Saturday, June 30, 2018

ALL DAY

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

O that we'd all seek after God like the Psalmist did in this verse,
But I fear that in life this is not the case, for many it's the reverse.
Let's learn to seek Him early before the activities start,
Go to Him in prayer, and commune with Him with all your heart.
We should thirst for God who brings refreshment to our dry soul,
Daily talk to the Lord, and upon Him let your burden roll.  (RP)

Even though I was not feeling well, I spent almost the entire day at my laptop looking for appropriate pictures to us in my new book.  It is an enjoyable exercise, but time consuming. But I have plenty of that.  Hopefully today I will be able to continue doing the search for more pictures. I am not up to par health-wise yet, so will take it easy.  Thanks for your prayers. 

Friday, June 29, 2018

MAYBE NOT OVER

Nehemiah 8:10b;......for the joy of the Lord is your strength

The source of joy for some, is from the things possessed,
But in the end most feel let down and so depressed.
God's way is so much better and surely gives one joy, 
Rejoice in God's gift of joy, and your strength no one will destroy. (RP)

I thought yesterday my "cold" or whatever I have, was subsiding.  During the night I did okay but sneezed some. This morning, I could wish to feel better, but at the moment that has not happened. I will consult the experts today for further treatment. In the meantime, thanks for praying for me.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

GLAD THAT IS OVER

I love the LORD, because He has heard My voice and my supplications.  Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.   Psa 116:1-2   

The Psalmist made a decision clear, to pray for the rest of his days,
This is because the Lord hears him when he bows his head and prays.
Oh what a blessing it is to know God hears our voice in prayer,
And we can be sure when we love Him so, we can cast on Him every care. (RP)

Whatever that was that I had, I am glad its better today. It hit me quickly, and I am limited in what medication I take. When I came home from the hospital after surgery, Gina got some pain reliever liquid medication at Walgreens. I never used it until this week. I am so thankful I had it. I missed the meeting at church last night, and regretfully will miss the prayer meeting this afternoon. Thank YOU for praying. It means so much to me.



Wednesday, June 27, 2018

UNDER THE WEATHER

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it  Luke 18:17

The faith of little children is so fresh, direct and pure,
What a lesson they do teach us in a world so insecure.
If we really want God's kingdom in our lives like children do, 
We must come as little children and our lives to Him subdue. (RP)

Yesterday afternoon I started feeling punk.  I am limited in what I can take as far as medicine is concerned. I got a couple of pills down and used vicks rub and went to bed. I had a more or less good night. After my shower this morning I feel better, but I am going to take it plenty easy.  I thank you for your prayers. 



Tuesday, June 26, 2018

MAIL CLEAN UP

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voiceand opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.Rev 3:20

Jesus is knocking, do you hear his voice sweetly calling you today?
He wants to come in and save your soul and put you on the right way.
Please open the door of your life to Him, inviting him in to stay,
And you'll be the happiest person on earth because you did it today. (RP)

Yesterday it had to happen. Since my surgery, email has backed up more than I wanted.  I decided to attack it. I did, and deleted about 3500 items. Those went into the deleted file, which already had its share of baggage. So then I deleted all 9500 (Plus) emails.  Then I started an aggressive attack on incoming mail and unsubscribed to many. I will keep that up until I have a manageable amount to deal with. What a relief to get rid of that MONSTER. I'm off to a good start this morning. Thanks so much for praying. 

Monday, June 25, 2018

A GRACIOUS OFFER

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.John 10:11

Jesus the Good Shepherd cares for his own and gives His life for them,
Each one is very important to Him, even as a precious gem.
Jesus gave His life for us that we may be in Heaven with Him,
And with Him as  Savior and Lord you can be sure life is not dim.  (RP)

I was pleased when Laurel Hicks, editor for my next book, offered to do another reading of the stories.  It is amazing how little things come to light, even though the book has been read several times.  I was able to send the entire manuscript via email to Laurel. Yesterday at church was a blessing. During the morning service several young people were called up front and special prayer was offered for their ministry at Camp Gilead this summer. We are proud of these fine dedicated youth.  Thanks for praying. 

Sunday, June 24, 2018

TIME TO WORK ON IT

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


We have an enemy, the devil himself, who wants us to have defeat,
And he'll do all in his power to accomplish this and rejoice if it is complete. 
So keep your guard, and seek God's help in your daily walk down here,
And you'll be glad you claimed His power to calm your every fear.

Thankfully I have a little more time now to work on the Shepherds book. In between extensive therapy sessions, and the special tube feeding, I will get more time to do it. Our Friday Bible class is in recess until Sept. 7, giving me time to finallhy get the book published. I was able to print off some introductory pages which I will take to Laurel Hicks this morning for her to review. Thanks so much for your prayers. 

Saturday, June 23, 2018

FOLLOW-UP

Jesus said to him,I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.John 14:6

Jesus gave the road map to us, showing each the right way to go,
And this leaves no room for doubt because now everyone can know.
He is the Way the Truth and the Life and in Him we are safe and secure,
So trust Him as Savior and rest in Him because in this plan you will endure. (RP)

This is a follow up word about yesterday's memorial for Iola Boyer.  There was a good group at the burial service where Pastor Decker officiated. At the church they figured approximately 80 were present for the service. These services are always rewarding, because you see people who you know, but seldom see. Pastor Decker, Ken Pollock, and I, conducted the service. Charlotte Boraker and her crew of helpers did a fantastic job with the refreshments. The array of goodies was spectacular. I certainly realized that during the service the Lord and Iola were honored.  I am grateful to the Lord for keeping my voice strong to do my part in the service. Thanks for praying. 

Friday, June 22, 2018

MEMORIAL

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us... Heb 12:1 

God put us in a race when He saved us from our sins,
And He gives the strength and courage so that each one wins
Around us are many examples of those who have run this race,
And our goal should at least be this, please Lord just help us keep pace.
In this pursuit God has placed us, one thing stands out for sure, 
We must run this race with patience if we intend to endure.  (RP)

Today is Iola Boyer's memorial service. We never know how many will attend, because she spent most of her life on foreign soil.  Some will be present in the service today who have never met her. Pastor Decker, Ken Pollock and I will be conducting the service, with others also participating. It will be a Christ-honoring service and special time to remember this dear saint who served Him faithfully.  Thanks for praying. 

Thursday, June 21, 2018

CONCERN

If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.2 Tim 2:13

We have a God so faithful that we never should forget
Who watches faithfully over us so we do not get upset,
His faithfulness is steady like a solid rock to us
We must never forget one moment that this is such a plus. (RP)

The speech and swallow therapist was happy with my progress. She does have a couple of concerns: When I read a portion to her as she was recording, she noticed a "crackle" in my voice pattern, that concerned her. She is very vigilant about my vocal chords. This is apparently a critical area that needs monitoring. If those chords do not shut or function properly, then issues develop. She liked the overall quality of my voice. She was also concerned with my much coughing and clearing of my throat. This I have had for some time, and she wants me to monitor it, and try to prevent it as much as possible. It is a daily challenge to stay on course, and keep all these things balanced. But with the Lord's help, we will be okay. Thank you so much for praying.

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

APPRECIATION

He who tills his land will be satisfied with bread, But he who follows frivolity is devoid of understanding.Prov 12:11

God takes delight in those who work to provide their daily needs,
He surely knows their working skills and for sure this one succeeds,
But some are foolish in their ways, and lazy to say the least,
And they have proven by their lives that it'll be hard for them to feast. (RP)

I am blessed with a family that is caring. My son, Rawlie, occasionally comes here to do his special projects at work. The Internet connection in my  house is excellent, and he likes that. His company is special to me, and he does this because he enjoys it. This is the third visit from him and his family in a week. I thank the Lord for each of them. Thank you for praying. 

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

PREPARATION

2 Samuel 22:31As for God, His way is perfect;The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

What a wonderful God we have, so perfect in all His ways,
And the Book He gave us is proven, never ceasing to amaze.
How special it is to trust Him with a promise direct from His Word.
Our shield, protector and Savior - no better news was ever heard. (RP)

I spent time yesterday getting a lot of things done that I needed to care for. Also, I wanted to get some more work done on the memorial service for Friday. I was glad to get a lot accomplished. It is nice having Rawlie here, who is working on his project from work and taking advantage of the good connection in my house. Thanks for your prayers.  

Monday, June 18, 2018

FATHER'S DAY VISIT

Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40  

In a world that's very topsy-turvy, and confusion rules the day,
We should always pay attention and do everything God's way.
When things go wrong around us, stop and listen to God's Word,
You will learn from it instruction like nothing you've ever heard.
He takes no pleasure in confusion,warfare and -selfish acts,
So learn to do things His way, and then you can daily relax (RP)

I could not have had it any better than what happened yesterday. After attending church in the morning, I came home, did my mid-day infusion of nutrients and subsequent therapy sessions for swallowing.  By mid afternoon my family arrived with their take out meals from Red Robin. Tressa brought me home made tapioca pudding and rhubarb sauce. What a treat. That was my dessert while they were eating their meal. It was a very enjoyable time. Later, they left for home, but Rawlie stayed to work on his work project here at my house. So it is very nice having him here again. Thanks for praying.

Sunday, June 17, 2018

RETREAT

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 
Ephesians 2:10


When we are saved God expects us to work,
It is written in His word and we should not shirk.
He made us beautiful and has a job for us to do,
So work for Him with enthusiasm and be true.
This work He prepared long ago, so don't delay,
Keep on doing it very faithfully from day to day. (RP)

The elders of our church had a mini retreat, and I was able to attend  a part of it on Saturday. It was a very profitable time for each of us. Upon returning home yesterday, Rawlie and Gina dropped by for a visit. They were in town on business, so came by my house before going back home. Now today, I look forward to Sunday School and church.  And I don't want to forget it: Happy Father's Day.  Thanks for your prayers.

Saturday, June 16, 2018

BEAUTIFUL CARD


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 I mentioned in my blog that the class was the last one until September 7, 2018.  We initiated the study in the book of Ruth. It was an animated class with good discussion and learning better Ruth 1.  We always have an enjoyable time. As the class terminated, they handed me two envelopes. One contained a beautiful card of appreciation for my teaching the class. Many wrote personal notes that are special and I value them greatly. The other envelope was filled with money, paper bills of various denominations. I was overwhelmed. I will use this gift to buy paper on which I print each study sheet for the week. I am impressed with the interest in this study.  Thanks so much for praying.



Friday, June 15, 2018

JUNE 15 - SEPT. 7

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Man left to himself will always choose wrong with eternal death as his lot.
With Christ in one’s life the right choice has been made and now you're in the right spot. (RP)

Today ends this season for the Friday Bible class. It has been a great adventure. I am indebted to Tom Knight who taught in my place all during my recovery process.  I have been doing it for several weeks, and thankfully feel fine. September 7 our class begins again. I will take advantage of the recess to try and get my Shepherds book off to press. Thanks for your prayers. 

Thursday, June 14, 2018

ROUTINE

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Oh the folly of many words spoken without the heart,
Revealing the sin of the speaker and proving he's not very smart.
The ones who are wise surely restrain their lips, 
Saving themselves from a serious trap and many a heartache skips. (RP)

Routine is the way we look at things. One definition is this:  a sequence of actions regularly followed; a fixed program.  We all have those, do we not? For some, routine becomes very boring or monotonous.  Maybe routine is in the eye of the beholder, or the one performing the action. In life, we must learn to live with routine, because it is part of everyday living.  I am so glad I am still around to perform routine duties. How about you? Thanks for praying.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

PEG-TUBE CARE

Proverbs 1:29- they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel and 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 in the follow of their own way,
And God will fill them to the brim with themselves and keep them in disarray. (RP)

People ask me about the feeding tube, and are still quite amazed that I still feed myself this way. That is the way it has to be until I can ingest food better by mouth. I am learning, and I think things are much better than previously.  I have to take care of the peg-tube, keeping bandages clean and dry. It is a chore I never expected in recovery, but it is okay.
Thanks so much for your prayer support.


Tuesday, June 12, 2018

DYSPHAGIA MECHANICAL/TRANSITIONAL


As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.Acts 13:2



God has a place for each to work in His harvest field so great,

He uses those who seek His face and upon Him patiently wait. (RP)



How do you like the title of today's blog?   That is a mouthful (no pun intended). My speech/swallow  therapist gave me this plan when she slowly started me on semi-solid food. The food consists of moist, soft-textured and simple-to-chew foods that form easily into a cohesive bolus. You ask, "What is bolus?"  Bolus is a small rounded mass of a substance especially of chewed food at the moment of swallowing. The menu she gave me  makes me "dizzy".  I realize how easy I have had it with Peg-tube feeding. No menus to worry about, No preparation for meals, etc. So now I start on a new journey which will test my ability (or lack thereof) during this transition period.  I appreciate your prayers as I work my way through this process. Thank you.

Monday, June 11, 2018

TIME TO ORDER

Proverbs 14:12
There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Man left to himself will always choose wrong with eternal death as his lot.
With Christ in one’s life the right choice has been made and now you're in the right spot. (RP)

After a blessed time at church yesterday, I returned home for my noon feeding process. When there are enough of the cartons of nutrient for six days, we are instructed to reorder.  I did that yesterday, but we made a change in the amount they send each month. The speech therapist now has me on semi solid food by mouth, so she suggested we cut down the amount of eight per day, to only seven. As things progress, this number will doubtless be reduced more. Thanks so much for praying.

Sunday, June 10, 2018

VISITORS

I am the Lord, who heals you.  Exodus 15:26

Medicine, hospitals doctors and nurses, are here to help us all,And thank God for them as they serve mankind, whether the great or small.God tells us plainly in His Word about healing, and we should hear,He's our Healer and we thank Him for this as He takes away our fear.  (RP)

It is enjoyable to receive visits. Long time friends David and Susan Lancaster were here yesterday for a nice visit. We have been friends for years and I appreciated their time here with me. They are former members at First Baptist, and we had plenty of things to talk about. David and Susan visited me at Swedish Hospital in Seattle after surgery, then in my home during recovery time. I appreciate their friendship.  This morning I look forward to Sunday School and worship service.  The weather is cooler today, so a little heat in the house feels good (for an old man).  Trust your day goes well. Thanks for praying.

Saturday, June 9, 2018

GOOD PROGRAMS

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!Psalm 34:8

The metaphor is a wonderful one with respect to knowing the Lord,When we have this relationship with the risen Lord -what a wonderful and sweet reward.Surely man is blessed when he trusts in the Lord depending wholly upon His will,Life is pleasant, filled with God's best and every day promises a thrill. (RP)

During the four times of feeding each day, I have plenty of extra time. 
Besides praying, I listen to radio programs with good Bible teaching. They are interesting and I learn a lot.  One reminds me of college days when we had Dr. J. Vernon McGee as teacher at Biola.  His daily programs are a blessing. The Bible class at Ferndale Center was a blessing as we studied 3 John.  Next week is our last class for the summer and we will start the book of Ruth.  Thanks for praying

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Friday, June 8, 2018

LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND

Ps 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints

YESTERDAY MORNING THE LORD CALL IOLA BOYER 

TO HEAVEN.
Margie is surely enjoying the presence of Iola (Slack) Boyer in heaven. Yesterday morning she died. I believe she was 94 years old. A pioneer missionary who labored more than 40 years in Ghana, Africa. She was a nurse, but also a linguist. She along with her helpers, translated the Bible into the Waali language, the place where she worked all those years. She left a great heritage, and we will miss her pleasant ways, her prayer ministry, and fascinating stories of life on the mission field.  Thanks for praying, and please remember her family for whom she was burdened.



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Thursday, June 7, 2018

CHALLENGE


And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one 
another, just as God in Christ forgave you..
(Ephes. 4:32)

God wants us to be kind to all who are around us,
With tenderness and forgiveness to all,
Christ forgave us at Calvary and the empty tomb,
And this blessing is for each one who upon Him will call
(RP)

An intriguing challenge for me is trying to work everything into my schedule. Some weeks I have as many 8 activities going on which include church, therapy, Bible class, shopping, and a few other things. Sometimes at 9 pm I am still attempting to finish, before bedtime. I know one thing: it is better to be busy than bored.  Boredom is not part of this schedule, thankfully. Thank YOU for praying.


Wednesday, June 6, 2018

SPEECH THERAPIST


 1Peter 5:6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

Some are high and mighty and strut around, and don't have time for God,
They foolishly leave God out and seem to go through life slipshod.
We are called to live above that style, let God have always first place,
Do this and you will be happy indeed as He fills you with joy and His grace.(RP)

I was pleased yesterday when the speech therapist immediately said how she liked the sound of my voice. The exercises I do by the hundreds all help in this she says. Another thing she helped me do was to take a pill. My medication normally is ground and liquefied and put in a syringe which in turn goes into the Peg-tube.  But this pill which I just received, cannot be ground. I asked her if she could help me learn how to get it down. She did, and now there is one more thing I have learned in this intriguing journey I am on. Thank you so much for praying. 



Tuesday, June 5, 2018

BIBLE CLASS UPDATE


"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)

I have only two more classes left for the Friday Bible class at the Ferndale Senior Activity Center.Of course many of them I missed because of my surgery and subsequent recovery period. The center takes the same schedule as the Ferndale High School.  When the class is finished, I plan on dedicating my time to the publishing of my book on Shepherds.  I am looking forward to this. It is all written, but all the other things associated with getting it to press are yet to be done.  Thanks for your prayers. 

Monday, June 4, 2018

ANSWERED PRAYER

Matthew 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

God's ways are so very special,if we only just take heed,
He supplies us richly with His goods, the things we really need.
Oh that we would learn today, to follow His plan each day,
Then we would receive what is best for us as we go along the way.  (RP)

As stated before, I am so grateful to the Lord for restoring my voice so I could preach yesterday. When I preached Christmas Eve Sunday, 2017, I thought it may be my last. My surgeon had warned me I could lose my voice in the surgery that followed. Indeed my voice went down to a whisper, but with a medical procedure, was restored, and I give the Lord all the praise for this wonderful gift. As I preached yesterday, my heart was filled with gratitude that I was able to serve Him that way. Thank you dear friends for helping me through prayer to do it. I appreciate it so very much.

Sunday, June 3, 2018

PREACHING


Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Lord, I'm glad you made this day for us, it's beautiful indeed, Help me rejoice and be happy  as Your Word I study and read.  (RP)

When I preached in our church Christmas Eve Sunday, I thought it could be the last time for a long time, or ever. The surgeon told me that in the surgery, there was a possibility of losing my voice. He assured me it could be restored if that happened. As many of you know, my voice did go down to a whisper, and March 7, I had a procedure done that restored the voice. I am so thankful. That is the reason why I can preach today at my church. Many of you have prayed much about my health, and I appreciate each one of you. Thanks for praying.

Saturday, June 2, 2018

PREPARATIONS


But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:2

Christian, do you love God's book the Bible; do you delight in it each day?
If you do God blesses richly, and for sure you'll be lead along His way.
When you read this precious Book, and meditate on each thought therein,
It will thrill your soul completely and you will breathe heartily and give a grin.
This Word read with dedication will be your comfort in sleepless nights,
It consoles all along your journey, in the valleys and in the heights. (RP)


I was glad when so many came to the Friday class. We are near the end of this season, with only two more classes. The Senior Center follows the High School schedule, and Friday the fifteenth is the last day of school.  Rawlie is still with me here, but this morning leaves for his home. He may be back again so he can work on the special project from work, because the quietness and good internet connection is desirable.  I am making my last preparations for the message I am to have at our church on Sunday. What a privilege to preach there. Thank you all for praying.

Friday, June 1, 2018

FAMILY VISIT


Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

There are many delights in this world today, but so many are empty and vain,
Those who pursue them are seeking so hard, but in the end there is nothing to gain. 
If only the Lord would be sought by them, an answer would come their way,
And they would be satisfied with His dear touch, and they would be thankful and pray. (RP)


Rawlie's family dropped by for a visit while he was here working for  his company at my house. It was so nice to see them for awhile.  Yesterday I cut down my intake of nutrient cartons fro 8 to 7. This is because I am taking in calories with the food I take by mouth, so this compensates for it. It is an interesting challenge, and I am learning a lot through it all. Thanks for praying.