tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4274825746691888932024-03-12T23:38:00.294-07:00Women of CalvarySandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-87980704441166308512012-07-29T21:05:00.003-07:002012-07-29T21:05:48.323-07:00Until Death<br />
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Until death<br /><br />Those two little words seem so out of place at a wedding, don’t they? Until death. Who wants to think of death when the bride and groom are celebrating the beginning of their life together. Death is the last thing on their minds. But there it is, that word “death” is spoken during the ceremony. But it is spoken as a promise to be faithful to marriage vows until death. As out of place <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">as it seems on that day, it is the basis for all of their life to come….until death.<br /><br />On my birthday in 1983, I was preparing for our wedding day the next afternoon. I turned 28 and was ready for all that God had ahead for us. The summer before in August Bud had taken me on a picnic to Harris Hill near my home in Horseheads, NY. While we were there he proposed to me and slipped a diamond on my finger. Our relationship had begun 3 years earlier while I was teaching school in Rochester, NY. He was a student at BBC and began writing to me. So for three years we wrote letters (no e-mail or cell phones in those days) and tried to see each other as often as we could work it out. Oh how precious those letters are to me now!<br /><br />July 30, 1983, dawned bright and hot! No air-conditioning in the little country church in Breesport, NY, but that did not matter. It was our wedding day. As a surprise to Bud, I wrote new words to a melody, recorded my voice singing the song, and had that song played as I came down the aisle. Tomorrow I plan to go find a cassette recorder and listen to the ceremony. To hear his voice say our vows will bring me to tears, I’m sure. But I need to hear those words of love and commitment again. Especially now. How thankful I am that we did our best to keep our vows. Yes, we failed sometimes, me more often than he. And sometimes most miserably on my part. But we did strive to keep them through the almost 29 years God gave us. I know I am not bound to those vows now that death has separated us as Bud slipped into eternity on April 14,, but I will continue to honor him and his memory by my actions, how I speak of him, and as I continue to minister to the children God gave us. </span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><br /><br />Our vows were written by us and are as follows:<br /><br />Bud’s –<br />Sandy, before God, our family and friends, I commit myself to be your husband, promising to love you unconditionally and sacrificially, to honor and cherish you, to share with you my dreams and ambitions, as well as my burdens and disappointments, to be your best friend, your provider, your protector, though we may experience illness, hardness or affliction, according to God’s holy ordinance. I love you, Sandy.<br /><br />And mine –<br />Bud, I commit myself to you to be your wife. I promise to honor and cherish you above all others, to obey you, to comfort and encourage you through whatever we experience in life. I will support your endeavors as you seek to serve the Lord. I will be true and faithful to you according to God’s holy ordinance until we are separated by death. I love you, Bud.</span></div>
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<span class="fcg" style="color: grey;"><br /></span></div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-25117300282066825162012-07-29T21:02:00.000-07:002012-07-29T21:02:04.965-07:00God is in Every Tomorrow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Recently I was going through things in Bud's office and packing it all up. In the next few posts I want to share some special things I found in his desk, on his clipboard, in his files. They speak of his faith, his confidence in the Lord, his love for his family. These little tidbits speak of the legacy he has left behind. The poem shared below was in the top drawer of his desk. He was not a poem </span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">person, so it surprised me to find it. Perhaps someone gave it to him and it touched a spot in his soul. Today it gives me comfort because it is truth.</span><br /></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;">God is in every tomorrow</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Therefore I live for today,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Certain of finding at sunrise</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Guidance and strength for the day;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Power for each moment of weakness;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Hope for each moment of pain;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Comfort for every sorrow;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Sunshine and joy after rain.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">God is in every tomorrow</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Planning for you and for me;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">E’en in the dark will I follow,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Trust where my eyes cannot see.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Stilled by His promise of blessing,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Soothed by the touch of His hand,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Confident in His protection,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Knowing my life-path is planned.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">God is in very tomorrow,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Life with its changes may come;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">He is behind and before me,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">While in the distance shines Home!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Home where no thoughts of tomorrow</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Ever can shadow my brow;</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Home in the presence of Jesus,</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Through all eternity now!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Author unknown</span></div>
</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-69095414908020311242012-06-24T19:29:00.001-07:002012-06-24T19:29:23.266-07:00My Father's Day blessing for my kids - June 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">My Father's Day blessing for my kids yesterday:</span><br style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;" /><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Many many years ago, almost 400 years ago in fact, three Spencer brothers and one sister crossed the Atlantic from England to settle near what is Boston today with the first wave of the "Great</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"> Migration" of 1630. One of those brothers, Gerard Spencer, is the line through which my father came. Gerard's brother, Thomas, was a furniture maker - a trade my father has taken up in retirement. In 1686, just before Thomas died in Hartford, Connecticut - a town he helped establish - he wrote his last will and testament. The last part of the will is what I read to my children around the dinner table on Sunday afternoon, " Finally I leave all my children with the Lord and desire his blessing may be their portion, that they may love and serve Him, and live in love and peace one with another when I shall be gathered to my fathers....." I feel that would have been Bud's last wishes for my kids. I'm so grateful for the godly heritage in my forefathers. I pray that legacy will continue into future generations.</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-27892341556533913052012-06-07T18:08:00.004-07:002012-06-07T18:08:51.408-07:00Mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recently I've been going up to church during the week just to be alone for a little while in Bud's office. I go in and check the mail, answer phone messages, tidy up a bit, and just sit in his chair to think, to cry, to pray. I love it there. It's his place, his place to study, to pray, to think, to work. I find comfort there. As I'm there, I'm starting to go through his personal things and bring <span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">some of it home now to save. I found one of his posters that he loved. On it is pictured a rust-colored rocky cliff and two men rock climbing on it at dizzying heights. Also inscribed on it are the words, "Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2." Bud loved that poster.<br /><br />It all started back in 1986 when he and I and little Jeremy took a trip to Yosemite National Park in California. While we were there for the week, he took rock climbing classes. I would wheel Jeremy in the stroller to the base of the cliff, look up at my husband way up there hanging only by ropes, and pray! On Saturday his dad came up from San Francisco to climb with him. That was the beginning. He went on to climb in many other places. Also he loved the challenge of hiking mountains. From the Colorado Rockies climbing peaks over 13,000 feet, to the autumn Catskills ablaze with color in every direction, to the blustery heights of Mount Washington. He loved the mountains. I used to ask him why? Why do you do this? It's a lot of effort. It's not safe." And he would say, "Because it's there." Not what my safety-loving heart wanted to hear. I like my feet on solid, low lands!<br /><br />Seeing that poster again helped me to understand why Bud loved the mountains. They pictured for him his eternal God. Psalm 90:2 says, "Before the mountains were brought forth or before you had formed the earth and world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God." The mountains reminded Bud of his own mortality. God was eternal, existed before those mighty mountains He created. The psalmist said he looked to the hills from where his help came. The mountains reminded Bud that God was his help, God was eternal, and His creation of the mountains declares His majesty to our own feeble minds.<br /><br />Mountains....mentioned many times in the Scriptures. The mountain on which Moses received the ten commandments; the mount of Transfiguration of Jesus; Jerusalem on the mountain; the Mount of Olives on which Jesus prayed before His crucifixion.<br /><br />The mountains....I'm glad Bud climbed them.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">When I was pregnant with Janelle, Bud took his first Algonquin wilderness canoe trip. He went with people from North Baptist Church in Rochester, NY. When I went to drop him off to go with them, I got to reconnect with two former students o</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">f mine - Jay and Suzanne Hamilton. Fun! I found out they had married. Oh my, who would have dreamed that when they were my 6th grade students! After that week in Algonquin, Bud took many more over the years. He took teens, young adults, and even older adults like Everett and Elayne Biielby, Paul and Faith Harold and others! It was a great week of canoeing about 80 miles, away from the trappings of life at home. No phones, no fast food, no media. Time in God's creation. Time alone with God. Great times with others, learning together. This picture is Janelle and Bud sitting alone by a lake there. A special time with Daddy all to herself! How I wish I now had a recording of their conversation!<br /><br />Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Psalm 90:2<br /><br />If you went on an Algonquin trip with Bud, please feel free to share something God taught you through that experience and perhaps how that lesson is still helping you in your walk with God today. Thanks!</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-3095167763544500532012-05-17T19:43:00.001-07:002012-05-17T19:43:49.196-07:00Peace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 14px;">From "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin</span></span></div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-60933701992627982992012-05-17T19:30:00.001-07:002012-05-17T19:30:41.745-07:00With the Lord - Baptist Bulletin article<br />
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Leland “Bud” Hall, 54, went to be with the Lord in his sleep on April 14. He was serving as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, Bay Shore, N.Y. Prior to his ministry in Bay Shore, he served on staff at Evangel Baptist Church, Taylor, Mich., for 22 years. He graduated from Baptist Bible College, Clarks Summit, Pa., in 1980 and from Baptist Bible Seminary in 1984.</div>
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Bud’s foremost ministry was to his family. He was a faithful husband to Sandy for almost 29 years, and a devoted father to his five children: Jeremy, Joanna Syroteuk, Jason, Janelle, and Joseph. They will always remember how supportive and involved he was in each of their individual sports and pursuits, as well as how he and Sandy taught them to walk with God daily and love Him with heart, soul, mind, and strength.</div>
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Pastor Bud’s passion for the local body of Christ was evident to all. His greatest pursuit in church ministry was evangelism and discipleship. While pastoring at Evangel Baptist in Michigan, he became trained to teach Evangelism Explosion and devoted much time to equipping believers of all ages to share their faith. As a youth pastor, Bud’s vision for those in his youth group was to be servant leaders in their own sphere of influence; he accomplished this by encouraging the teens to step out of their comfort zone and take responsibility in ministry even at a young age. A large percentage of those teens, many who are currently training for or are in full-time ministry today, have attributed their spiritual walk with Christ to Pastor Bud’s example, vision, training, and equipping.</div>
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As pastor of Calvary Baptist in New York, Pastor Bud’s passion for discipleship in ministry involved a greater emphasis and involvement in preaching and teaching. Through corporate worship, men’s or couple’s Bible studies, or one-on-one relationships, Pastor Bud encouraged believers to take the next step in their spiritual walk with Christ—whether baptism, sharing their faith, getting involved in the body of Christ, reaching out to brothers and sisters in Christ both local and around the world, or becoming spiritual leaders in their own families. Although he ministered in Bay Shore for only five years, he had an incredible impact in both the local church and the community.</div>
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In his community, Bud conducted many devotions for Christian Youth Soccer League, Port Jefferson Station, N.Y., and was a fixture on Saturday mornings, cheering on the kids. The soccer league says, “Truly we have been blessed by knowing this man and his ministry. We give God the glory for his wisdom, kindness and grace which was so evident in the life of Pastor Bud Hall.”</div>
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Bud’s family says, “Though in our perspective his life was brief, as a man of integrity, wisdom, vision, and devotion, Leland ‘Bud’ Hall has left a rich legacy for the glory of God.”</div>
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<br /></div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-90287945008744407302012-05-17T19:25:00.002-07:002012-05-17T19:25:58.766-07:00Home!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Home! so many memories of home. Bud asked me to marry him the summer of 1982. Knowing he was headed for ministry, he prefaced his proposal with a reminder to me that we might never own our own home. If I married him, I was stepping into min<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">istry with him....whatever that meant for us and wherever that took us. Was I willing? Yes, a thousand yeses! We married July of 1983. Graciously the Lord took us to Evangel Baptist Church in Taylor, MI, the summer of 1984 when Bud finished seminary. We moved into our home in Woodhaven in October. What I thought might never happen became a reality. We owned our own home! Little did we even guess then that we would live there for 22 years. All five of our children were born while we lived there. The neighborhood was wonderful with other families with young children.<br /><br />Home! Meals, diapers, repairs, guests, discipleship, music lessons, books, chores, homeschooling,toys, loving, prayers.....home. I am so grateful for the many memories of our first home. My heart was to make it a refuge for Bud and for my children. A place of training, education, growth, safety.<br /><br />Home! now the memories flood my mind.....<br />Doing dishes at the kitchen sink and looking out the window to suddenly see my 2 year old Janelle on top of the monkey bars. How on earth did she get up there?<br /><br />A 15 year old son Jeremy heading out the door for a mission trip and remembering to come back in to say goodbye to Mom and give me a hug.<br /><br />Jason sneaking into the girls' room at night after lights out to talk with Joanna and Janelle. They wonder if I knew?<br /><br />Bud praying with Joanna in the living room in the very early morning before her knee surgery.<br /><br />Joseph up on the ladder at 6 or 7 years old helping hold a piece of siding in place for Bud as he worked to reside the house.<br /><br />Bud desperately trying to turn off the water to the house while a pipe in the utility room had sprung a leak. Water spraying everywhere....Bud soaked! Little vignettes of sweetness!<br /><br />Home! I quote Henry Beecher, "Home should be an oratorio of the memory, singing to all our after life melodies and harmonies of old remembered joy."</span></div>
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</div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-81749117286858175002012-05-17T19:23:00.002-07:002012-05-17T19:23:44.816-07:00Ever Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Several years ago Bud and I attended a Marriage Journey workshop sponsored by some good friends here on Long Island. Even after 25 years of marriage, we still needed to be refreshed and taught. Time for true heart-to-heart connection. This</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">workshop taught several communication skills which significantly helped us in our marriage to understand each other better. This picture represents so much about us, always learning. Over the years Bud became more and more my best friend. Precious!</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-22114665200866109972012-05-11T20:03:00.001-07:002012-05-11T20:22:49.748-07:00It's the Fam!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Family.....such a precious word. The Hall family! You know the signs you see sometimes that you can hang in your home? "All because two people fell in love"! What a privilege to raise a family of five children together for God! </div>
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Family....struggles sometimes. Yes, our family had and has them too. Misunderstandings, irritations, disagreements. But in the midst of all of those times were also the precious times. The times of introducing a new little one to the other kids. Family vacations with all seven of us stuffed into a minivan with all the ski equipment, coolers of food, luggage. No one could move; we were so packed in like sardines. Family game times. Birthdays. Weddings. It's a family....living life together. Walking together in the grace of life. Learning, growing, loving no matter what.</div>
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Losing Bud to glory was a horrible shock to all of us as you can imagine. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have experienced the deep love of God along with His never-ending grace. Times for all of us to be together are becoming very rare now that some are married and have moved away from home. The week following Bud's death, we were all here together. We laughed, teased, played games and tricks on each other, helped, and had a lot of fun.....all in the midst of our tears and sorrow. How can the two be mingled together? Joy and grief. I don't know except that is what happened. We are a family. How I thank God for this sweetness!</div>
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<br /></div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-89462136554986816682012-05-09T20:57:00.000-07:002012-05-09T20:57:10.504-07:00The Promises of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Almost 29 years ago Bud and I made promises to one another on our wedding day. And thankfully by God's grace, we have kept those promises. But....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Promises are made to be broken....at least that's way it seems in our culture. A parent bribes a child, "We will go to the zoo on Friday." But they never go. A mechanic guarantees, "I will have your car done by 2 o'clock today." But two days later you are still waiting! A promise seems to mean nothing. Maybe this is why it is hard for us to trust in the promises of God. Would you say that you believe and act upon God's promises? Or do you doubt His Word?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of us would say we do believe God's promises, but do we really trust what He says in His Word and what He promises to us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hebrews chapter 11 lists many who did believe in the promises of God. Among that list are the names of women who trusted. Sarah is one, the wife of Abraham, who had the choice to believe God or look at the impossible circumstances around her.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hebrews 11:11, "Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What exactly was God's promise to Abraham and Sarah? Genesis 12:1-3 records that God told Abram and Sarai (their names at this point in the story) to leave their kinsmen and country to go to a place where God would lead them. He promised to make of them a great nation, to bless them, to use them to bless all other nations of the earth, and to protect them as they went. Later in Genesis 15:2-6, God says their descendants would outnumber the stars in the sky. Actually these promises were spoken by God directly to Abraham but they certainly included Sarah as God said that she would bear a child as the means to God beginning to fulfill His promises.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Genesis 18 tells the account of the three men who visited Abraham and Sarah and told them of God's promise that Sarah would truly bear a son. Sarah's first reaction was to laugh - this was totally impossible because she was past the time of her life when she could have a child.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Aren't we like her in spirit? Maybe we don't actually laugh out loud, but deep, deep down in our heart we keep focused on all of the circumstances that we think prevent God from working and doing all that He has promised and is able to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* A doctor tells a woman that it is impossible for her to carry a pregnancy full term.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* Or a child is so far way from walking in harmony with his family and it seems like he will never come back no matter how hard you pray.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* Or a husband is unsaved or seems to be cold toward spiritual things....and things are getting worse and worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* Or you have been badly hurt by someone and healing is far, far away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We face those "impossible circumstances" here in this twentieth century; maybe not the same exact details as Sarah faced, but certainly to the same magnitude of overwhelming odds against us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">BUT GOD!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Genesis 21:1-2 says, "And the Lord visited Sarah <b>as He had said</b>, and the Lord did unto Sarah<b> as He had spoken</b>. For Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, <b>at the set time of which God had spoken to him."</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Romans 4:21 comes to mind, "and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God had promised Abraham and Sarah a son, and He gave it. Now was there any reason to doubt that He would fulfill the rest of His promises to Abraham that He had given earlier? Our verse about Sarah in Hebrews 11 says that Sarah received strength to conceive. That strength was not actual physical strength, but the Greek word here means "a special, miraculous abundance of power." The conception of this child was not the norm; Isaac was conceived by the miraculous, mighty working of an all-powerful God Who was doing just what He said He would do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Couldn't God have caused Sarah to conceive Isaac at an earlier time in her life when it was naturally possible for her to bear children? Sure! But by waiting until it was impossible, humanly speaking, He was able to show Himself "faithful who had promised" as Hebrews 11 tells.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God does what He says!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you believe that? Do you believe that He deals with us out of a heart of love? Or do you succumb to Satan's lies that God has forgotten you or turns a deaf ear to your prayers? What better choice do we have than to cling to God, His loving character, and His Word?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What are some of God's promises to Christians today as revealed in the Bible? The study of the promises of God is a wonderful lesson in His goodness. His Word is truth. You can be sure that whatever God promises us, Satan will quietly whisper and sometimes shout the exact opposite to us in our heart. He will twist the truth and amplify the "impossible circumstances" to get us to doubt what God has said.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">1. <b>Once we are saved, we are forever God's children. </b>One promise that God give to Christians today is found in John 10:27-29 which says, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once you have been saved by sincerely accepting Christ's sacrificial death on the cross as payment for the penalty of your sins, you are forever saved. You belong to Him just as the sheep belong to the shepherd. And because of who God is - the eternal, all-powerful Father - we can know that we will always be saved. We now have eternal life, spiritual life and will live forever with Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Has Satan been whispering his lies to you that you are such a failure as a Christian or as a wife or mother, that surely you are no longer saved? If he can get you to believe that, you will not grow in your walk with God and you will wallow around in your sin for a long time, even years. There is no sin that can cause you to be "plucked out of his hand." This is not an excuse to sin or to stay in our sin as is discussed in Romans 6:1-2. We need to confess our sin and trust in His promise to forgive (I John 1:9). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please remember that your salvation was not earned by you, neither can it be maintained by you. The focus of these verses in John 10 teaches us that when we recognize how great and powerful God the Father is then we understand that no one is able to go against His great work of salvation in our lives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are you willing to build the assurance of your salvation upon His character and His promise? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2. <b>God will forgive a repentant heart.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another promise given to Christians is in I John 1:9 which was briefly mentioned above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Do you believe this verse? Do you believe it fully or are there some of your secret sins that you won't even admit to God, let alone believe that He can and will forgive them if you confess them?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sometimes we carry around with us the sins of years past because we don't really believe that God is able to forgive them and cleanse us. Sometimes we do lay them at His feet, admitting our failure, but then at a later time Satan gets us to pick them back up again and we continue to lug around the guilt again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God did not intend for us to live that way. He saved to the uttermost, cleansed away all of the guilt of our sins, and gave us the power to live for Him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If there is a sin in your heart to which you are holding and hiding, may I encourage you to confess it to God by admitting that what you did was wrong and then trust Him to be faithful to forgive and cleanse you as He has promised.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And if that sin was against another person, make it right by asking forgiveness of him, thus allowing God to make you totally free of the guilt. He has already paid for that sin through His death on the cross. He already knows about it because He is all-knowing; there is nowhere that we can hide from him (Psalm 139, "O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me...").</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3. <b>God is ever-present with us. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And what of the promise that God is ever-present with us? Matthew 28:20 tells us that He is with us always. "And, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age." Do you believe that? Or does Satan ever get you to doubt that? Especially in the middle of trouble, we quietly begin to wonder if God has lost us in the billions of people living on the earth today or think that maybe He has forgotten about us for a day, a month, or even for years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Where is your confidence and courage?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">According to Joshua 1:8, if you are feeling that way, it's probably because you have not been meditating in the Word of God and doing what it says. "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."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When we don't fill our minds and hearts with God's truth, we wander around in doubts and fears.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, but He also told him how to do it - by reading God's Word and thinking about it day and night and then by doing what it says to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you doubt His presence?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It is not because He has moved but because you have turned away. For whatever circumstances you face as a woman, as a wife and mother, God is there with you as He promised. What a comfort? And what hope for the future! I can face all of life with Him beside me, helping me, guiding us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If we do not believe God promises, Satan leads us to doubt, despair, discouragement, depression and even defiance against God. Perhaps others have broken their promises to you, but God never will. Some of the women in Hebrews 11, the Hall of Faith chapter, never saw the promise fulfilled in their lifetime, but in heaven all promises will be kept and realized. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My prayer:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I have anchored my soul in Your unchanging presence, Your all-knowing wisdom and Your deep abiding love. Because of these, I can trust Your promises.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>(Just a few weeks before Bud died, I wrote this article but never got to proofread it and publish it here. I believe God was preparing my heart as I wrote this for the events He knew were coming. I do believe God's promises. I believe He is a father to the fatherless and a defender of widows - Psalm 68. I believe He hears my prayers. And I will trust His promises. I will speak truth to my heart by God's grace.)</i></span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-75123465124142006802012-05-02T12:05:00.000-07:002012-05-02T12:49:20.764-07:00Blessed be the name of the Lord<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlD5gY8WAsMY5DZjUsM6fPSBPK4gvv_JNdTDvE-4wEU2ki3wuN3d0ZRM-F6pV-AOQjOXMaTXIBDkxawS9k1vKdSVRYFT5ZLoznhOqR29vGMv9eUUM1TZ6IoAxet7EpUZtDt7hl4c6ZHs/s320/IMG_1393.JPG" /><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 1.5;">Thank you, dear friends, for your prayers, financial gifts and practical helps you have given to our family at this time. We are daily depending upon God's grace. Below are some words God gave me to speak at Bud's memorial service in Michigan. I pray they are an encouragement to you.</span>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">"My children are not sure I should try to or even would be able to speak today, but since I cannot possibly speak to each of you individually I wanted to share my heart to you all together.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thankfully the Lord veils the future from our eyes. Bud used to say about things that surprised him, “Who-da thunk it?””” We had no clue that when he closed his eyes to sleep that Friday evening, he would open his eyes in glory. We had a sweet evening together Friday to celebrate the fact that he had ridden his bike 1,000 miles since January 1. He requested his favorite meal and then took me out for a dessert treat. Had I known what the next day would hold I could not have enjoyed what is now a sweet precious memory.<o:p id="yui_3_2_0_21_133598474790768"></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It will come as no surprise that as I look back over recent months, God was preparing me for this day. Our ladies Bible study has been memorizing Psalm 91 this year and recently quoted it for our adult Sunday school class. Now phrases from that passage are anchoring my soul. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him I will trust.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Also in ladies Bible study this year we have focused on thankfulness. We have kept daily journals of the blessings, both big and small, that God gives to us. Because I have exercised thankfulness all year long, my heart turned to gratefulness over and over in these past weeks.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I am thankful for the years God gave Bud and me together.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I am thankful for the godly examples He set before us.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I am thankful for the love and support of God’s people<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I am thankful for my five children and their spouses who have stepped up to care for me. They hovered over me so carefully, that finally one afternoon I held up my car keys and said, “These are my keys to my suburban and I am taking a ride alone.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I am thankful for the Savior we served together.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I am thankful that Bud now has the joy of seeing God face to face.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The last sermon Bud preached was Resurrection Sunday. Now what he believed to be true by faith is sight. The week before that he preached in Acts chapter 16 which tells the story of Paul and Silas being dragged into prison for preaching the gospel. In this seemingly out of control circumstance, they chose to worship God and praise Him. The statement Bud repeated over and over through the sermon was this, “When it seems that everything is out of control, put your trust in the One who controls everything.” Today those words give me strength.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I will repeat the words of Job 1:21, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">With love for you all,<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sandy</span></b></div>
</div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-5704541605642985072011-12-02T19:23:00.001-08:002011-12-09T21:34:21.631-08:00From the Cradle to the CrossIf you get the chance to drive by Everett and Elayne Bielby's house during the Christmas season, you will see in front of their home a very simple decoration - usually the only one displayed - a cross in blue lights. This cross was made by Everett's father when Everett was very young (and he says that was a long time ago!). And in years past if you would take a drive down Irongate Street in Woodhaven to view the beautiful decorations on homes, you would have noticed straight ahead down the street, a lighted cross in someone's front yard. I don't ever recall seeing crosses at Christmas time, do you? I like the idea though because it truly points to the real reason that Jesus came.<br />
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Even when the angel announced the future birth of Jesus to Joseph, he said that Mary would have a son. They were to name Him Jesus "for he shall save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21. Jesus came with a mission....to save sinners. "For even the Son of man came, not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45.<br />
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So you see, the cradle in that manger stall and the cross of Calvary go hand in hand. Why celebrate one without the other! The wonder of the virgin birth of Immanuel gave way to the cruelty of the substitutionary death on Good Friday and eventually to the triumphant resurrection of Christ on Easter. Christmas opens the story of redemption and the cross contains a new chapter. The book will soon be completed when Christ returns again to take us home to eternally be with Him.<br />
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During the Christmas season in some past years we have sung a special hymn for our communion service in December. This song beautifully ties together the cradle and the cross. I cannot sing it without tears.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>A Communion Hymn for Christmas</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Gathered round Your table on this holy eve,</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Viewing Bethlehem's stable we rejoice and grieve:</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Joy to see You lying in Your manger bed.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Weep to see You dying in our sinful stead.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Prince of Glory, gracing Heaven ere time began.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Now for us embracing death as Son of Man:</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>By Your birth so lowly, by Your love so true,</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>By Your cross most holy, Lord, we worship You!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Bethlehem's Incarnation, Calvary's bitter cross,</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Wrought for us salvation by Your pain and loss;</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Now we fall before You in this holy place, </i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Prostrate we adore You, for Your gift of grace.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>With profoundest wonder we Your body take</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Laid in manger yonder, broken for our sake:</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Hushed in adoration we approach the cup -</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Bethlehem's pure oblation freely offered up.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Christmas Babe so tender, Lamb who bore our blame,</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>How shall sinners render praises due Your name?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Do Your own good pleasure in the lives we bring;</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>In Your ransomed treasure reign forever King!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>(words by Margaret Clarkson)</i></b></div><br />
I believe that Mary gradually began to understand throughout Jesus' life the price for sin that He came to pay. The Bible tells us that she pondered these things in her heart. Knowing that Jesus would not always be "hers", she must have savored each moment and each day with this unusual child.<br />
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As you celebrate this joyous season with your family, my prayer is that you will take a few moments each day to lovingly gaze into the face of your sleeping baby, to snuggle your toddler, and to give your older child a big squeeze....to savor each day we are given with these dear children. Let's not forget the wonder of their birth just as Mary must have wondered. And in her life, her own son became her Savior. "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." Luke 1:47. Is He your Savior and Lord? what better time to acknowledge His cross as you celebrate His cradle!Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-383472450399394352011-10-24T18:29:00.000-07:002012-01-09T11:40:24.519-08:00The Links in a ChainThe links in a chain....one thing leads to another. That's how life is sometimes.<br />
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Five years ago this month, our family moved to Long Island so my husband could pastor a church here. Because I love books so much and have a lending library for other families, one of the first things I did after moving here was to find the library book sales available on the island. One of the first I found was the East Islip library sale. Pay your $10 and you are given a nice canvas bag to fill with as many books as you can! Yeah!!! Fun for me! I started through the children's section and began filling my bag with books. As I was doing this, a mom holding a little boy came up to me and asked for some help. "You look like you know what you are doing? Could you help me pick out some good books for my children?" We chatted a little bit and it didn't take long to realize that we were both Christians and that we both loved books. This day began a friendship with Michelle. One link in the chain!<br />
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Michelle began attending our church when she could. She was caring for her elderly, very sick, father in her home so could not come to church very often. But we kept touch and shared books back and forth. Two years ago, Michelle met a dear older lady at a library near her home and told her about our church. Lillian was searching for a church that really opened the Bible. She had a willing heart to learn and began attending our church and our ladies' Bible study. She had genuine questions and slowly God's Spirit began to help her see her need for salvation through Christ alone. Lillian came to know Christ as her Savior and soon after, was baptized and joined our church. Another link in the chain!<br />
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Michelle's father died and she was released from the responsibility of caring for him on an hourly basis. Now she began attending our church with her five children regularly. And last Sunday, she was baptized. She invited many family members and friends to the baptism. Now God is using this dear lady to reach out to another young mom who is now reading and learning from the Bible. The chain continues!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Watching this chain grow has been joy to my heart. </div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-9270303126356192132011-09-09T05:15:00.000-07:002011-09-09T08:58:08.157-07:00Harold and the Purple Crayon <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Are you a Harold trying to draw life with your purple crayon? In the children's book "Harold and the Purple Crayon", this little boy gets into one scrape after another. And what does he do? Cry to momma for help? Sit down and think about it? Pray? No, he draws himself out of his troubles. He encounters a dragon, but draws himself out of the fear. He is independent, a problem solver, fearless, triumphant. All he needs is his purple crayon and he's good!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">As I browsed through this little book, Harold's self-reliance jumped out at me in bold purple images. He is in control! Aren't we like that? We want to be in control. And even if we can't control the circumstances, we can control the outcome....at least we think we can. And then something comes along that reminds us we are not in control. 9-11, a heart cath, an accident, Irene (the hurricane), a loved one's death. We are not in control and we know it deep in our heart of hearts. But we want to be a Harold with our purple crayon, drawing our way out of trouble.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">Recently our adult Sunday school class at church has studied the book of Daniel. Bud did a wrap-up lesson last Sunday teaching us that the theme of Daniel is that God is in control and Daniel KNEW it. Despite all the trials of Daniel's life in Babylon, he didn't pull out his purple crayon and draw his own release from captivity, his rescue from the lion's den, his dream-come-true of Jerusalem being rebuilt. He trusted God. Period! Yes, he prayed as was his custom since he was young but he trusted God to pull out the "purple crayon" when He saw best.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">So put that purple crayon away. Break it, melt it, pitch it. And trust in an eternal, loving God Who is in control!</span><br />
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<br />Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-66306522699306067412011-07-10T23:07:00.000-07:002011-07-10T23:07:59.382-07:00Waves Teach Us Your Ways<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">"Those who go down to the sea in ships,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Who do business on great waters,</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They see the works of the LORD,<br />
And His wonders in the deep.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For He commands and raises the stormy wind,<br />
Which lifts up the waves of the sea.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They mount up to the heavens,<br />
They go down again to the depths;<br />
Their soul melts because of trouble.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man,<br />
And are at their wits’ end.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then they cry out to the LORD in their trouble,<br />
And He brings them out of their distresses.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He calms the storm,<br />
So that its waves are still.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then they are glad because they are quiet;<br />
So He guides them to their desired haven.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,<br />
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!"</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Psalm 107:23-31</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's like the author of this psalm was looking through a telescope, down the centuries, to the story of Jesus calming the storm in the Sea of Galilee as recorded in Mark 4. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfZjmznwXisZpaZvLX6TFMxCXUFfAr_QrLjO_Kfu3Q7ME-pqDnxp3SPeECwjeka7il_b557JtiOI-b-CtovQJQzO1CC3Hpjh1H5Cj18NHGEFIMjjcposX-0fDZGyai0y-URXgoE7Dcak/s1600/P6290427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfZjmznwXisZpaZvLX6TFMxCXUFfAr_QrLjO_Kfu3Q7ME-pqDnxp3SPeECwjeka7il_b557JtiOI-b-CtovQJQzO1CC3Hpjh1H5Cj18NHGEFIMjjcposX-0fDZGyai0y-URXgoE7Dcak/s320/P6290427.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCg-BmLIjJBA5us5hNe_FccnJGaiwIYuParr0HimJ5-U53nxnwonNPAWRkcBM56marr-N0FK1eH0e1CaV1WceO8AsMbw9dF0S1Lu67Z75-wATVYlm3dUa9BrRwAi-4C1VKbvwsN2vczs/s1600/P1010533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYCg-BmLIjJBA5us5hNe_FccnJGaiwIYuParr0HimJ5-U53nxnwonNPAWRkcBM56marr-N0FK1eH0e1CaV1WceO8AsMbw9dF0S1Lu67Z75-wATVYlm3dUa9BrRwAi-4C1VKbvwsN2vczs/s320/P1010533.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Mark 4:35-41</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdK5g5bsIyleuaCRiNI1njSCOjqeKJiY34pKuWJ_Gb4wvo6iBoeMCcPP7nOdN8ZcFHENVQTIyyO6zQc4VTVDwMPC26I4902AnlbfuOvitOvR17hiZ-Dk3CIVXMPf_CYptIn-AfM3-uWE/s1600/P6290435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUdK5g5bsIyleuaCRiNI1njSCOjqeKJiY34pKuWJ_Gb4wvo6iBoeMCcPP7nOdN8ZcFHENVQTIyyO6zQc4VTVDwMPC26I4902AnlbfuOvitOvR17hiZ-Dk3CIVXMPf_CYptIn-AfM3-uWE/s320/P6290435.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Stormy wind kicks up...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The waves of the sea are lifted up...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Down again to the depths....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Troubled soul melting...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Cry out to the Lord, "Help us, Lord"...</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Does that describe your heart as you ride through the storm? And Jesus is sleeping! Does He not care? Is He even aware?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Why, Lord, why?" </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>"To show you My power, child."</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i>"Peace, be still." </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And suddenly the wind is stilled.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The waves cease their roaring.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We are brought into safe harbor.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And our hearts rejoice </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">so that we cry out,</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Thank you, Lord! How did You do that? Who are You that the winds and waves obey You?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What is the most recent storm you've experienced? Did you cry out to God? Did you thank Him for bringing His peace in the midst of it? Do you fear this awesome, holy God?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anyone who has been saved for a few years has had storms....some are little squalls, some are hurricanes that stir up waves so big, they tear up the beach and scour it clean. And more storms will come....for certain. Will you cry out to God for help and then stand in awe at His power?</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">And give thanks?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">"Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">And for His wonderful works to the children of men!"</span></span><br />
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</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-69862044603885389052011-06-25T17:17:00.000-07:002011-06-25T17:17:10.577-07:00The Lilies - The Glory of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ-WgisJTRK0UpuGJhy8RP2i2ODC4QoOAbpwngtP_2v3ocjhBkA-VpQEwyQlk0G-dFVe567LeRamxBCMXsQ_cQ0nPfZgjlEzE27CLyts66USUVe2s_APuCdtWa_37VcXK44RuYFfnyIA/s1600/P6290058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQ-WgisJTRK0UpuGJhy8RP2i2ODC4QoOAbpwngtP_2v3ocjhBkA-VpQEwyQlk0G-dFVe567LeRamxBCMXsQ_cQ0nPfZgjlEzE27CLyts66USUVe2s_APuCdtWa_37VcXK44RuYFfnyIA/s400/P6290058.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Luke 12:27</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."</i></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.versebyverseministry.org/images/uploads/GB_king_solomon.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="http://www.versebyverseministry.org/images/uploads/GB_king_solomon.gif" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God has clothed the lily. Solomon in all his glory was not clothed as God clothed the lily in His glory. I love to look at the details of flowers because they show the glory of God. He's the best tailor, designer, clothier in the universe. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6A1-4Sb9CkgdO5plUKBqolDxsZGuXxcgbVILMJ9U0CHm2-odNTFYINd2_bgxA0oABhscsdKKHAElILMJjTiyunWY8hSpZocUKZBvExa8FDYAhz9SdgB-fbnOIcNXKoVWN59BskwN8p8/s1600/P6290044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN6A1-4Sb9CkgdO5plUKBqolDxsZGuXxcgbVILMJ9U0CHm2-odNTFYINd2_bgxA0oABhscsdKKHAElILMJjTiyunWY8hSpZocUKZBvExa8FDYAhz9SdgB-fbnOIcNXKoVWN59BskwN8p8/s400/P6290044.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So then....</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><i>How much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><i>And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><i>For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><i>But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Luke 12:28, 30, 31</i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">Perhaps as you take a walk and you see God's glory displayed in the flowers of the season, you will let those blossoms and blooms be a reminder to your heart that God will take care of you. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk_6wqItTzuc7HPVy22bgwwwqd0ypRmxtFL0bquGWCZ1c-stD7H_0m-wkyyoqFxglanghYG6EEdHRHzj3NtSWe718HWjCTZ8FU5NaqWzZIY98l8OmL2PwKKUsaO3f7fWRL-wpZyVkEXc/s1600/P6290055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRk_6wqItTzuc7HPVy22bgwwwqd0ypRmxtFL0bquGWCZ1c-stD7H_0m-wkyyoqFxglanghYG6EEdHRHzj3NtSWe718HWjCTZ8FU5NaqWzZIY98l8OmL2PwKKUsaO3f7fWRL-wpZyVkEXc/s400/P6290055.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><br />
</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-46987210846482983412011-06-18T17:37:00.000-07:002011-06-18T17:37:53.299-07:00Bud - A Father<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsmiWUY4LEzVtLLSya_DeWa3XtVfkI6WssjM3xQoNbDuJfJ8pIjOTPBGFWx4fed6g9r-JTjszLQE9yyT2d5MUk6eFzWWg1Sl8AfrqVYq64KdvVGPJ-9ap24qNJq58re8KFrubBnulE1g/s1600/Bud1+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsmiWUY4LEzVtLLSya_DeWa3XtVfkI6WssjM3xQoNbDuJfJ8pIjOTPBGFWx4fed6g9r-JTjszLQE9yyT2d5MUk6eFzWWg1Sl8AfrqVYq64KdvVGPJ-9ap24qNJq58re8KFrubBnulE1g/s320/Bud1+001.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>I think most young ladies think about the man she loves and wonders what kind of father he will be to their children someday. At least, I did. When Bud and I were dating, as I got to know him, I knew he would be a great dad. The year was 1983 and we were young and hopeful and trusting God for our future.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLWJJI-meAWSIMpsPHyvpCbYqEEyvYrVN6L8OdvV9TljuBg4HAyWVUmSmOs_akcGsEDUSlKsHuoAfV0KyzD_0NFDPAkKH8M3-n7Vt7r6TbjgeaE75X-E4c58aZ2mkLBKJAXwXLY3tpys/s1600/bud2+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQLWJJI-meAWSIMpsPHyvpCbYqEEyvYrVN6L8OdvV9TljuBg4HAyWVUmSmOs_akcGsEDUSlKsHuoAfV0KyzD_0NFDPAkKH8M3-n7Vt7r6TbjgeaE75X-E4c58aZ2mkLBKJAXwXLY3tpys/s320/bud2+001.jpg" width="248" /></a></div><br />
We started ministry together at Evangel Baptist in Taylor, moved into our first home, and then I was expecting our first child. Over the next ten years, God gifted us with five children: Jeremy, Joanna, Jason, Janelle and Joseph. Then I had the privilege of watching Bud be a father, the father I had dreamed he would be.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEUfFtC_nkhspZuMpfKBVAEWdsmEhzieVYu4ibB25FokfehTRLTLYAqRhbcna1OmYGBV2Vtox_9U0JQWaBwF_5X2G7HyjOx2NdgeyUtEG0hULFIUbNMEok6pz6nMUCi0_7-0d_GseoAA/s1600/bud3+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEUfFtC_nkhspZuMpfKBVAEWdsmEhzieVYu4ibB25FokfehTRLTLYAqRhbcna1OmYGBV2Vtox_9U0JQWaBwF_5X2G7HyjOx2NdgeyUtEG0hULFIUbNMEok6pz6nMUCi0_7-0d_GseoAA/s320/bud3+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
As our family grew, so did we. We learned parenting together, made lots of mistakes, and trusted God. Bud was always there for our children. He went to their games and quiz meets, played in the back yard with them, gave them opportunities to stretch themselves physically, mentally and spiritually, involved them in ministries alongside him and other godly adults. He prayed for them faithfully and disciplined them when necessary.<br />
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If I were to capture vignettes of Bud as a father, these would come to my mind:<br />
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Because of complications when I delivered Joanna, I could not hold her. But Bud could, and he did. He fed her and took care of her for those first few days. I love the picture in my mind of him holding her.<br />
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As a family, we went rock climbing in Yosemite. All of us! A great lesson in trust in each other as Bud and Jeremy held the ropes for us.<br />
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How many games of Risk has he played with the kids???<br />
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When I miscarried our son Jonathan at 19 weeks, it was Bud who made all the funeral and burial arrangements for him. And Bud who spoke at his own son's funeral.<br />
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Bud has provided faithfully for us through all of these years. He has sacrificed to provide. So many times he would set aside his own needs and wants to get the children what they needed.<br />
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He got up in the night to help me with fussy babies. He drove newborn Joseph back to the hospital at 2 a.m. for a bilirubin test so that we wouldn't have to leave him there for observation.<br />
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When a child learned to read, he bought them a Bible of their own.<br />
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He has guided our family with God's truth. He has taught by example how to be truthful, how to stay out of debt and trust God, how to pray for God's provision and protection.<br />
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He rejoiced as each child accepted Christ as Savior. When one of our teens stepped out in response to a sermon, he was happy in his heart.<br />
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When I would worry about one of the kids, he gave perspective and hope.<br />
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When Jeremy and Leah married, and Jason and Abbey married, he was pleased.<br />
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Yes, he has been a good, faithful father. A picture of our Heavenly Father who loves, protects, provides. I'm so glad God put us together. Exactly half my life ago, I married Bud. Definitely, the best half of my life!<br />
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<i>Thank you, Bud, for being a wonderful father to our children. I pray our sons follow in your footsteps and our daughters marry men who will also be like you!</i><br />
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</i>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-15611416793661533522011-05-08T17:43:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:43:13.008-07:00Dying to Self<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX-fzNhKKczAtAjjgsFLHYf9eqEiBhG5a2asznrpT4owmKPi8cRv4TLah_HYTMWxCYHqJbGvUp_snJbac23ORCIhfETC9W5urXlCp2WZrZ9vSPkeb4qWQrcGrmm3MhVBHnT8J7BB4DDE/s1600/passover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXX-fzNhKKczAtAjjgsFLHYf9eqEiBhG5a2asznrpT4owmKPi8cRv4TLah_HYTMWxCYHqJbGvUp_snJbac23ORCIhfETC9W5urXlCp2WZrZ9vSPkeb4qWQrcGrmm3MhVBHnT8J7BB4DDE/s320/passover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="WordSection1"> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I Corinthians 5:7b says, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” The story of the Passover, which is when the Israelites celebrate the story of their deliverance from the death angel sent to convince Pharoah to let them go from slavery in Egypt, and the story of the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ, are beautifully intertwined. This verse brings the two together, Jesus, the Lamb of God (John1:29 “...Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.”) willingly laid down His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Just as a perfect lamb was killed for the Passover and its blood was put on the door posts of the Israelites’ homes, Jesus’ blood was shed to cleanse our hearts from sin and save us from sure destruction and judgment.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">In the hours before Jesus’ crucifixion, He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. There He laid down His will to do the will of the Father. He would go to the cross to die in my place and yours. It was for our sins that He died, not for His because He has no sin. He would do as His Father had said; the whole reason He had come to earth was to be the sacrificial lamb, to die once to pay the penalty of death for the sin of the world.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The apostle Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Really Paul is saying that just as Christ laid down His will to do the Father’s will, we have the privilege of following Jesus’ example by laying down our own will to allow Christ to live through us. Our needs, our wishes, our hopes, our desires, and our dreams are all surrendered to do the will of Christ in our lives. This sounds so noble and most of us would say that we are willing to do this, but how does it work out in our day-to-day lives? How do we “die to self”? How do we put aside our pride and willful ambitions? How do we in actuality “take up our cross” and follow Jesus? The following poem tells us how. This was an eye opener for me to realize how much I still hang on to my will for my life and how far I have to do in learning how to die to self.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dying to Self</b><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">author unknown<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set as naught and you do not sting and hurt at the oversight, but your heart is happy, being counted worthy to suffer for Christ,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>that is dying to self.</i><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="mso-break-type: section-break; page-break-before: auto;" /> </span> <div class="MsoNormal">When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself but take it all in patient, loving silence, <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>that is dying to self.</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any impunctuality, or any annoyance, when you can stand face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensitivity, and endure it as Jesus endured it,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>that is dying to self.</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>that is dying to self.</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to record your own good works or itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>that is dying to self.</i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly, finding no rebellion or resentment rising in your heart,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i>that is dying to self.</i><o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">~ * ~ * ~<o:p></o:p></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Five times in my life I have had the experience of giving birth to a child. Perhaps you have had that privilege, too. In a sense, that is also dying to self. Your own comfort, plans, and wishes are set aside in order to give life to another person. Then after the birth, you get up nights to feed this little one, change endless diapers, and basically take care of his every need no matter how you feel or what you were doing or trying to do. You die to self in order to care for the needs of another. But what a<u> joy</u> it is! Just as Jesus, who for the <u>joy</u> that was set before Him, endured the cross, so we as mothers also endure the demands in order to have the <u>joy</u> of bearing a child and caring for him.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">When you have a moment, read Proverbs 31:10-31 and look for ways this godly woman demonstrated dying to self. She worked hard, reached out to the needy, got up early, brought her family’s food from afar, and learned skills with her hands. And she did all that with strength and honor, not demanding recognition for her labors. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I first found the poem “Dying to Self” almost 15 years ago. As I read it again now, I wonder how much better I’ve learned its lessons. Have I truly died to self? <i><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Lord, help me to follow your example.</i><o:p></o:p></div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-86357711025380906912011-04-24T19:22:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:47:41.126-07:00Roni<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7Sx2yrXbsWDmT3-CiThvfBpI735KxkT69aQr0TkBjvbDS_WKvydPM2PGOl6dS5cr-wPnlxiikvR92pXcImRUuNPZDBPGvjtJNE-Cv45V35lDhOVHn04z5266nHEjMyrvUNtYGphRbGQ/s1600/Roni+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7Sx2yrXbsWDmT3-CiThvfBpI735KxkT69aQr0TkBjvbDS_WKvydPM2PGOl6dS5cr-wPnlxiikvR92pXcImRUuNPZDBPGvjtJNE-Cv45V35lDhOVHn04z5266nHEjMyrvUNtYGphRbGQ/s400/Roni+001.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's been ten years! In memory of Roni and Charity Bowers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">“They’re killing us! They’re killing us!” The pilot of the small Cessna plane radioed to the control tower. Also aboard the plane was a family, a man and his wife and their two children. On that day, April 20, 2001, the family was returning from obtaining a residency visa for their newly adopted daughter when a foreign air force jet was suddenly spotted flying next to them. The small plane had been mistakenly suspected for a drug smuggling flight. Minutes later bullets ripped through the plane instantly killing the mother and daughter. Though bullets had shattered his right leg, the pilot was miraculously able to steer the plane and plunge it into the river thousands of feet below. The following day this story was on the front covers of newspapers all over the world. Many news programs on television broadcasted this tragic incident.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">You may have guessed by now that the family above is the Bowers family: Jim, Roni, and their two children Cory and Charity. The death of Roni and Charity was a terrible loss to her family, the body of Christ and the world. Why? Because Roni Bowers was a woman that had a passion for God, for her family, and for the lost.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>A Passion for God</u></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni had a passion for God which began in her youth. She was saved at the age of twelve. She committed her life to missions when she was thirteen. Very early in her freshman year of Bible college she made a decision that she would not date a guy unless he planned to be a missionary as well. Roni later met a young man named Jim Bowers. He had been raised by godly parents on the mission field and was planning to serve God as a missionary. Jim and Roni were married in November of 1985. God led them to Peru. There they faithfully ministered to the Peruvians in the small towns along the Amazon River.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni’s passion for God continued through difficult trials. A difficult trial came when a great desire was shattered. One of Roni’s greatest desires in life was to raise godly children to share her and Jim’s life as missionaries. After many years and several tests, Roni was told that she would never be able to have her own child. After this devastating news Jim and Roni looked into adopting a child. In November of 1994 the Lord gave them a six-week-old baby boy, Cory.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Another trial came when a difficult miscarriage was experienced. Two years after the Bowers adopted Cory, the Lord miraculously worked in Roni’s body. While in Peru during the midst of a very hectic schedule Roni found out she was pregnant. She and Jim were overjoyed to say the least! After twelve years of marriage Roni’s lifelong desire seemed to be coming into shape. Roni flew back to the United States for tests and returned to Peru with everything being normal. Then exactly one month later Roni went through a very difficult miscarriage. Being in a third world country and having very few friends and family near was hard for her. She turned to God’s Word for comfort. Psalm 23 and the book of Habakkuk meant a lot to her during this time.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> A third difficult trial came when an anticipated adoption was denied. A few years after the miscarriage the Bowers looked into adopting another child. While they were in the United States on furlough, they filled out all the papers needed for adopting. The opportunity arose for them to adopt another son right before they returned to Peru. Though Roni felt confident of the adoption, she rested in God’s will, knowing His way was best. At the last minute the adoption fell through. Though this was hard for Roni, she chose to trust God fully. She wanted Him to have His way with her, and she obediently submitted to Him, knowing His way was best.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Several months later the Lord chose through adoption to give Jim and Roni a beautiful baby girl they named Charity.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni often stated, “God doesn’t owe me anything; rather I owe Him everything.” How about you? Do you, like Roni<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, choose</i> to trust God fully when you are struggling with something? Do you commit everything into God’s hands, knowing His way is best?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>A Passion for her Family</u></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni had a passion for her family. She was dedicated to her husband from the beginning of their marriage. Roni knew God had called her to Peru, but she realized her first ministry was to her family. Through the first few years of marriage Roni was especially loyal to Jim. Soon after they were married in 1985, money ran out for Bible college so Jim joined the army. While Jim in the army Roni worked full-time to help provide for their needs. In the fall of 1990 they returned to Bible college.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni was also dedicated to her husband from the beginning of every day. Jim and Rnoi had a special time alone in the mornings. They would read the Bible together, pray, and share how God was working in their lives. As their family grew, their morning time became even earlier, but they still kept it. Jim and Roni were able to have a wonderful relationship with each other because of important counsel they heeded from the very beginning of their marriage. For a successful marriage they needed to put God first and love Him more than each other.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni was just as devoted and loyal to her children as she was to Jim. At Roni and Charity’s memorial service Jim recalled several different ways Roni demonstrated her love for their children, Cory and Charity. Roni was very concerned about making sure Cory had a good education in academic studies. She also committed herself to teaching him the Scriptures. Roni was devoted to Charity as well. When Charity wouldn’t sleep at night, Roni would be by her side trying to keep her quiet and put her back to sleep. Just caring for Charity’s needs as a baby required 100% devotion on Roni’s part. Jim once calculated Charity had drank over 60 gallons of formula in about five months’ time.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni had a passion for her family. Do you? Are you committed to meeting their needs, or are you more concerned about your own personal interests and desires?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u>A Passion for the Lost</u></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni had a passion for the lost. She knew why she was in Peru. Jim and Roni longed to see the Peruvians come to Christ. One of Roni’s best friends remembered flying with Roni over a stretch of the Amazon River where Jim and Roni ministered. Pointing out the small villages Roni exclaimed, “That is why we’re here. Each hut represents people that need to hear the good news!”<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Though Roni knew her calling to Peru, the path to get there was definitely not an easy one. She struggled through language school. She expressed learning Spanish as "a roller coaster ride.” Roni stayed faithful to her studies, and after one long year of learning Spanish, she was teaching Sunday school and frequently sharing her testimony all in Spanish. Roni met the medical needs of the nationals. Jim and Roni would hand out aspirin and vitamins for those that needed them. They provided money for a clinic when the need was a more serious sickness or injury. Many of the Peruvian women also struggled with loss of children due to miscarriage and sickness. Because of Roni’s own experience in this area, she could more effectively minister to them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Are you concerned about reaching the lost for Christ, just as Roni was? When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and witnessed to someone?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"> As the plane plunged into the Amazon River, the pilot Kevin Donaldson, Jim and Cory Bowers scrambled out of the plane. Jim was able to get the dead bodies of Roni and Charity out of the plane just seconds before the cabin of the plane flipped under water. Help arrived within thirty minutes from natives who had seen the shooting. How ironic that those to whom she was so devoted – her husband and the Peruvians – were the ones who honorably cared for her body after her death as she entered the presence of the God she so faithfully served!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> Roni’s example has left us with a challenge to be men and women with a passion for God, for our families, and the for the lost. Will you take up the challenge?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">(This was originally a speech given at the Talents for Christ Tune-up in March, 2002, by my daughter Joanna, age 15 at the time. A book about Jim and Roni has been written and is still available on Amazon.com<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. If God Should Choose</i></b> by Kristen Stagg. Caution: as you read, be ready for God to move your heart. Have the tissues on hand! The book tells thoroughly about their lives and portrays their character and love for God. I was challenged anew to commit my life to God for His use in any and in any place.)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Glory to God</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Why can’t I see what You’re trying to show me?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Why am I here? I have lost something dear.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">We were just serving You with our lives<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And our lives were called to give. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I know it’s Your plan and that I’m just a man<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And I want to give all I have ‘cause You live.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Chorus:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Glory to God and not unto me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I know this took place<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">So that others might see.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Some count it for loss<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But she understood the cross;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And what some say was wasted <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Is in the presence of God.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">My prayer through this time<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Is that Jesus you’ll find.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Get over the fact<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">That He’s all and that’s that.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Chorus:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Glory to God and not unto me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I know this took place<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">So that others might see.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Some count it for loss<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But she understood the cross;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And what some say was wasted <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Is in the presence of God.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">She gave her life<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And we know that is true.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Now Jesus is calling<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">For me and for you to give…..<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Chorus:<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Glory to God and not unto me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">I know this took place<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">So that others might see.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Some count it for loss<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">But she understood the cross;<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">And what some say was wasted <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Is in the presence of God.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">(This song was written by Joe Haverlock when he was a high school senior, </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">after hearing Jim Bowers speak in early July 2002. All rights reserved.)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-62252355188501597052011-04-22T18:45:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:48:54.765-07:00Prayers on Easter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIac1MwDW-m41rMXBkmuvtcFjDfdaUu3Lgj4xdoQhF2XFn1jhZQgZWJ8828nvVhhcSwRXmCCrLLcNsaQo_d4cn9revY7jXfT0l8YOH5KbvUIVoNkgyigZGhfHmpEfVm51FBFc91EFvs/s1600/cross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhHIac1MwDW-m41rMXBkmuvtcFjDfdaUu3Lgj4xdoQhF2XFn1jhZQgZWJ8828nvVhhcSwRXmCCrLLcNsaQo_d4cn9revY7jXfT0l8YOH5KbvUIVoNkgyigZGhfHmpEfVm51FBFc91EFvs/s320/cross.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Christ in Easter – A Family Celebration of Holy Week</i></b> by Charles Colson, Billy Graham, Max Lucado, and Joni Earechson Tada. This book I read a few years ago; it covers each day from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday and includes lessons, readings, poems, songs and activities for each day to better help family members understand the significance of the events of the Easter story. One of the articles in the book gave each of the Lord’s seven statements while He was upon the cross and gave a personal prayers based upon each statement. For my own personal Bible time, I took this concept and applied it to my own life as a mother of five children. Hopefully it will be a blessing to you as well as you pray these prayers for your own children and for yourself.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>“Father, forgive them;<o:p></o:p></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>For they know not what they do.”<o:p></o:p></b></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Luke 23:34a</b></i><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, help me to teach my children to be meek, to refrain from lashing out in retaliation to those who hurt them, to be still when others wrong them, to forgive as He forgave. Ephesians 4:31-32<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Verily, I say unto thee,<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Luke 23:43</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, thank you that my children came to accept your give of eternal salvation at an early age and that they received forgiveness for their sins with simple, child-like faith. Help them to tell others of your boundless forgiveness. Luke 18:15 – 17<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>He said unto his mother,<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Woman, behold they son!”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>He said to this disciple,<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Behold thy mother!”</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, even when I’m hurting or sad, open my eyes and my heart to the needs of others, especially my husband and children. Proverbs 31:20; I John 3:16 – 18<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“My God, my God,<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Why hast thou forsaken me?”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Matthew 27:46</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, help my children to know that sometimes there are questions beyond our feeble understanding, and to know an almighty, sovereign God Who can be totally and completely trusted. Isaiah 55:8 – 9<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“I thirst."<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>John 19:28</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, you were fully God, yet you full experienced the pain and limitations of humanity. May my children take their heartaches and troubles to You, knowing that You intimately understand. Hebrews 4:14 – 16<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“It is finished.”<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>John 19:30</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, your redemption work at Calvary gives me absolute assurance of my eternal salvation. I pray that my children will have utmost confidence in the sure salvation they receive from you instead of wandering through life in doubt. Hebrews 10:10 – 12<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>“Father, into your hands<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I commend my spirit.” <o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Luke 23:46</i></b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Lord, this is my prayer for my life and the lives of my children: Take my love – my God, I pour. At Thy feet its treasure store; Take myself – and I will be ever, only, all for Thee; ever, only all for Thee. (words by Frances R. Havergal, 1836 – 1879).<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-88176291711150125072011-03-30T09:11:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:51:05.689-07:00Read Me a Book, Mommy ~ Biographies<div class="WordSection1"><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUu0__Gg7gFVfEWzSB9Ya1R12tC-kLG01Z4kc5dl3u4RTADagro0oIqRw-PG_PtZzB4PrwszMvQp5js-qHjNEkCOAtLa48RV0nOjXqwD-a0jFZXZyNUUUjSwATwvFjDlhTiDbFT0005c/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUu0__Gg7gFVfEWzSB9Ya1R12tC-kLG01Z4kc5dl3u4RTADagro0oIqRw-PG_PtZzB4PrwszMvQp5js-qHjNEkCOAtLa48RV0nOjXqwD-a0jFZXZyNUUUjSwATwvFjDlhTiDbFT0005c/s400/001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Ride along on Hudson Taylor’s first voyage to China..</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">.trek through the virgin forests with George Washington, the young surveyor...</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">.painstakingly sew a flag with Betsy Ross....</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">suffer the grief of a mother dying with Abraham Lincoln...</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">.brave the dangers of going to a remote tribe with David Livingstone.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All of these adventures and more will be yours and your children’s as you read biographies aloud. But this isn’t the only benefit to reading biographies to your children. The true story of a great man or woman will set before your sons and daughters a wonderful example for them to follow. Most of the heroes of today’s society are not fit to be copied. But godly men and women of the past and present as well as the great statesmen and patriots of our American heritage are worthy of presenting to our children. Reading biographies helps us understand the backgrounds of these people’s lives that lead to the great feats they did usually in their later lives. Let’s raise our children’s dreams to those thing that are noble and good, that are unselfish and of pure motive, that are full of worthy character. All of this can be done by reading aloud biographies to them.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Reading the tales of great people also indirectly teaches history to your children. This is so much more effective than a straight historical account in a textbook. The people of history “come alive”. After all, what is history? God’s work in the lives of people involves in the circumstances of life.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Many series of biographies are available today at reasonable costs. Not everything you can sign out of libraries will be good for your children to read. Choose carefully. Remember that most of the public library books will not be written from a Christian perspective. So a great American who was a Christian will be presented without that important part of his life being portrayed. Those who opposed Christianity throughout history will be presented as worthy role models. So be careful when you are picking biographies. Listed below are some good sets of biographies and some good publishers, as well as some sources for finding these for your family. Grade levels listed are approximate and for your child reading the book for himself. Of course, these books can be read aloud to children younger or older than listed. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It may take awhile for your children to learn to really appreciate a good biography because this type of literature is rarely assigned in school work today. And when was the last time <i>you</i> read a biography? Perhaps I can challenge you to read at least one. I find the missionary biographies particularly interesting. When I read these, my problems become petty; my “sufferings” are meager; and my faith is found wanting. I need these giants of the faith to keep my life in perspective. We love biographies so much that our family has collected almost 2,000 of them! You are welcome to come by and borrow some for your spring and summer reading. We also have some excellent audio cassette and CD sets of great biographies. Wonderful for traveling time!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="WordSection2"><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Biography Sets</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Childhood of Famous Americans </b>- This popular set was first published in the 1950's and some of the 200+ titles have been reprinted in paperback now. We have found almost 100 of the old edition at book sales. They are wonderful stories, telling about the childhood of famous American people. Our children loved them. Each book is close to 200 pages with black and white sketch drawings or silhouette illustrations. For grades 3-5. Not from a Christian perspective but do not mock these heroes for their beliefs and Christianity. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>The Sower Series </b>- Published by Mott Media, a Christian company, these biographies will tell of the true Christian character of many famous people such as Appleseed, Morse, Wesley, Handel, carver, Webster. For grades 5-8, about 150-200 pages.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Men & Women of Faith </b>series - This set is mainly of men and women who were missionaries and portrays their faith in God including Carmichael, ten Book, Elliot, Stam, Muller, Kuhn, Slessor and Carey. Reading level is grade 6 through adult. Published by Bethany House.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Hero Tales </b>- four volumes - by Dave & Neta Jackson. A family treasury of true stories from the lives of Christian heroes. Short biographical information and three stories that display the person’s character plus Scripture verses and thought provoking discussion questions. For all ages.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Biographies for girls by Tracy M. Leininger </b>- Priscilla Mullins, Nan Harper, Sacagawea, and Dolley Madison. Available from Vision Forum. Other titles of biographies from this company as well for boys and adults.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Living Principles of America </b>- Audio dramatizations of America’s Greatest Heroes. CD. Each set has 12 stories.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Your Story Hour recordings </b>- Audio dramatizations of American heroes. CD. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Focus on the Family Radio Theater </b>- They have produced many biographical audio dramas. For example: Squanto, Corrie ten Boom, William Wilberforce, John Newton, etc.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Voice of the Martyrs </b>- Beautiful picture story books of famous people including St. Nicholas, St. Valentine, and others. Lovely!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Reading Parent<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>I had a parent who read to me<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Blackbirds stowed in the hold beneath.<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>I had a parent who read me plays <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Of ancient and gallant and golden days;<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Which every child has a right to know.<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>I had a parent who read me<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tales of Gelert the Hound of the Hills of Wales,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>True to his trust till his tragic death,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Faithfulness bent with his final breath.<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>I had a parent who read me the things<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>That wholesome life to the child heart brings - <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stories that stir with an upward touch,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oh, that each parent of children were such!<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>You may have tangible wealth untold;<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold,<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>Richer than I you can never be - <o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>I had a parent who read to me.<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b>~Author unknown~</b><o:p></o:p><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">The photo above is my husband's grandmother's aunt and her two children. Photographed in the 1920's. Isn't it precious?</div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-39968220839099066932011-03-26T17:15:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:49:27.537-07:00Jews' Shoes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLnKuw0RnURZfvLRgXFgpLSFK8PLAhMwxmXD-mSvgQqaVIj-cEQiO8iuDWzmQxwPWlFj-UGKvOAwSTp_uBgfcWLsRJ6TLDA4FHOUqUmkskZpaw3TVU03yiZEwqV4hwvizGmHc7nB94Rc/s1600/sandals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpLnKuw0RnURZfvLRgXFgpLSFK8PLAhMwxmXD-mSvgQqaVIj-cEQiO8iuDWzmQxwPWlFj-UGKvOAwSTp_uBgfcWLsRJ6TLDA4FHOUqUmkskZpaw3TVU03yiZEwqV4hwvizGmHc7nB94Rc/s1600/sandals.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: large;">Deuteronomy 29:5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: large;">"And I have led you forty years in the wilderness.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: large;">Your clothes have not worn out on you, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: large;"><b>and your sandals have not worn out on your feet."</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">We have two vehicles: a '98 Dodge Caravan with 232,000 miles on it and a 2002 Chevy Suburban with 199,000 miles on it. So......what does that have to do with the sandals in Deuteronomy 29:5?</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">Recently as I drove the Caravan (which is not my preferred vehicle!!!), the Lord brought Deuteronomy 29:5 to my mind. Just like the Jews' shoes did not wear out in their journey through the wilderness, this old Dodge just keeps going. My husband, the optimist in the family, always says "It hasn't let me down yet," when I worry about him taking it on a trip longer than just the 3 miles to work! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">The reason God favored the wandering Israelites with sandals that did not wear out is stated in the next verse:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">Deuteronomy 29:6b "....</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">that you may know that I am the LORD your God." He wanted them to know He was their God, a capable, loving, enabling, maintaining God. A gracious God. He knew there were no sandal shops in the wilderness. He knew their funds were limited. He foresaw the problem and took care of it for them. One less thing to worry about! </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica;">And so, even though this Caravan is not my favorite car to drive, I am truly thankful that God keeps it running and running and running. I know, Lord, you are Lord even over the purple minivan in our driveway. You are God!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', arial, helvetica; font-size: 13px;"><br />
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</span>Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-427482574669188893.post-86931341041860917592011-03-14T20:02:00.000-07:002011-05-08T17:50:02.085-07:00The Breath of Life ~ From First to Last<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5WEDcUpJTz3QihlU3rSV7KEr5uXHW4WM-hbGZVpyy6KUHpaPl_sYLVGLFOFWa9RHJ_Uo3INB9B50gpzs3YU9cETUiH1UIRa-HGl1NZUZe93iZDZtqRMu8vbQgge6qa5x_noH9hY8Ibo/s1600/P1010009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK5WEDcUpJTz3QihlU3rSV7KEr5uXHW4WM-hbGZVpyy6KUHpaPl_sYLVGLFOFWa9RHJ_Uo3INB9B50gpzs3YU9cETUiH1UIRa-HGl1NZUZe93iZDZtqRMu8vbQgge6qa5x_noH9hY8Ibo/s320/P1010009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah and Mercy, age 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>September 29, 2004, 7:02 p.m. - Sarah was born, much to the relief of the dear mother, father, family, doctor/midwife, and friends. As Sarah entered the world, we held our breath, waiting for her to breathe. Come on, little one.......what seemed like a minute or two passed, but was only a few seconds......there it is! A lusty wail was heard as her lungs filled with air, a totally new experience for her. Her eyes opened and her parents looked into them for the first time. Sarah was handed to me as I sat on the bed next to the momma. Just minutes later, Sarah's sister came forth and the same anticipation occurred. We waited.......come on, baby, breathe!.......Ah, yes, then Mercy cried out. She was okay. We all exhaled. Mercy's eyes were open, gazing about at all the new sights. What a special moment to see the faces of these two new daughters for the first time. Matt and Pam and their five other children welcomed with tears of joy and relief these two new little ones. What a privilege to be there as these babies breathed their first breath of life.<br />
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October 21, 2004, about 5:30 p.m. - Bill lay quietly on his bed at the nursing home in Riverview. His eyes were closed; there was no response from him. His wife and I talked quietly to him and to one another. Every once in a while we stopped to listen to his breathing.......shallow.......with pauses......in between. Several times we leaned over waiting for him to breathe again.......15 seconds passed. Come on, Bill, breathe. There it was........another long, slow exhale. Minutes later, there was a 20 second interval between breaths. We talked quietly on about how wonderful of a man he was, how she loved to serve him and make his life happy.......a long pause again.......20 seconds passed.......then 30......I leaned over to listen for his next breath. I took his hand and tried to find a pulse. No more breaths came, no pulse. He was at rest. Bill entered heaven with joy and rejoicing. The pain and suffering of recent months was all gone; He was seeing his Savior face-to-face. For his wife, a time of sorrow and relief. Losing a husband two times in 5 short years was not easy. What a privilege to be there with her and with Bill as he took his last breath.<br />
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Such were the experiences I had just three weeks apart that fall. As I drove home after Bill had died, the words of the verse in Genesis 2:7 came to my mind, "And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breathe of life; and man became a living being." I had watched Sarah and Mercy breathe their first air; I had watched Bill breathe his last. Yes, the babies were very much alive in the womb with their needed oxygen coming through the placentas from their mother's blood, but seeing them take in air for themselves for the first time was amazing. Who tells them to do that? Think of all the physiological changes that must take place for this to happen. And for Bill, who told him to breathe his last? Why at that moment? "For it is appointed unto man, once to die....." God! He is the answer to the first and the last breath we take. He is the source of all life. He gives it; and He takes it away. And as many have said through the centuries along with Job, "...the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21b<br />
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Obviously, if you are reading this article, you are breathing. You probably don't even remember your first breath of life at your birth, and most of you were not conscious of your breathing throughout today.....unless you felt out of breath chasing two toddlers all day! When will your last breath be? At this point in time, only God knows. Are you ready? Will you be ready when your last breath comes? Do you know what will happen to you then? The Bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27 that "...it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment." If you have acknowledged your sin to God and asked Him to be your personal Savior, since He has already paid the penalty for your sins on the cross, you can be absolutely assured that you will be with Him. If you are not sure what will happen to you when you breathe your last, please read the following verses from the Bible:<br />
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Romans 10:9, 10, 13 "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.....for 'whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'"<br />
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From our first breath to our last....."Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow." Psalm 144:4 Because of that, let everything that has breath, praise the Lord." Psalm 150:6Sandy Hallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11080269620968020295noreply@blogger.com1