June 12. All the adults and teens were combined in the auditorium this morning for Sunday school. The evangelist Stephen Wratchford, who has come to help with the VBS program, preached an excellent message on Romans 12:1,2, applying too William Borden’s declarations “No reserve, no retreat, no regrets.” Bro. Wratchford pointed out that our service for the Lord is not only reasonable but it is rewarding -- it is good, it is acceptable (or pleasing, both to us and to the Lord), and it is perfect (complete -- all that we need to do God’s will is supplied). Pastor Ogle’s message from James 2:14-26 was a good heart-searching message too. He encouraged church members to consider their profession of salvation. Can you point to specific works that demonstrate that your faith in Jesus Christ is genuine? Is your faith real? Is it evidenced by works? Are you trusting in your works to save you? A couple people raised their hands at the invitation, and one responded and was dealt with afterward. This evening marks the beginning of VBS at EBC. Christy and Connie have gone to help with the program. Daddy and I are listening to the service from Central Baptist Church in Ocala, FL, Pastor Andy Bloom preaching on “Conditions in View of Christ’s Coming” from the book of Joel and cross references. We are living in a world where “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?” What sad words! God’s judgment is coming, and judgment begins at the house of God. We are to declare God’s glory among the heathen among whom we live and the heathen around the world. “And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.” John 17:10 Not only did Christ assert that His own had kept His word, He also stated that He is glorified in them. How a sinless God can be glorified in sinful man, though sanctified by His grace, is hard to take in! But how thankful I am to know that Christ is glorified in me. May I seek with all that I have to manifest forth His glory.
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June 11. Made pancakes for Daddy’s breakfast and then some for me -- a couple to eat for breakfast and a few to put in the freezer. When I got the electric griddle down from the top of the fridge, I could smell that the cantaloupe was ripe. Mmmm! It smelled good. So this afternoon, I cut that up for our snacks. Christy cut up the watermelon they had bought last week at market also. It was sweet, juicy and refreshing too. Today our neighbor Michael mowed our lawn again. And Daddy went out and trimmed some of the trees. He had a pruning saw that he brought over from the shed at the girls’ trailer; but when he started using it, he felt something crawling up his arm. Ants! At least he isn’t allergic to ant bites like Christy is. He just brushed them off his arm and shook them all out of the saw. Then he was ready to finish his job. While they were doing that, I decided to find or make a thank you gift for our neighbors. First I found a pot holder and dish towel that we haven’t used and don’t need. Then found a plain pastel blue mini pillow which I embroidered with the words “Kind neighbors are rare jewels”, and then embellished it with colored beads. Found a basket to put everything in, and hopefully on Monday I can make some sweet rolls to add to the basket. That project took most of the day. “For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” John 17:8 Am so thankful that Christ gave us the words that His Father gave to Him. May the Lord help us to give those same words to others that they too might receive them and believe on Jesus Christ. June 10. Much warmer today. We are thankful for our landlord and wife coming this evening and bringing an air conditioner for the office. They are also pressure washing the house. Today was laundry day and also house-cleaning day. I was thankful for Daddy’s help, both with hanging clothes and washing our bathroom floor and the kitchen floor. Also swept the dining room/office floor and did a little rearranging in that room. By the time that was done, I was tired so had a vitamin drink and protein bar, then sat and rested a few minutes until Ellen came. Ellen arrived at 11:00 as she said, and we headed for Gentle Moon Café in KM. We each ordered a “John Lennon salad”* -- delicious and very filling. I also enjoyed a Berry Peachy smoothie, while Ellen had a glass of water. Most of all, we enjoyed just being together for a while. It was about 1:30 when I got back home. Was thankful for a good nap. “I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.” John 17:6 Although Peter rebuked Him and would deny Him, Thomas would doubt Him, James and John sought to exalt themselves, all would flee when He was arrested, yet Christ said “they have kept thy word.” How vast and wonderful is Christ’s mercy and forgiveness! *John Lennon -- Just the name of the salad June 8. The Lord gave us a cooler day today with lower humidity. It was nice not to have the run the AC.
We went for our morning walk early while it was still cool enough. At 10:00, I had my appointment with Dr. Prime. Then looked for a health food store that Christy and Connie were told was on Washington St., but we couldn’t find it and no one we talked to seemed to know of any such place. Did dishes when we got back. Most of my computer time today was spent working on the Scripture file. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3 June 9. We were thankful for another cool night and morning. After breakfast and quiet time, I did dishes. Then we headed out for our monthly shopping. Big Lots first; then to Verizon to pay the phone bill. WalMart next. My legs were hurting a lot by then so I was thankful that an electric chair was available for my trek around the store. The first person I ran into as I went inside the store was K, who used to work at UA. I was excited to see her, and she gave me a big hug. It was already about 12:30 when we left WalMart. One more shopping stop to make -- Aldi. After that, we made a quick stop at Subway to pick up some lunch. Then home to put away fridge and freezer food before eating and having a nap. The rest of the groceries got put away after nap. This was our first time to do a month’s shopping. We are trying to find ways to cut down on other activities (like shopping) so we can give more time to translation and other things. Life is just way to busy, and there is always something going on that demands our time away from translation and other work for PNG. Connie had quite the adventurous morning while we were out -- an invasion of horse flies in her bathroom (dozens of them) and the tramp cat inviting himself into the house and climbing up on the stove before Connie caught him (chased him out). “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” John 17:4 Oh, that I, like Christ, may be able to say, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” June 6. It was a little after 6:30 before either Daddy or I woke up this morning. Not as hot today, but I still didn’t have much energy. After breakfast and quiet time, we went for a walk before the day got too warm -- only a short walk today as my knee wasn’t supporting me very well. When we came back, I did the dishes and set up this past week’s journal notes for Connie. After that, I was feeling pretty tired so had a nap until almost lunch time. Made the shopping list after lunch so we’ll be ready to go shopping tomorrow. My sister called and I chatted with her for a while. Daddy and I had our afternoon nap, and a little bit later, we and C&C went over to the trailer to work. Finished up there a little after 5:00. Came home, unloaded the car, and had supper. “26But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: 27And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.” John 15:26,27 The Holy Spirit testifies of Christ, and we also are to testify of Christ. In thinking of our country - a poem by A.B. Culbertson: SAVE OUR SHIP! We ponder thy fate, Oh Ship of State, As the lights go out and the hour is late, When packs of rats conspire thy mast And thieves default thy glorious past. Our souls grow sick as we abide Our fathers’ dreams, now sorely tried, As vagabonds thrive throughout thy realm And avarice bungles at thy helm. June 7. It was go-to-Charlotte day today. Some time between 9:15 and 9:30, we left here for Charlotte. First stop was TJ’s for our monthly shopping there. Then to Neighborhood WalMart for a few things. From there Connie and I walked to her appointment in the adjoining shopping center so she wouldn’t be late. Daddy loaded the groceries into the car and drove the car around to the shopping center. We were already in the adjustment room when he arrived. It was around 1:30 when we got back home. I was thankful I had taken something to eat because I was ready for a rest by the time we got here. As soon as I put the fridge and freezer food away, I lay down. Daddy fixed himself a lunch and then lay down too. This afternoon, I worked on the Scripture file before making turkey burgers and salad for our supper. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 June 5. The Lord gave us cooler weather today. I was very thankful not to feel so wiped out. Mrs. Surrett was back teaching the ladies’ class today, covering the sections on having beautiful feet and taking care of your eyesight (spiritually). Pastor Ogle preached on James 2:10-13, “Guilty As Charged.” So many good thoughts to provoke taking a good look at one’s own life. So thankful for God’s forgiveness -- free pardon through the shed blood of Jesus Christ! Christy (and Connie) had some concerns about her back tires on the way to church, and they wondered if they should get some new tires right away. So after church, Daddy looked at them, and Chris Y and Tyler also took a look at them. They also got to looking at the right front tire which was wobbling again even though Jeremy had put a new tire on it about a month ago. That seemed to be more of a concern than the back tires. So we followed Christy from church to WalMart, picked Cindie up there and took her home, then back to WalMart to pick up Christy and Connie while the car was being fixed (we thought). WalMart workers told them, however, that they would not put a new tire on the front until they had a front end alignment done. Since WalMart doesn’t do that job, we followed Christy to Tire Kingdom (Now NTB). She left the car there for the alignment and came home with us for lunch. After lunch, Daddy took her back to NTB to get her car and take it back to WalMart. Daddy came home, and Christy waited for WalMart to put four new tires on her vehicle. So Christy’s first check for her trailer went into new tires for the car. On the way home, however, she heard flap, flap, flap on one of the back tires. Now what? They rode to church with us this evening, and decided Christy would take Daddy’s car to work tomorrow, and Daddy would take Christy’s car back to WalMart to see what was wrong. When we got home from church, however, they looked at the tire and found a piece of excess rubber still attached to the tire. It apparently just hadn’t been cut off during manufacture. Daddy pulled that off, and the girls went for a test run. Everything seemed to be fine. Praise the Lord for that! Mike and Sue Smith were here all day today. Mrs. Smith blessed us with her piano skills, and Mr. Smith showed a video and preached this evening on the chronology of the great commission. It was a good message. “16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you…. 19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:16,19 We’ve been chosen and ordained by Jesus Christ to go, and to bring forth fruit that remains. God promises to answer the prayers of those who go and do the work they’ve been appointed to do. He has also promised that we will be hated by the world because we do not belong to the world. June 4. Hardly cooled off at all last night, and I sweated all night. Took another shower this morning and washed my hair. It was a very hot day too, up to 93º. My knees and feet have been very swollen today. Christy and Connie went to market early this morning. Daddy and I went for a morning nap. After nap, I filed most of the papers that have been collecting on top of the file cabinet. At noon, we left for the Waltons’ house in Gastonia for a graduation party for Tyler. There was quite a crowd there. Guests enjoyed a lunch of salad, pizza, alfredo pasta, and Tuscany soup, with iced tea, lemonade, or water to drink. We also enjoyed the fellowship. The brave southerners who don’t mind the heat played volleyball. Left Waltons’ around 2:00. Had another nap after we got home. It was too hot to do anything else. Late this afternoon, the wind started blowing, and the Lord sent us some rain. How refreshing it was! The air cooled down, and we were able to open some windows and doors. “10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love…. 12This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you…. 14Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you…. 17These things I command you, that ye love one another.” John 15:10,12,14,17 How do we abide in Christ’s love? by keeping His commandments. What is the condition for being Christ’s friend? obeying His commandments. What is His commandment? to love one another as He has loved us. June 2. I was so tired when I went to bed last night that it took me a while to get to sleep. But then I slept well, for which I was thankful. It was 6:45 before I awoke. This morning, Connie and I cleaned house so we would be ready for the ACE (Animal Control Experts) when they came. There were dishes to do this morning too because it was too late to wash them last night before bed. The first ACE truck, with Justin, came punctually at 10:00, and his partner, John, arrived a few minutes later. We told them our story about the animals and they went to work -- inspecting around the house for possible entrances, inspecting all around the crawl space, and inspecting the attic. Then they sat in their trucks and talked to our landlord and don’t know who else and waited for instructions about what to do next. They were here about 2 1/2 hours. Finally John came in and closed up the attic entry. We asked if they had found anything; and they said they did find evidence of animal activity both in the attic and in the crawl space. They also spent a lot of time looking at that opening that M had showed us between the eaves of house A and the roof of house B. John said that our landlord would decide what action to take next. As John was leaving, I gave him a copy of my testimony tract. I hope that he reads it and is helped. By the time they left, I was good and ready for a nap. Toward the end of my nap, I heard lots of thunder so got up to take in the girls’ clothes off the clothesline. They were still wet from yesterday’s rain, and Christy thought they would dry this morning, but we didn’t get much sunshine. When I got up, Connie was already bringing the clothes in so I helped her and hung up Christy’s clothes. Before supper, I double checked the footnotes in the Scripture file to make sure I hadn’t missed any and to make note of what page each definition is on. Mrs. M called Connie this afternoon to ask about Ray Snyder, whose picture she saw in our newsletter. Mrs. M had just received an e-mail saying that Bro. Snyder had passed away just recently. Christy found his obituary which said that he passed away on May 27. Another dear saint and prayer warrior now with His Saviour. Christy also contacted J. S. again to see if he were still interested in the trailer. He definitely is, so will start making payments which will be a great help to Christy. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7 A similar promise was given in chapter 14, verses 13 and 14. A prerequisite to answered prayer is abiding in Christ and letting Christ’s words abide in me. June 3. Praise the Lord for a pretty good night’s rest. I was awake a little before 6:00 this morning. After my morning soda drink, I put a load of clothes in to wash. Then had breakfast and quiet time. I didn’t hear the rain last night, but saw that the ground was wet when I went out to hang the clothes. The air smelled nice and fresh, and I enjoyed being out there on this cool morning. It wasn’t long before the day turned hot and humid. After doing two loads of wash, I relaxed a while and started setting up Mark in the Scripture file. Then there were yesterday’s dishes to wash. It was too hot to do them last night. Took in most of the laundry before nap and the rest afterward. Around 3:00, I heard a car door shut, and looked out the window. Daddy was home already. He had left at 4:00 a.m. How happy I was to have him home! I guess I was a bit worried about him driving all that way in one go. Needed to cook a meal for the weekend so made mashed potatoes and baked chicken. The potatoes tasted yummy with sour cream and chives. Our landlord and wife arrived a little before 6:00. They went up into the hot attic to block off places where animals were entering. This time they found a dead possum and got rid of it. They also blocked off some places outside and painted the areas they blocked off. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:8 Lord, I desire to be your disciple. June 1. Wrote an e-mail update to the landlords this morning about our on-going animal problem. Printed out June schedule. Finished making graduation cards and got two of them ready to mail and one to take with us on Saturday. Completed reorganizing the Scripture file. Now I need to get Mark corrections put into the file. In the afternoon, Christy took me to Dr. Prime. After we got home, the Lord sent us a good rain storm with very strong winds. We were thankful the storm was short and had nearly finished by the time we left for church. We had to leave for church at 5:45 so Christy could pick up Cindie and stop by MacDonald’s to get Cindie some supper. And Christy has to be at church by 6:45 for Master Club. We arrived at church about 6:35. Joe & Mary were already there so I talked with them until almost time for the meeting to start. Dale came along and talked with us too. Joe has been having quite a time with shortness of breath and chest pains. He has an appointment coming up this next Thursday so we pray that they’ll be able to help him with his health situation. Pastor Ogle preached on Genesis 43, Joseph’s brother’s return to Egypt with Benjamin, his theme being “Sometimes what seems like a worst case scenario may be God’s preparing you for a blessing.” It was an exciting story. The story of Joseph has always been one of my favorites. One of Pastor O’s concluding thoughts was that “Forgiving someone doesn’t mean I can’t test their motives and actions before re-entering a relationship with them.” After the meeting, I talked with Andrea for a minute to find out if Christy and Connie would need to bring their own food on Saturday, and to let her know that Daddy may not be back. Andrea’s daughter Monique was there, and I was pleased to meet her, as well as her little son Mason. Jonathan was also there. He had flown up from NM to be with Tyler for his graduation. Enjoyed talking with him for a few minutes. It was a little bit after 9:00 when we finally got home. Daddy called just as we got out of the car. Praise the Lord for giving him a safe trip there! He said that our landlord’s wife had called him and that there would be an e-mail from her. Didn’t get to read the e-mail until just before bed. They contacted Animal Control Experts who should be coming tomorrow to try to take care of the animal problem. “4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4,5 Lord, help us to abide in you that we might bring forth much fruit for your glory. May 30. Last night, I lay awake and lay awake and lay awake. I had a bad headache, but thought I would eventually doze off anyway. But, no, I tossed and turned, and turned my pillow over about 50 times. Around 12:30, I got up and got some white willow. Maybe that would help. No change. Finally, about an hour later, it dawned on me--I’ve had this kind of headache before, but not for a long time. Headache plus no sleep = low blood sugar. Remedy - get up and eat. So that’s what a I did. Praise the Lord, after that, the headache started getting smaller, and my body started relaxing. It was still after 2:00 before I finally drifted off to sleep. Did not get up until 6:45 this morning. From then on the morning was busy. After breakfast and quiet time, there were yesterday’s dishes to do. It was too late last night when we got home. There were also Friday’s clothes to finish folding and the bed to make. Around mid-morning, Daddy and I went for a walk. It was already starting to get hot out. When we got back, we saw M (one of our neighbors) outside and were talking to him about our animals. He walked around the house with us to see if he could see any places where a possum might get in. He noticed a couple possibilities under the eaves where roofs overlap. After we came inside, we checked translation, finishing Mark chapter 6. And this afternoon, we finished chapter 7. We give God thanks for His help and wisdom. Christy only had half a day of work today and was home around noon. Later this afternoon, not realizing how late it was getting, I started to do a couple other little jobs. Then I looked at the clock and saw that it was 5:00 already. Got busy fixing fish and broccoli for supper. The fish tasted so good. It had been quite a while since we had fish. While supper was cooking, I made a new journal for myself since this one is almost full. Shortly I must do the dishes. “23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.” John 14:23,24 May 31. Wow! The last day of May already! This morning after breakfast, I cut Daddy’s hair. Then he went off to WalMart to pay the rent; and on his way home, he picked up some milk and a few bananas at Save-a-Lot. I took down our bedroom curtain that is on the same window as the air conditioner so I could shorten it to be above the air conditioner so we can close that curtain when the sun starts shining in that window and the AC is on without it blocking the air from coming into the room. (That’s quite a complex sentence, isn’t it?) Daddy put the curtain back up for me when he got home. It was easy to get down, but not so easy to get back up. A little bit later, Daddy decided to call Ken Fielder about a night’s lodging for us on our way up to Wisconsin in August. “It just so happened” that World View is hosting missions team meetings this Wednesday afternoon and all day Thursday, with an optional Bibleworks seminar all day Friday, and Bro. Fielder invited us to come. Actually, I thought he had just invited Daddy, and I didn’t even consider going. We decided that Daddy would go, so he ate lunch, did a quick job of packing, and left here some time after 1:00. He hopes to leave there on Friday and be back here on Saturday. I had to cancel my chiropractor appointment which was to be this afternoon. Christy couldn’t take me today because she would be going shopping after work, and we didn’t know when she would be back. She said she can take me tomorrow, however. After I ate supper, I sprinkled more cayenne around the house and a little garlic. (Need to get some more.) Poor Christy and Connie have another dead squirrel (? - most likely) in their bathroom wall, and there appears to be one under the front porch as well. We still smell the possum smell a bit now and then too. Christy bought an electronic pest repeller today. It is a bit different than the one the landlord bought in that it uses the wiring system in the house to affect the nervous system of the animals. It says it is only good for small animals, but we hope it will work for possums too. This evening, Christy and Connie have gone out to church for dessert and ladies’ M&M meeting. “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.” John 14:26 The Holy Spirit does not give new revelation, but helps us to learn and remember those things which Christ had already spoken. |
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