Happy National Cat Day

To all our precious kitties...

Maple- 9 1/2 yrs old

Calvin- 6 yrs old

Daisy- 6 yrs old

Milo- (our neighbor's mouser) 2 1/2 yrs old 

and Our Purty Kat- 16 1/2 yrs old.

God's Holy Written Word

 17For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,”  

18we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 

19And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,  

20knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 

21For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

2 Peter 1:16-21, ESV

I never tire of listening to an old audio of Mark's introduction of Matt singing one of their favorite songs in that precious, fleeting season of life, The Bible Stands!    This song has left a memorable impression on each of our hearts.  

May we always treasure the written, infallible, proven, and enduring words of our Lord.  

1.  The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
   ’Mid the raging storms of time;
   Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
   And they glow with a light sublime.
   • Refrain:
     The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
     It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
     I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
     For the Bible stands.
2. The Bible stands like a mountain tow’ring
   Far above the works of men;
   Its truth by none ever was refuted,
   And destroy it they never can.
3. The Bible stands and it will forever,
   When the world has passed away;
   By inspiration it has been given,
   All its precepts I will obey.
4. The Bible stands every test we give it,
   For its Author is divine;
   By grace alone I expect to live it,
   And to prove and to make it mine.
   
   Words: Haldor Lillenas, 1917, copyright, public domain.

Growing in Grace

The growth of trees and plants takes place so slowly that it is not easily seen.

Daily we notice little change.  But, in course of time, we see that a great change has taken place. So it is with grace.  Sanctification is a progressive, lifelong work (Proverbs 4:18).  It is an amazing work of God's grace and it is a work to be prayed for (Romans 8:27)."

John Owen

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.  

Proverbs 4:18

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:26-30

Thou Lovely Source of True Delight

Thou lovely source of true delight
Whom I unseen adore
Unveil Thy beauties to my sight
That I might love Thee more,
Oh that I might love Thee more.

Thy glory o’er creation shines
But in Thy sacred Word
I read in fairer, brighter lines
My bleeding, dying Lord,
See my bleeding, dying Lord

’Tis here, whene’er my comforts droop
And sin and sorrow rise
Thy love with cheering beams of hope
My fainting heart supplies,
My fainting heart’s supplied

But ah! Too soon the pleasing scene
Is clouded o’er with pain
My gloomy fears rise dark between
And I again complain,
Oh and I again complain

Jesus, my Lord, my life, my light
Oh come with blissful ray
Break radiant through the shades of night
And chase my fears away,
Won’t You chase my fears away

Then shall my soul with rapture trace
The wonders of Thy love
But the full glories of Thy face
Are only known above,
They are only known above
 
Written by: Anne Steele, 1760, and Kevin Twit © 1999 Kevin Twit

I received these flowers by Grace  Wednesday afternoon.  She knows me well, I think. What a timely and precious reminder that the Lord delights in loving me through such a friend! 

His grace keeps on giving! 

His love never lacks!  

Love you, Grace!!  

Thank you!! 

Let Us Pursue Peace and Mutual Upbuilding

"In our relation with each other, there is usually more advantage to be reaped from friendly encouragement, than from friendly correction. There are more lives spoiled by undue harshness, than by undue gentleness. More good work is lost from lack of appreciation than from too much of it; and certainly it is not the function of friendship to do the critic's work." 
Hugh Black 


As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. 
² One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ³ Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him.  
⁴ Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
⁵ One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.  
⁶ The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.  
⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 
⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.  
⁹ For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
¹⁰ Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;  
¹¹ for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
    and every tongue shall confess to God.”

¹² So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

¹³ Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.  
¹⁴ I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.  
¹⁵ For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died.  
¹⁶ So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil.  
¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  
¹⁸ Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.  
¹⁹ So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.
²⁰ Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. 
²¹ It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble.  
²² The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves.  
²³ But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.
Romans 14, ESV

Photo: Sally Corp, 20141015, with Waters and Trotters; A much needed day of love and fellowship.  

Harmony in Love and Peace

It is in the midst of a difference that we have our golden opportunity.  When everything is going well and we are all standing around in a nice little circle, there is not much to be seen by the world.  But when we come to the place where there is a real difference, and we exhibit uncompromised principles but at the same time observable love, then there is something that the world can see, something they can use to judge that these really are Christians, and that Jesus has indeed been sent by the Father. 
Frances Schaeffer

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all through all and in all.  But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. 
Ephesians 4:1-7, ESV

We celebrated John's birthday this year at Autobahn.  Matthew had to work an extra shift that evening, so sadly, we missed him being with us very much.

My family enjoys cutting up and having fun.  They get the pleasure of that from their father, who is one of the most fun-loving, "find good in every circumstance" kind of individual that I've ever known.  The Lord knew I needed to be united through life with him, and our awesome children, so that I would better learn to "relax" and enjoy life.  It's amazing to know that there are soo many creative ways to have fun, love others, and see good in all that God allows. 

Though not so much like the above photo, we do not always agree.  Many days we find something to differ about.  Sometimes we argue, but in time we realize the only way to come to peace with one another is to understand we will not always agree.  We oft have to make a choice to prefer one another in love and let go of our divisive preferences.  That's not always easy, but it's best!!  I love living with the BEST family!! 

I don't find these 'supernatural' qualities in myself, but I know the LORD who has called me to such a focus and faith.  I want to follow His example daily...to die to myself, so His power can burst forth through me to walk in a new way.   He empowers me to set my heart on what matters, and that is to trust and allow Him to do the work that I cannot do, whether it be in changing my heart or in changing the hearts of others. Only in His time and His way can this work be accomplished! 

What a privilege and pleasure it is to walk with the LORD, and to experience the harmony and peace He desires I experience with others.  Even though there may continue to be differences between us, stepping in faith with the One who perfects and brings us to a place of rest and peace with one another is a glory that only He owns, and that I find comfort in!  I surely want to experience greater peace and joy in trusting His way, and not my own!  

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Ephesians 2:14-22, ESV

[1] Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 

[2] May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Confirm Your Calling and Election 

[3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 

[4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 

[5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 

[6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 

[7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 

[8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

[9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 

[10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 

[11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

2 Peter 1:1-11 ESV

May it be so, Lord, for your glory alone!