MEETING THEIR TRUE NEEDS

I have no intention to depart in the smallest degree from the main principles on which I have acted in the past. My only hope for the permanent deliverance of mankind from misery, either in this world or the next, is the regeneration or remaking of the individual by the power of the Holy Ghost through Jesus Christ. But in providing for the relief of temporal misery I reckon that I am only making it easy where it is now difficult, and possible where it is now all but impossible, for men and women to find their way to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.

--William Booth (10 April 1829 - 20 August 1912): British Methodist preacher and founder of The Salvation Army, serving as its first General (1878-1912).

The Farm

Ma would have loved this.

(Ensign, Michigan - August 2010)

Growl & Giggles

What growls and giggles?

My 9 month granddaughter, Amelia.

Grrrrrrrr & a giggle from the depth of her little soul. She is also a hugger.

Blessed, that's me.

It's not supposed to be that way. . .

I don’t know if he’ll make it. A friend—a recovering drunk—once told me that sometimes you only get saved by dying. It’s not supposed to be that way. You’re supposed to help them and then they come to Jesus and then they’re better.

WORLDmag.com | Community | Blog Archive | Ceaseless

Winning is not everything?

"I'm supposed to be a different person now that I've won a slam. Everyone says so. But I don't feel that Wimbledon has changed me. I feel, in fact, as if I've been let in on a dirty little secret: winning changes nothing.

Now that I've won a slam, I know something that very few people on earth are permitted to know. A win doesn't feel as good as a loss feels bad, and the good feeling doesn't last as long as the bad. Not even close. -Andre Agassi,

L. The things of this world do not bring lasting happiness. I have felt exactly what Mr. Agassi says about winning. A loss holds a much greater sway upon the soul than a win. Perhaps it is the same thing as taking for granted a beautiful day with people you love with good food...versus a day of pain and trouble which makes you cry out to God ---

How long wilt Thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt Thou hide Thy face from me? (Psalm 13:1)

Absentee . . .

Momma's first birthday in heaven.

I am longing to be sitting with you enjoying conversation with a really "good" cup of coffee.

Happy 93rd Birthday, Mother.

A firm foundation . . .

Faith in rescuing » GetReligion

They sang the hymn, How Firm a Foundation:

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand

Legacy. . .

Hot Air » How does one become a “worst American?”

2. Rachel Carson and William Ruckelshaus – The banning of DDT has led to 60 million dead worldwide.

1. The Rosenbergs – No Americans have done more to help create the Evil Empire and its sister states (including China) then the Rosenbergs. More have suffered and died as a result of this then I can comprehend.

A good name is better than precious ointment (Ecclesiastes 7:1).

Lincolnesque

Once on the road Lincoln was stopped by an old woman who informed him that he was just about the ugliest man she'd ever seen. He said, "Ma'am, I can't help my face." She replied, "No, I guess not. But you could stay home."

(Some days, me too!)

Exit

Alcoholism is a dark tunnel only the addict would understand. Its initial welcome is heaven itself.

The exit from the tunnel, if there is one, is filled with the hell of many cold turkeys and pitch black despair about everything.

Only God, as far as I’m concerned, can get us out of it.

If you don’t believe in God?

You’ll die from the addiction to alcohol. (- Michael Moriarty, Big Hollywood)

An excellent mother . . .

Suzie is a Gordon Setter; her official name is “Oh Susannah of Springset Kennels.”

The owner of the kennel taught Sunday school with my husband and we got Suzie as a breeder dog. She provided one litter of puppies and then became our dog for free.

Note: Suzie was described by the kennel owner as being an excellent mother because she didn’t kill any of her children.

By that measure, I’m an excellent mother myself.

(Me, too.)

The Master, even in Golf. . .

Sunday, relaxing in my chair reading the GR Press. Cubbies were out of town and WGN was broadcasting the Sox (: (), so tuned in the Master's and enjoyed the trial and error of play among the greats. Who knew even the pros could miss a foot shot to the flag?

Anyhoo...picked up Tiger's comments as he sliced into the trees...I know I heard him blaspheme the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus Christ. News outlets have picked up his out of control temper, but no one mentioned the slander of "the name that is above all names."

Can we say to pray for the man...evidently he knows not what Master his tongue will acknowledge some day.

"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow...and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" ( Philippians 2:10-11).

Remorse

As Lady MacBeth spake on just such an occasion:
"Out Damned spot! Out, I say"
~ Macbeth, Act V. Scene I.

Stupak spelled backward is Kaputs.

Stupak's Original Sin:
Kathleen Parker

Give me patience ...

by Esther Homoki (now at home with the Lord)

"…to never relax the self-watch. Never to indulge in unkind or thoughtless criticism of others. Never to utter the hasty word, or permit the sharp retorts; never to complain, except to God; never to permit hard and distrustful thoughts to lodge within the soul; to always be more thoughtful of others than of self; to detect the one blue spot in the clouded sky; to be on the alert to find an excuse for those who are forward and awkward; to suffer the aches and pains, the privations and trials of life sweetly, submissively, trustfully; to drink the bitter cup with the eyes fixed on the Father’s face, without a murmur or complaint. We cannot live such a life till we have learned to avail ourselves of the riches of the indwelling Christ."


I chose to print this in The Grace Messenger. My sister read it in her Bible study group and she said they all laughed incredulously that anyone could live up to such a high standard. I was convicted that maybe the statement was too lofty for mere mortals to aspire, but many times Esther’s words have come back to me.

The key I believe is the last line: We cannot live such a life till we have learned to avail ourselves of the riches of the indwelling Christ.

I love Esther’s words, and though I fail, they still ring true to what I want to attain to in my walk, in the Lord.

Darkness...

You may be afraid to face the years ahead. You’re not the only one, but if you extinguish the light of your faith and wisdom, you consign others to darkness.

Hot Air » » A prayer from the living world

I suffered from a crippling depression in 2003/4 that came after a traumatic event. In my hopelessness, I turned to my faith in God. My belief that God cared about me and had a greater purpose for my life inspired me to get up off the couch. I began walking each day. First it was 100 yards…and eventually I could walk around the block, and then more.

I memorized scripture, in particular, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

My stronghold was the erroneous belief that things would never get better. I learned that I was not defined by my fears…that Truth was not only worth listening to, but worth living for.

It took 9 months of discipline to recover from the deepest hole of my life…and months beyond that to be 100%. God did his work in me as I paid attention and chose to take my thoughts captive. There is hope. I found Hope.

(From a comment from LEBA on February 27)

William Tyndale (1494-1536)

William Tyndale (1494-1536)

William Tyndale was the Oxford-educated polyglot theologian and reformer who produced the first printed Bible in English.

His translation was from Erasmus' Greek-Latin Bible, the same one which Luther used to translate his German Bible. Tyndale's Bible was banned in Britain: you can't trust the rabble to read it themselves. He famously said that he wanted a Bible that "every plowman" could read himself.

Tyndale was executed by Henry Vlll for his efforts. It is believed that Thomas More was pushing for the execution.

It is thought that up to 80% of the King James Bible - the most printed book in the world - is Tyndale's product.

Albert...at least Felix trembled. . .

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. (Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate, 1879-1955)

Consider the Apostle Paul when speaking before Felix the governor:

"And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled" - Acts 24:24-25

Oops! Presumption does another in. . .

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist - -" -last words of General Sedgwick

John Sedgwick - Wikipedia

Sweet Babe. . .

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle. - Vincent van Gogh -

Our little girl is full-term. She is comfortable and warm, the Doctor says, and not anxious to leave what she knows for what she doesn't.

Even so, the space is getting more confining every day, and the time for exit is imminent. We are waiting to see her smiles. Should be soon.

December 21 - Solstice

The Solstice Seen from Newgrange @ AMERICAN DIGEST