PEACE THROUGH OUR TRIALS OF 2012

The angels’ message
to the shepherds was

“Glory to God in highest heaven,

and peace on earth to those
with whom God is pleased.”

Jesus promises us
“Peace I leave with you,

My peace I give to you;
not as the world gives do I give to you.
Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.”

 

As this year’s Christmas Cards started arriving – a number of you have indicated that you miss getting our Blog, and wondered whether there will be any more – so we decided to use this issue as a Blog and our Christmas letter to family and friends as one publication. 

 

2012 started out normally with church activities and later yard and garden work, although this spring and summer was quite different - record heat and drought conditions. Even with soaker hoses our garden yielded poor pickings.

 

Dan and Carol continue to faithfully give leadership to LIFE CHURCH as the Lord is guiding them. Joel is working for a computer programming company and is also taking several university courses including calculus. The Walker 7 are involved in church activities and soccer, volleyball, drama, music etc.

 

Bren continues teaching at the high school and the community college.  Next semester she is schedule to teach her first online class.  She is hoping to do more online teaching so she was pleased to get her first class this spring. In early June she took Donna and I to see Sue and her family in Arkansas.

 

Sue and Virg’s life took a dramatic turn January 4^th when Virg’s father’s house burned down – leaving Lloyd with absolutely nothing except the pajamas on his back. So for the rest of the year this 89 year old man, with many medical needs, moved in with them while Virg rebuilt his house. Through it all, the Lord provided them with His PEACE. Their son Ryan is a junior at Christian Bible College. He was chosen to be on a drama team that will minister at summer camps on the East Coast.

 

October 5^th brought a dramatic change into our life! While in her office, Donna reached down to pick up a Kleenex, and kept on going down in great pain. I called 911 – an ambulance rushed her to the hospital - she had broken her right hip. The next day she had a partial hip replacement – a metal ball replaced the bone that had broken off. A few days later I woke up with a severe burning sensation over my upper body and arms. My lips were stiff and tingly. Sue was visiting and thought I was having a heart attack and called 911. My heart was not the problem – I was having a severe anxiety attack.

 

Donna was in a rehab facility for about a month. Physical therapists , occupational therapists and speech therapists worked with her Monday – Friday, she made continual improvement. I spent days with Donna and nights at Dan’s house during this time. She was discharged on Nov 9^th,  at which time  we moved in with Dan and Carol and family for a number of weeks until Donna’s restrictions, “not to bend over” were lifted - when we moved home Nov 24.

 

Therapists continue to work with her at our house and will continue for several more weeks. The goal is for her to get around without a “walker” or a “walking cane.”

 

These have been trying months, but the Lord’s promise has been a constant comfort - “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

 

Future blogs? – we’ll see how the Lord leads. Thank you for your prayers over the months. I am still on anxiety medication.

 

Trust you have had a Blessed Christmas, and may your New Year be filled with the Lord’s PEACE!!

 

WONDERFUL PEACE by GaithersL

 

GOD KNOWS ALL ABOUT ME

“How precious are your thoughts about me,
O God.

They cannot be numbered!

I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!”

Psalm 139:17-18 NLT

~~~~~~

 

When we feel all alone and like no one knows what we’re going through – we need to read Psalm 139 again. (What follows is my rough paraphrase of this Psalm.)

 

We need to be reminded that he knows everything about us. He knows everything we are doing and thinking even when he seems far away. He sees us when we are driving down the highway or resting in our bed. He knows what we are going to say even before the first word comes out of our mouth.

 

We are not alone! He’s out in front of us - leading the way and at the same time he follows us with his hand of blessing on our head. How wonderful is that?! It’s really too big for us to fully grasp. We can never get beyond his presence. Even if we got on this world’s most powerful space ship and flew to the farthest end of space – he would be there. Or if we took the most sophisticated deep ocean craft to the bottom of the ocean he would be there ready to guide, strengthen and support us. We can never get away from his presence. No distance or darkness can ever hide us from him.

 

He knows all about us. After all, he created us. He delicately formed us in our mother’s womb, making us wonderfully complex and unique. He designed us to perfectly fulfill his purpose. We need to be thankful for how marvelously he has made us. He saw our entire life before we were born. Incredibly every day of our life was recorded in his book before we took our first breath. Even now he has precious thoughts about us – more than we could ever count – more than all the grains of sand in the whole world. 

 

After considering Psalm 139 these past few moments, I trust we have gotten beyond feeling sorry for ourselves. If we still feel that way, we are missing something. We need to refocus on the truth that he has always had our eternal best at heart. Everything he has done and will ever do is for our good and his glory. He is always with us, and his mind is filled with countless precious thoughts about us. What can be more reassuring? 

 

Listen to Rebecca St. James sing:

You Will Always Love Me

OBEDIENCE BRINGS THE BLESSING

“Don’t just listen to God’s word.

You must do what it says.

Otherwise, you are only

fooling yourselves.”

James 1:22 NLT

~~~~~~

I have been studying and sharing the Scriptures, in one way or another, for more than fifty years. It has been a wonderful God-given privilege. It has transformed my life and the lives of many who received the teaching. But I have a confession to make. In studying the Word, I often saw passages as something other people needed to hear and obey. And to be perfectly frank, my mindset is still somewhat that way. I read a passage in the Bible or an article in a Christian magazine or website, and right off I see how it applies to someone else, and then only later realize – hey, I need to apply that to my life! Does that ever happen to you, or am I the only one who does that?

Most of us who go to church regularly love to hear good teaching and preaching of the Word. While it is comforting and reassuring, it also informs us of what we should and should not be doing. In Psalms David says, ^“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” God’s Word reveals dangerous obstacles so we can avoid them, and it clearly illumines the right path to take. However, seeing what to do is not the same as doing it. As this week’s Scripture says, “You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” Wow, that really hits us where we live. The greater understanding we have of the Word , the more responsible we are to live by it.

Jesus says, “Why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say? I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.” The part of our life which doesn’t obey the Lord suffers ruin. I see that as applying to my life as well as yours.

 

“When we walk with the Lord

      in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.

Refrain:

Trust and obey,

for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,

but to trust and obey.”

John H. Sammis

 Turn up your sound and click on Trust and Obey to enjoy this interesting rendition. 

PEACEFUL SLEEP IN TROUBLED TIMES

^“But You, O LORD, are a shield for me,
   My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
 I cried to the LORD with my voice,
      And He heard me from His holy hill.
        I lay down and slept;
       I awoke, for the LORD sustained me.

Psalm 3:3-5 NKJV
~~~~~

I read the other day on a Health Website that “One in 10 Americans have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, and 42 million prescriptions for sleeping pills were filled last year, an increase of almost 60 percent over only five years.” A lot of issues are troubling peoples minds.

While for some people a medical condition may be the cause of their sleep problem – for others sleeplessness is caused by worry and fear. Their minds are filled with “what if questions.” What if – the economy keeps getting worse - I lose my job – we lose the house – this lump under my arm turns out to be cancer – and on and on.  The enemy of our soul doesn’t run short of ideas with which to torment our minds and rob us of peace and sound sleep. 

David wrote Psalm 3 when he was fleeing from his son Absalom who was out to kill him and take over the throne. That sort of situation could cause sleepless nights for most anyone. In utter humiliation he is running for his life from his own son. But, instead of focusing on his problem - ten thousand men who were determined to cut off his head - David chose to fix his thoughts on the Lord and cries out to Him. Remarkably it’s not a plea for help, rather it’s an acknowledgment of who God is. “Thou, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head.” With that confession he laid down and went to sleep. In the morning he woke up safe and sound. The Lord had been his shield of protection.

In another Psalm David says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”David’s focus on God’s provision instead of the danger he faces, gives us a good clue as to how we can overcome the doubts and fears that at times threaten to rob us of sleep. Isaiah agrees and testifies, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Paul joins right in and exhorts us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Not surprisingly, Peter agrees with David and Paul and says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 

“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.” 

Click on: THOU OH LORD ARE A SHIELD FOR ME – turn up the sound and let bless your heart.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

If my people

who are called by my name

will humble themselves

and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways,

I will hear from heaven

and will forgive their sins

and restore their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 LNT

~~~~~~~

Traditional lyrics of God Bless America: 

“While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God bless America,

Land that I love.

Stand beside her, and guide her

Through the night with a light from above.

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans, white with foam

God bless America, My home sweet home

God bless America, My home sweet home.”

Originally, the final two lines of the song were, God bless America my own sweet home, my home sweet home.

Many renditions of the song omit the verse, beginning with "God bless America..."

As recorded in American Treasures of The Library of Congress:

“America's unofficial national anthem was composed by an immigrant who left his home in Siberia for America when he was only five years old. The original version of "God Bless America" was written by Irving Berlin (1888-1989) during the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, for his Ziegfeld-style revue, Yip, Yip, Yaphank. "Make her victorious on land and foam, God Bless America..." ran the original lyric. However, Berlin decided that the solemn tone of "God Bless America" was somewhat out of keeping with the more comedic elements of the show and the song was laid aside.

In the fall of 1938, as war was again threatening Europe, Berlin decided to write a "peace" song. He recalled his "God Bless America" from twenty years earlier and made some alterations to reflect the different state of the world. Singer Kate Smith introduced the revised "God Bless America" during her radio broadcast on Armistice Day, 1938. The song was an immediate sensation.” 

 Click on GOD BLESS AMERICA and listen to Kate Smith.

A GODLY FATHER

Be on guard.

Stand firm in the faith.

Be courageous. Be strong.

And do everything with love. 

Corinthians 16:13-14 NLT

~~~~~~

What does it take to be a Godly father? It certainly takes more than doing what comes naturally. The majority of fathers in the world are not worthy of emulation. Even in Christian circles, fathers have their failings. Though there are many “good fathers” after whom men can pattern their lives, none are perfect. There is only one father who is perfect – our Heavenly Father.    

Most of the world sees God as a distant, angry and, hard ruler. This false concept has been promoted by early artists, legalistic religious leaders, and the lifestyles of insecure angry fathers. But nothing could be farther from the truth.

In his first epistle John tells us that: God is love. Love is at the heart of God’s nature. All His attributes - holiness, righteousness, justice, mercy, faithfulness, etc. are all motivated by, and flow through His perfect love. The gospel of John quotes Jesus as saying: Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So when we look at Jesus as he is revealed in the gospels, we see the love of God in human form.

It goes without saying, to be a Godly father a man has to have a personal relationship with Christ, and be familiar with the scriptures so he will be able to live a Christ like life. A Godly father goes beyond just telling his children to live a Godly life. He strives to demonstrate how that life is lived.

My earthly father, like every other human father, wasn’t flawless. (As I write this, I am so aware of how I as a father haven’t measured up in the past and still come short today, but this must be our lifelong goal – to live a life patterned after our perfect Heavenly Father).

The love of our Heavenly Father is unconditional. Whether we bring Him joy or break His heart – His love for us is the same.  Even when He disciplines us it’s motivated by perfect love. Help us Father, to Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. And do everything with love.  so we will be a more Godly example to our children. 

Turn up your sound and listen  to:  THE LOVE OF GOD by the Gaither Vocal Band.

If you would be interested in my life's story - click on THE STORY OF MY LIFE under Pages on the column to the right.

HONORING MOTHER

Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
 “There are many virtuous

and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”

Proverbs 31:28-29 NLT

~~~~~~

Honoring mother brings different scenes to mind - depending on where we find ourselves on life’s journey. Is mother still living or has she passed away. As long as she is alive we have the privilege of personally expressing our love and appreciation to her, and even after she is gone for many years, and we don’t think about her that often, we can still honor her by the way we live and how we speak about her memory.  

Mothers’ Day, for married men with children has a dual focus – the mother who brought him into this world and sacrificed so much for him - and his wife who has given birth to his children, and has shouldered by far the larger burden in taking care of them no matter what it cost in time and effort. Both his mother and his wife fill a unique place in his life and deserve to be honored.

On the other hand, Mothers’ Day for married women with children has a somewhat different focus – while she reflects on memories of her mother – her thoughts also bring to mind precious memories of her children - memories, too wonderful to put into words. There may also be painful memories of weeping with a son or daughter as they struggled through a difficult period in life. She never stops praying for them – in joy or in sorrow.

A Godly mother is always concerned for the welfare of her family, and looks for ways to be a blessing. Though she doesn’t solicit praise, she deserves praise, and it is so good and right when her children stand and bless her, husband praises her.   

Children who are still at home can bless mother by obeying her and treating her with respect. Showing respect for mother is always the right thing to do no matter how old we are or she is.   

Husbands, of all people, should praise their wives for all they do for the welfare of the family. Men, our wives who God has blessed us with, deserves more than a Mother’s Day card – flowers and a meal out once a year – she deserves our praise every day! Tell her “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Click on:  Mother's Day Proverbs 31

If you would be interested in my life's story - click on THE STORY OF MY LIFE under Pages on the column to the right.

WE WILL RISE AGAIN

Those who die in the LORD will live;
their bodies will rise again!
Those who sleep in the earth
will rise up and sing for joy!

Isaiah 26:19a NLT

~~~~~

This is my favorite time of the year – what seemed dead - is showing life again. With the mild winter we have had this year the crocuses and daffodils and flowering trees started blooming earlier than usual. Spring is nature's testimony that God's design for His creation is LIFE! Death came into this world as the consequence of disobedience to God, but resurrection from the dead comes to all who believe in the death and resurrection of His sinless Son!

In case you have been wondering, colored eggs and chocolate bunnies really have nothing to do with the true meaning of Easter. Easter pure and simple is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which is the central truth of the Christian Faith.  The message of the angel at the empty tomb was - “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.”

Later that day Jesus appeared to the apostles – showed them the scars in His hands and feet left by the nails that had held Him to the cross – and the scar on His side from the spear's thrust that proved His death.

During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and  proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. . . . Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live.

If Christ had not been raised from the dead, the entire human race would be without hope - eternally separated from God – headed for the unending torments of hell.

But, the glorious truth of Easter is - CHRIST IS RISEN!!  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

What a blessed hope! As we stand at the grave sites of believing family and friends we sorrow not as those who have no hope. When our hour comes and our family and friends say goodbye to us, we know we will rise again - because our Lord lives we to shall live!!

Turn up your sound and listen to Dallas Holm sing RISE AGAIN 

If you would be interested in my life's story - click on THE STORY OF MY LIFE under Pages on the column to the right.

REPLACING WORRY WITH PEACE

Don’t worry about anything;

instead, pray about everything.

Tell God what you need,

and thank him for all he has done.

Then you will experience God’s peace,

which exceeds anything we can understand.

His peace will guard your hearts

and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

~~~~~

We live in a troubled world. It’s always been troubled, but it is especially so now. Bloody revolutions – serious world-wide economic crises – terrorist threats - moral decline on every hand – US government actions threatening our freedom of religion. It’s easy to be troubled, and worry over what’s happening, and what tomorrow may bring.

Paul tells us: Don’t worry about anything. Worry is a natural response to troubling situations, but it certainly isn’t the best response - it doesn’t solve anything, it only adds trouble to trouble. It affect us negatively both spiritually and physically - it is opposite to trusting God. Worry focuses on the problem, when we really need to be focusing on the only One who is able to help us face and deal with the situation in a positive way. God alone is the ultimate authority, and as chaotic as things may be – He is in control, and can see us through.

Paul's instruction is, instead of worrying over what could happen, we should pray about everything – world – national – local - economic – moral – family – personal – everything; everything that makes us anxious and tempts us to worry. Though God knows what we need before we ask, we need to tell God what we need, and thank him for all he has done. There is so much that God has done for us through the years, and there is infinitely more He has done which we know nothing about!  Expressing gratitude to God for what He has already done, not only honors Him, but also stimulates our faith that He will grant us what we need now.

The results of that kind of praying, is wonderful! We will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. God’s peace is so incredible; it goes way beyond what our human mind can fully grasp. And that precious peace will guard (that is, will protect) our hearts and minds as we live in Christ Jesus. And that is what makes it possible for us not to worry about anything as we live our lives in this troubled world.

Turn up your sound and listen to  WONDERFUL PEACE

If you would be interested in my life's story - click on THE STORY OF MY LIFE under Pages on the column to the right.

TRUE LOVE = LOVING ACTION

Love never gives up,

never loses faith,

is always hopeful

and endures

through every circumstance.

I Corinthians 13:7 NLT

~~~~~

Those of you who have been following our blog over the years know that February holds special memories for Donna and me. Valentine’s Day marks the beginning of our love for each other which led to sharing life together for sixty one years, and hopefully many more. I recoded our wedding ceremony, on a Webcor Wire Recorder, and it's on record that we not only said our “I do’s” but that I sang to Donna:

“I love you truly, truly dear,
Life with its sorrow,
life with its tears
Fades into dreams
when I feel you are near
For I love you truly, truly dear.

Ah! Love, 'tis something
to feel your kind hand
Ah! Yes, 'tis something
by your side to stand;
Gone is the sorrow,
gone doubt and fear
For you love me truly, truly dear."
By – Carrie Jacobs Bond

As I looked at today’s key verse, it struck me that every phrase implies action - never gives up - never loses faith - always hopeful endures through. Words of love are precious, and wonderfully heart- warming, but only when loving words are followed up by loving deeds is true love expressed. I know Paul is referring here to church members loving each other, but certainly these words also apply to husband and wife and family relationships.

In every family there are times of friction and disagreements – some may be short lived others may linger. True love doesn’t give up it keeps on working on a solution. It’s ready to forgive – make changes – and even make painful sacrifices – it doesn’t lose hope – it endures through every circumstance.

Love is best expressed when we focus more on the needs of others and less on our own desires. If we really are being honest, we have to admit that can be a challenge at times. We need help, and the Lord has lovingly provided that help as we see in Romans 5:5 -- For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. With His love in our hearts it becomes possible for us to love Him and each other in every circumstance.

Listen to LOVING GOD LOVING EACH OTHER

by the Gaither Vocal Band

HE IS ALWAYS WITH US

“And be sure of this:

I am with you always,

even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 18:20b NLT

~~~~~

 

As we face 2012, some people are expecting a year of clear sailing. Others have concerns over what the new year may hold. Whatever 2012 brings us, none of us have been on this stretch of our life’s road before. However, the good news is we will not be alone - our Lord will be with us all the way - whether we are skipping along smooth places or struggling over rough ground. His presence will make the smooth places all the more enjoyable, and because He is by our side we can be assured He will help us over the rough and difficult stretches!  His promise is be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

If we had the choice, most all of us would choose a smooth path. But with everything going smoothly for too long, we are likely to begin to feel like we are in control of life, and the presence of the Lord won’t seem all that important to us.

On the other hand, if our path is rough and difficult for long periods of time, we soon become aware that we really are not in control, and when we are crying out to God for help, and no help seems to come, we begin to question – where is God, why isn’t He helping me with my struggles?

If that should happen, our focus needs to be redirected - off our struggle - and on the Lord’s promise, I am with you always. By faith we need to acknowledge and praise Him for His presence whatever we are going through. The smooth and the rough are both designed by Him to teach us to trust Him more. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that God promised, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you. So we can say with confidence, The Lord is my helper.”

In 1897 Ludie D. Pickett wrote:

“When in affliction’s valley
I’m treading the road of care,
My Savior helps me to carry
My cross when heavy to bear,
Though all around me is darkness,
Earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise,
“I never will leave thee alone.”

“No, never alone,
No, never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.”

Listen to Randy Knaps sing: NO NEVER ALONE