He yielded up the love of life...

Have you heard this tale—the best of them all—The tale of the Holy and True,He dies, but His life, in untold soulsLives on in the world anew;His seed prevails, and is filling the earth,As the stars fill the sky above.He taught us to yield up the love of life,For the sake of the life of love.His death is our life, His loss is our gain;The joy for the tear, the peace for the pain.-Unknown Author


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Where does my help come from?

Photo-art credit goes to a friend who sees natureas God's second book...all to His credit.
It is nothing for God to seta rainbow or two across your sky;and the rainbow itself...now that is something, oh my!
Those who see the invisible(...are you lifting up your eyes?)can do the impossible.To God be the glory of this sight.
The greater works of God are yoursto do, not by your mightbut by the Rainbow Maker's. SourceHis power, not your fright.
Poem - Copyright (c) 04.24.10 - Linda L. Brown
The RAINBOW in the BIBLE (click)

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

His Freshest of Air

Beautiful afternoon, Sunday. We indulged ourselvesin a rambling drive along Deerfield Road.After a few miles,we passed a stretch of greening slopes.I glanced over just in timeto see several clusters of WILD CROCUSES!!Yaaay!I nearly jumped out of the car (wanting to take pictures)but Sam was driving too fastand couldn't stop right away.I was sure we would see more up the road,so I urged him on.
Alas, miles and miles of no crocuses. :-(Beautiful scenery, but no crocuses.
Later, as we were returning(driving a loop known to locals),Sam expressed an interest intaking our walk-of-the-dayalong a forest road popular with both of us.He was about to pull in to park,but we saw someone else already driving the road.I used that as an excuse to not walk there...
- true confession - my real reason was...I was SURE there were no crocuses on this road(having walked it other springswith no satisfaction in the search).
Sensing, however, that Sam really wantedto walk on this particular road(his hopes being to possibly spot an elk herdthe like of which we had sitedseveral times, previously),I became ok with this walk, this place.
He turned in and pulled up to park...and right there, directly in my line of vision— a beautiful clump of crocuses!The late afternoon sun was shining on themand this gave me some very pretty pictures.
At the height of our serene walk,Sam pointed out another pasque flowerwhich led me to yet anotherclump of the fuzzy little beauties.As you can perhaps imagine,the happiest part of it all was...
GOD had provided where I least expected.
Although we didn't see any actual elk this time,we did see plenty of sign of them,including a nice rubwhich Sam wanted to be photographed by,so he could email the fun to a Florida friend.Sam also found a shed (antler),and was thrilled for it.I halfway tripped,in my vain effort to see the shed (building).
We did, too, see a shed of sorts,an old abandoned miner's cabincrumpled up on the ground (second pic).
The Lord blessed both of uswhile filling our lungs with His freshest of air.

Below is how the cabin may have appearedin its glory days.This cute thing is along a secondary road.It has a name-sign which reads...
Dear LodgeAs a fitting followup to our adventure,here is an expression by an unknown authorof the generosity of God...
We are profoundly impressed with the unlimited resources of the God of the Bible. He never does anything small, When He makes an ocean He makes it so deep that no man can fathom it. When He makes a mountain he makes it so large that no one can measure or weigh it. When He makes flowers, He scatters multiplied millions of them where there is no one to admire them but Himself. When He makes grace, He makes it without sides or bottom and leaves the top off. Instead of giving salvation with a medicine dropper, He pours it forth like a river.
When God sets out to do a thing for us, He does it with a prodigality of love-prompted abundance that fairly staggers one who reckons things by the coldly calculating standards of earth.
Whatever blessing is in our cup it is sure to run over. With Him the calf is always the fatted calf; the robe is always the best robe; the joy is unspeakable; the peace passeth understanding; the grace is so abundant that the recipient has all-sufficiency for all things, and abounds to every good work.
There is no grudging in God's benevolence; He does not measure out His goodness as the apothecary counts his drops and measures his drams, slowly and exactly, drop by drop. God's way is always characterized by multitudinous and overflowing bounty, like that in nature which is so profuse in beauty and life that every drop of the ocean, every square inch of the forest glade, every molecule of water, teems with marvels and defies the research and investigation of man. Well may we cry with the Apostle,"I have all and abound."
GENESIS 15:5


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Sermon Notes 04.18.10 Grandparenting

Sermon notes (Sunday, April 18, 2010) ... begin with the story of Hosea, who prophesied for God for around 70 years. Hosea suffered in his marriage to Gomer, and this suffering gave him a sense of the pain of God who suffered in that time over his 'wife' Israel. Before Hosea died, he saw Israel taken into captivity under the reign of Manasseh, who undid all the good of his father who reigned before him, Hezekiah. Thankfully, the story does not end there.

Even though we may make serious mistakes during the course of our lives, God can make effectual a life that is repentant of those mistakes. 2 Chronicles 33 is about Manasseh King of Judah who began his reign at 12 and reigned 55 years.

But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel. For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them. Also he built altars in the house of the LORD, whereof the LORD had said, In Jerusalem shall my name be for ever. And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the LORD. And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. -2 Chron. 33:2-6

That is an evil sandwich...which Manasseh made his people eat. But...

...the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon. And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD he was God. -2 Chron. 33:10-13

Please read all of 2 Chronicles 33 to absorb the entire amazing true story, and to see that Manasseh made a complete turnaround in his last years. And it is highly probable that he had a favorable influence on his grandson, Josiah.

But, as drama would have it, before Josiah reigned, Manasseh's son Amon...

...was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem. But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them; And humbled not himself before the LORD, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. -2 Chron. 33:21-23

Amon trespassed more and more, and...

...his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house. But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead. -2 Chron. 33:24,25

Now for a breath of fresh air, enter 2 Chronicles 34...

Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. -2 Chron. 34:1,2

Josiah's physical grandfather was in fact Manasseh, through whom the heritage of his lineage father David was passed down to him. Please read all of 2 Chronicles 34, for it ends gloriously in verse 33...

And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the countries that pertained to the children of Israel, and made all that were present in Israel to serve, even to serve the LORD their God. And all his days they departed not from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.

When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee,

which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois,

and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

-2 Timothy 1:5

And let us not be weary in well doing:

for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,

especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

-Galatians 6:9-10

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

-1 Corinthians 15:58

But none of these things move me,

neither count I my life dear unto myself,

so that I might finish my course with joy,

and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus,

to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

-Acts 20:24

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Heart Treasure

A package in a squarewrapped with rubber bandsonly Mama understandswhat is in there.
Copyright (c) 04.12.10 - Linda L. Brown
Your word I have treasured in my heart,that I may not sin against you.-Psalm 119:11 NASB
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path.
-Psalm 119:105 KJV
It is written,Man shall not live by bread alone,but by every wordthat proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
-Jesus via Matthew 4:4 KJV
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost,whom the Father will send in my name,he shall teach you all things,and bring all things to your remembrance,whatsoever I have said unto you.-Jesus via John 14:26 KJV
Please read Psalm 107 (click)
And do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,that you may prove what is that good and acceptableand perfect will of God.-Romans 12:2 NKJV
Blessed is the manwho does not walk in the counsel of the wickedor stand in the way of sinnersor sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither.Whatever he does prospers.-Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers

The Season of Singing

Photo-art credit goes to a friend who sees natureas God's second book...all to His credit.
We have an awesome Creator!...says she, and I agree.
(The Pasque Flower or Wild Crocus is the South Dakota State Flower)


Visit the BIBLE VERSE of the Day; In Touch Daily by Charles Stanley;Today's Reading in My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers