Reading to the End

"A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education."

Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)  

26th President of the United States

Have you read the Bible from beginning to end? All the way through. Not skipping around. Not skimming over pages. All the way to the end.

That's what I did back in 1989. Thirty years ago. I wanted to do something momentous. And that was momentous!

I decided I'd read one chapter in the Bible and the same chapter in a commentary. I knew some of those Old Testament books would need explaining if I was going to understand. It was a simple commentary I used, understandable to common folk. But it made all the difference for me.

"I am sorry for men who do not read the Bible every day. I wonder why they deprive themselves of the strength and the pleasure."

Woodward Wilson (1856-1924) 

28th President of the United States 

It took me two years and four months from start to finish. I had no time table. Rushing through wasn't a goal. I had been saved eleven years when I started, and because of the teaching of my home church pastor, and studies I was a part of, I had a fairly good understanding of God's Word.

What did I learn? The flow and focus of the Old Testament sharpened my knowledge and my understanding of Israel. The humanness of the books and God's hand in the stories broadened my appreciation of the history of my faith.

Although I was more familiar with the New Testament books, using the commentary broadened my understanding of each book which made them come alive.  And the flow of the books deepened my understanding of how they connected.

 "The Bible redirects my will, cleanses my emotions, enlightens my mind, and quickens my total being."

E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973)

American 20th century Methodist Christian missionary and theologian

It numbers in the top ten of the best things I've done in my life.

Have you read the Bible from beginning to end? I challenge you to do it. In March, I turn 70. Maybe I should take the challenge again!

"The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one that makes you think. No other book in the world equals the Bible for that."

James McCosh (1811-1894)

President of Princeton University 

Believe It or Not

"Everything is possible for him who believes."

Mark 9:23

We've all heard the phrase "Believe it or not" and have probably used it sometime in our life when a situation didn't seem possible.

You've heard of Ripley's Believe it or Not, an American franchise that deals with bizarre events. And Believe it or Not is the theme song for The Greatest America Hero television show in 1981. One definition I found is: "a set phrase used before a statement that may seem shocking."

But this morning I found a meaning that speaks to me and helps me in all I do. I was reading in "Rest Assured" by Nancy McGuire, and I like her definition of "Believe it or not." "Whatever the circumstance or no matter how far you have gone astray, God wants to give you great faith--believe it or not."

Nancy wrote: "Help me overcome my unbelief. Give me greater faith and patience and endurance. Help me to keep my eyes on You until this situation is resolved in one way or another. I know that nothing is impossible for You, and everything is possible for the one who believes. And I believe, Lord!"

 There are circumstances which my faith have faltered on, wondering if it will ever be ok. Will my prayer ever be answered? Will I ever have joy in a situation? Why, God? Why?

But as the scripture verses says at the beginning of this post: "Everything is possible for him who believes." Let go of your worry, or anger, or disappointment and let God handle the issue. He can meet every need. Whatever the circumstances, God wants to give you greater faith--believe it or now.

"If all things are possible with God, then all things are possible to him who believes in Him."

Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)

And Then There Were Eight

"And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and service him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever."

1 Chronicles 28:9

And here they come to enjoy green grass, eating corn and relaxing in the quiet field. 

I love to tell this story. I've shared it before on this blog, and it always makes me smile, reminding me that God loves to give us the desires of our heart. No matter how small a request or insignificant it may seem, God hears all and responds. This is one of those times.

My friends know how much I love photographing deer. From late spring to early fall I'm out the door between 5 and 6 a.m. to drive around and find deer. I love to slowly come up on a scene with doe and fawn. And I've been happily surprised a few times finding a big buck.




But nothing compares to the request I made to God one November. I asked him if He'd provide me opportunities to snap buck. I hadn't seen very many at that time, and had many pictures of doe and fawn. So I made my request to Him.

The prayer was soon forgotten and the new year came. Before I knew it spring was here, and I started my early morning adventures.

It was early in July, and I was looking out the kitchen window. There were woods behind the house in Mt. Airy and we'd been feeding deer for several years by then. Our neighbor had started a few years before us and we picked up and decided to put corn out at the back gate.

I always enjoyed looking out the kitchen window in the morning before I left for work. I'd usually always see doe, and during fawn season it was fun to watch them. I remember one time there were two doe and two fawn. I watched as one doe and both fawns walked to one side of the meadow. All at once the two fawn came running to the other side where the other doe waited. After a few minutes the two fawn ran back to the other doe. They did this several times, and I laughed, deciding the doe were teaching the fawn something.

"Make that possible for me which is impossible by nature."

Thomas A. Kempis (c. 1380-1471)

One morning in early July, I saw buck walking up to the back gate. We'd seen a few buck here and there, but few and far between. Before I knew it eight buck walked to the back gate. I called for Jerry and we so enjoyed seeing them--all sizes, small, medium and large buck with full antlers!

That wondrous scene repeated itself every morning and evening from July to October! Every morning and evening! It wasn't until August that I remembered my prayer. You can imagine the goosebumps!

I took many pictures of buck that summer. What a thrill it was to watch those majestic animals in relax mode, enjoying a few bites to eat and then wandering back to the woods.

Well fed and satisfied, our buck head for the woods. What a summer!

"The best thing is to go from nature's God down to nature; and if you once get to nature's God, and believe him, and love him, it is surprising how easy it is to hear music in the waves, and songs in the wild whisperings of the winds; to see God everywhere in the stones, in the rocks, in the rippling brooks, and hear him everywhere, in the lowing of cattle, in the rolling of thunder, and in the fury of tempests.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

The Truth

"Absolute truth belongs to God alone."

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729-1781)

I recently purchased Will Graham's first book, Redeemed: Devotions for the Longing Soul. It has 50 short chapters, easy to read, good stories and filled with a lot of wisdom.

One chapter I read recently spoke about God's Word being the Truth. We've heard many sermons and read many books proving God's Word to be the truth, but sometimes, a certain way someone explains it just hits you different. And this one did to me.

It spoke about the time Billy Graham was having a hard time answering the difficult questions when he was just starting out in ministry for God. I was aware of this struggle because we have the DVD on his life: Billy, The Early Years of Billy Graham."

"Truth lies in character. Christ did not simply speak the truth; he was Truth--truth through and through, for truth is a thing not of words, but a life and being."

Frederick William Robertson (1816-1853)

A quote used in this chapter by Billy Graham talked to me: "I pondered the attitude of Christ toward the Scriptures. He loved those sacred writings and quoted from them constantly. Never once did He intimate that they could be wrong."

Billy Graham kept seeing the phrase "Thus sayeth the Lord," as he read through scripture for answers to his doubts. "Those four words finally sparked the realization in his heart that the book he held in his hand was not the work of man, but the divinely inspired, eternal, and powerful voice of God," Will wrote.

"Truth is mightier than eloquence; the spirit is stronger than genius; faith greater than learning."

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

There is so much proof of Jesus' life and ministry from Christians and non believers that His life cannot be ignored. And Jesus believed in the scriptures. He knew they were truth and He depended on them when He was on earth.

I haven't been having any doubts, but reading this devotion story sparked my thoughts, knowing the one I believe in and trust is completely truth. It was one of the aha moments when what you believe is affirmed. Another moment to be thankful, even after 40 years, for my faith and Savior.

Do you read books by God's people? You will be rewarded with encouragement, inspiration and joy reading how God worked in other people's lives. Do you want the Truth? Read on, my friend, read on!

"Old truths are always new to us if they come to us with the smell of heaven upon them."

John Bunyan (1628-1688)

The Music is Playing

"Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has give us."

Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Jerry must be happy! The music is playing. Joy is filling the air.

The new year has brought to my attention that I'm not as happy as I could be. I'm still adjusting to life without mother in our home and the six years brought a lot of stress to us. It may have been a devotion I read that helped me know I wanted to change. I don't remember. But I do remember that I wanted to be happier.

I always listened to CDs when driving back and forth to work. I loved singing the songs, being encouraged by the words and inspired by the music. That didn't carry over to home. I haven't played music in the house for many years.

But the music is now playing. We purchased most of the Gaither Homecoming DVDs over the years, and with your purchase you received a CD of the show. Mostly, the CDs have just sat in our home. But the other week I went downstairs and brought them up. I plugged the player in the dining room where I sew. And I've been playing them most mornings.

I've loved singing along, smiling and feeling good while they played. And Jerry has commented a number of times about how much he is enjoying listening to them.

It seems like a small thing, but, as most of us know, small things can be very important. Small things can change a life. I know. Mine was changed. I received one written note, so many years ago, and it changed my life. That's why I've been so diligent in my calling of writing notes.

The telephone call . . . the quick hello . . . the warm hug . . . the caring heart--small things that make a big difference.

"Small things" caused me to remember a favorite story I've told often when I spoke to a group about note writing. It's the January 7th devotion in the original Streams In the Desert and it talks about a heart's-ease. I didn't know what a heart's-ease was the first time I read it and had to look it up. A heart's-ease is a wild European pansy which typically has purple and yellow flowers. It has given rise to hybrids from which most garden pansies were developed. Following is an abbreviated form of the writing:



"The story goes of a king who went into his garden one morning and found everything withered and dying. He then went about the garden asking each tree and flower what the problem was. They each answered saying they wanted to be something else: the oak tree wanted to be tall and beautiful like the pine.  The pine tree wanted to bear grapes like the vine. The vine wanted as fine fruit as the peach tree. And so on all through the garden.

Then the king came upon a heart's-ease and found its bright face lifted as cheery as ever. So he asked it why it wasn't disheartened like all the other plants. The heart'-ease answered: 'I'm not of much account, but I thought that if you wanted an oak, or a pine, or a peach tree, or a lilac, you would have planted one; but as I knew you wanted a heart's-ease, I am determined to be the best little heart's-ease that I can.'"

Small things matter. And if what God gave you to do is small, do it with all your heart. You may never know the difference you have made to another's heart, but you can be sure, if you gave out of love, you made a difference.

That's why I've been making these Valentine pillows to give away. Something small. But to another heart, it could be something big. I have a few more to do before the calendar says February.

Yes, the music is playing. Joy is filling the air. And I'm happier. Is your music playing?

"Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life."

Berthold Auerbach (1812-1882)

70?

From a recent Facebook page, anonymous.

“The young feel tired at the end of an action; the old at the beginning.” 

T. S. Eliot (1888-1965)

1949. Me and many of my friends were born that year. And this new year we’ll turn seventy. 70. SEVENTY. That’s caused me to ponder this event for awhile now.

As my friends know, I love to celebrate my birthday. When I turned 50 I started celebrating the entire month of my birthday. Breakfast, lunch and dinner dates with my friends. There aren’t many opportunities to celebrate, and I didn’t want to overlook an occasion!

The week of my 50^th birthday, each day I brought in a homemade treat for my fellow co-workers. I didn’t want black ribbon around my cubicle. I wanted celebration!

When I turned 55 I had the best birthday party of my life! I called it the “Celebration of Friends” party, and invited 16 of my closest friends from elementary school through my life. It was one of the best things I have ever done celebrating all of them!

Turning 40, or 50, or 60 didn’t affect me. I’ve never been bothered about my age. That is until this year. Turning 70 brings with it decisions and actions I’ve not thought about before. I spent a good part of this past November and December thinking about my life. What good have I done. Is there still something for me to do in the time I have left in this world.  I want to make a difference.

Turning 70 brings to light a subject no one enjoys thinking about. Death. Friends will begin to have health concerns. Some will die. I may die. March I'll be four years cancer free. I am thankful for that. I’ve already said goodbye to several friends. I don’t like it. But it is reality.

Yes, Linda, Penny, Steve, Roy, Sharon, Cindy, Susan, Yvonne, Jack, and all those I can’t remember, this is the year. I invite you to join me in considering what you have done and what you can still do for however long you have here on this earth.

There may be gray hair, more weight, thicker glasses and slower reactions, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing more to do.

“Oh Lord, let me not live to be useless.” 

John Wesley (1703-1791)

So this year when my birthday month comes around, and I turn 70 years old, I hope I will have pondered my purpose for these last years of life and stand strong in my determination to be all God wants me to be.

“Little self-denials, little honesties, little passing words of sympathy, little nameless acts of kindness, little silent victories over favorite temptations—these are the silent threads of gold which, when woven together, gleam out so rightly in the pattern of life that God approves.” 

Frederic William Farrar (1831-1903)

The ending of a year is a great time for reflection, for introspection—a time to reevaluate our priorities, look at how we are spending our time, and most importantly, our relationship with God. 

Have we grown closer to Him in the past months or are we slipping farther away? As 2018 is now over, take time to ask yourself—Is God #1 in my life? Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). Franklin Graham

My pastor posted this on Facebook: Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 tells us that for every aspect of life we experience them only but for a season. This means that all things are temporary. Biblically God's average life span for mankind is 3 score and 10 or 70 years. Some live much less and some much more, but average life span given is 70. This sounds like a long time, but on the radar screen of time it is only a blip on the screen. Everything that we do and everything that we say matters. Let's do all we can in 2019 to live life with an understanding that each day counts, that each moment matters. "Only one life will soon be past and only what's done for Christ will last!

“The person born with a talent they are meant to use will find their greatest happiness in using it.” Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

How about you? You may be older than 70 or younger than 70, but taking thought of your life makes sense at any age. It goes by fast. What will you do to make a difference?

Call Back

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see. The longer I live, the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world."

John Burroughs, 1837-1921 

  I finished both quilt pieces that I started last week. I'm pleased with how they turned out. I ordered some fabric bundles recently and they arrived last Saturday. One was of greens and one of tans. Much to my surprise and delight, inside the tan bundle I found another swatch like the one above, only a little darker brown. So sometime down the road I'll be making another one with that lovely scene!

Today is the last day of 2018. A new year, a new anticipation, a fresh new beginning is about to start.

At the end of the year I like to recall this poem that tells us to “call back” to those we know. Share your story about how God has helped you so that others can be encouraged. Hearing real life stories about your faith can inspire and carry others through difficult times.

This is the brown one completed. The backing is the same as the trim.

I love hearing and reading about men and women of faith.  So this new year, please join me and "call back" how God has seen you through the years, and the amazing things you've learned in following Him. I hope this poem inspires you to share with others.

"If you have gone a little way ahead of me, call back--
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track;
And if, perchance, Faith's light is dim, because the oil is low,
Your call will guide my lagging course as wearily I go.

"Call back, and tell me that He went with you into the storm;
Call back, and say He kept you when the forest's roots were torn,
That, when the heavens thunder and the earthquake shook the hill,
He bore you up and held you where the very air was still.

"Oh, friend, call back, and tell me for I cannot see your face;
They say it glows with triumph, and your feet bound in the race;
But there are mists between us and my spirit eyes are dim,
And I cannot see the glory, though I long for word of Him.

"But if you'll say He heard you when your prayer was but a cry,
And if you'll say He saw you through the night's sin-darkened sky--
If you have gone a little way ahead, oh, friend, call back--
'Twill cheer my heart and help my feet along the stony track."

Mrs. Charles E. Cowman said: “Life is a steep climb, and it does the heart good to have somebody 'call back' and cheerily beckon us on up the high hill . . . If anyone among us has found anything worthwhile, we ought to 'call back."

Last Saturday I cut out and completed this top piece for Jerry. He loves the wildlife of deer, raccoon, bear, wolf and moose! Maybe I'll go out today and buy backing for it!

My friends, He went with me into the storm and kept me when my roots were torn; He bore me up and held me close when the earthquake shook my heart; He heard me when my prayers were but a cry, and He saw me through the night's sin-darkened sky. My face glows with triumph and my feet continues the race. My God is FAITHFUL, you CAN trust Him to see you through!

"Do not walk through time without leaving worthy evidence of your passage"

Pope John XXIII, 1881-1963