Handiwork in nature presentation.  I normally print a picture of the particular topic of the nature lesson, and I also prepare my wonderful little thumb drive recorder for Friday's class. I have them all recorded. Margie is ironing this morning and she will not have a hair appointment today because her hair is so good from the perm she had the other week. This afternoon is prayer meeting.  Thanks for praying. 

WASH DAY

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

God values you and me today in ways so different than most,

His knowledge of us is unlimited and to us He is very close.

Why would he care how much hair I have; does it really matter?

He does not tell us these things just because He wants to flatter.

No, His love and care for us is the greatest thing known to man,

You can be sure that it is all because you and I are in His plan.(RP)

This is washday, as is every Wednesday. Today I also work on prayer requests to be put in our church prayer sheet. I will complete that today so the church secretary can get it printed. If there is any time left over I will do more on Genesis 24. It is great chapter and I am anxious to get into it Friday. Thanks for praying.  

MUCH ACTIVITY

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny ?Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Maybe you think you do not count; or nobody cares for me,

But friend, please know that God is looking; yes,He can see.

Our Heavenly Father knows all about us; nothing escapes Him,

You may try to hide, in the house, car, theater, or the gym.

Be sure, friend, He knows where you are, and He really cares,

If you call upon Him, please know that he hears all your prayers.(RP)

I have a meeting this morning, then I take Margie to the doctor at 10. In the afternoon we have Missionary meeting at the church, then we drive to the cleaners in Lynden to pick up some coats we had cleaned. So you can see we will be busy today. Any time we have at home will be spent working on Genesis 24. I broke this chapter into 3 separate classes because it is the longest chapter in Genesis.  Thanks, as always, for your prayers. 

UP AND RUNING

Proverbs 1:29-31

Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counselAnd despised my every rebuke. Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

Oh the folly of hating God's knowledge and refusing to fear His name,

Refusing His counsel and rebukes certainly puts man to blame.

Men's choices will come to haunt them if the follow in their own way,

And God will fill them to the brim with themselves and keep them in disarray.(RP)

Yes, we are up and running. We are not running very fast but at least we are mobile. Margie is busy cleaning the bathroom, and then she will work on preparing lunch. I am doing this website and blog work, then I will do more on our Shepherds book. At our age we notice there is plenty to do, and that is because we didn't get it done yesterday. Do you relate to this? We trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying.