June 25. This morning, Mrs. Surrett finished the lesson on having a spiritual checkup. Pastor Ogle continued preaching on “Peter: A Man Like Us”, particularly on forgiveness from Matthew 18:15-35, and Peter’s question “How often should I forgive my brother?” Jesus wanted Peter to understand that there is no limit to forgiveness. The petty debts that we are owed by others are nothing compared to the vast debt that God has forgiven us. This evening, Daddy and I went out to Bread of Life Baptist Church about ten minutes down the road, only to see when we arrived that there were already quite a few cars, and a black 5 had been written over the 6 on the sign board for the Sunday evening time. It was already close to 6:00 when we got there, so we turned around and came back home. Too late to go anywhere else so we listened to EBC’s message online. Pastor Ogle preached a very good message on Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah - godly men who stood strong in the midst of a heathen nation. What rewards does God give to those who overcome, to those who win the victory? One, the privilege of eating of the tree of life. Two, not being hurt of the second death. “ Three, the privilege of eating of the hidden manna Four, a white stone with a new name written in it Five and six, “26And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: 27And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. 28And I will give him the morning star. 29He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” Revelation 2:26-29 I wonder what this morning star refers to.
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June 23. Some rain before sunup this morning, but later the Lord sent sunshine. The weather has been a lot warmer today. After washing and hanging out clothes this morning, Daddy and I started checking John chapter 5. We finished over half of it, and then I made the corrections in the computer and set that part up in the print file. Just before lunch time, I felt really weak so went and lay down about a half hour. Have been having headaches most of the week. Got up and mixed tuna salad for our lunch sandwiches. Had lunch and a longer nap after that. This afternoon’s time was given to getting food ready for our evening out at the Clarke's. Enjoyed a good visit with Karen & Don. Jessica was there, too, so C&C spent time chatting with her. What rewards does God give to those who overcome, to those who win the victory? The first was in Revelation 2 verse seven, the privilege of eating of the tree of life. The second is in verse 11. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11 June 24. A very warm and muggy day, and a quiet day at home for relaxing. Got several cards ready to send or deliver during this coming week, and wrote several e-mails. Worked on the long-stitching. Played a computer game. Talked to Bonita on the phone. A joy to hear her voice. What rewards does God give to those who overcome, to those who win the victory? One, the privilege of eating of the tree of life. Two, not being hurt of the second death. “ Three and four, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Revelation 2:17 I wonder what the hidden manna refers to. June 21. First day of summer. There were several visitors at church this evening. There was a young African missionary from Togo whose name was Mawuli. He works under FBHM. Pastor Ogle covered Exodus 20: 7-11, just two commandments this evening - not taking the Lord’s name in vain and remembering the Sabbath day (taking a day of rest). Lots of good thoughts pertinent to our own lives and situations. “And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart.” I Kings 8:23 What a great God we serve! June 22. The Lord gave us a rainy morning, and we thank Him for the rain. Daddy and I went out by 8:30 this morning to do the shopping, and we were home a few minutes before 9:30. That’s amazing! It was nice not to have as much shopping to do this week. After we got groceries put away, and as soon as Connie was ready, we took her out to Sandy’s Country Christmas to get a few things that she needed for her crochet projects. Made a stop at Ingles to get some tomato sauce to make the shepherd’s pie for tomorrow and to get free range eggs which were on sale BOGO. This afternoon, I worked on youth lessons and also made mashed potatoes to use on the shepherd’s pie tomorrow. What rewards does God give to those who overcome, to those who win the victory? “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7 June 19. Baby birds are about a week old now. After quiet time and breakfast this morning, Daddy and I went for a walk around the block before the weather should get too hot. Afterward, I got journal notes ready for Connie and sent those off. Took a few pictures of the baby birds before they get too big and fly away from the nest. Looks like there are just three that survived. Only saw three beaks anyway. Got those pictures transferred to the computer. Then Daddy and I started checking John chapter 4. Praise the Lord for His help, and that the checking went fairly quickly. We were able to finish it up this afternoon, and I got corrections made and set it all up in the print file as well. Daddy went and got his lunch at Subway today, and I finished up the broccoli soup. After working on translation this afternoon, I cleaned the bathroom sink and toilet. “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Revelation 1:3 God’s blessing is promised to those who read, hear, and keep the words of this prophecy. We must be doers of the word and not hearers only if we are to receive God’s blessing. June 20. I had high hopes of getting a lot done this morning, but guess I had set my goals a little too high. It took most of the morning to wash and hang out clothes, put clean sheets on the bed, and take blankets to the Laundromat to wash. By the time we got home from the Laundromat, it was going on 12:00. Not enough time to make soup. We were both worn out anyway, for some reason. Had a half protein bar to try to build up my energy, an ear of corn, a piece of cheese, and a single serve applesauce. That was my lunch. We went to nap at 12:30. This afternoon, we brought in and hung up clothes and discussed some things together. Then I made the soup that I didn’t get to make this morning - cabbage and carrot soup today. “5Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5b,6 What wonderful verses! I’m so thankful that Jesus loved me and that He washed me from my sins in His own blood. What more could I ask for? Yet He gave more. He made us kings and priests unto God. We are a royal priesthood. We are engaged in the holy service of God. Glory (honor, praise, adoration) and dominion (supreme authority to govern and control; the right of possession and use without accountability) are His for ever and ever. Amen! June 18. Mrs. Surrett’s lesson this morning was on having a spiritual checkup, with verses taken from the book of Proverbs about a spiritually healthy heart, tongue, hands, and spirit. She covered the first three areas this morning and plans to finish the lesson next Sunday. Pastor Ogle preached on “An Argument You Should Never Have,” having to do with the disciples’ arguing among themselves about who would be greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said that they must become as little children in order to be great in God’s kingdom. “To enjoy a relationship with God, you must humble yourself -- in the beginning to be saved, and throughout life to live and grow. This evening Pastor finished up his teaching on worldliness. “24Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude verses 24,25 Praise God! He is able to keep me from falling. I am not able to keep myself, but He is able. And He is also able to present me faultless before the presence of His glory. I am not faultless, that’s for sure. But God will see me as faultless through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. God alone is wise, and He can do the things I cannot do. Glory, dominion, majesty, and power belong to Him. June 16. The day turned out to be a little different than planned, at least this afternoon. Morning was pretty normal. After getting fish on to cook for my breakfast, I put today’s laundry in to wash, made the bed, and folded the rest of Tuesday’s laundry. By then my breakfast was ready so had a bowl of rice and fish. Jotted down some prayer requests from e-mails and deleted a few e-mails. Hung out the clothes and then Daddy and I checked John chapter 3. Praise the Lord for His help on that! Made a cream of broccoli soup for Daddy’s and my lunch. After nap, I got corrections made in John 3 and started getting chapter 3 set up in the print file when everything locked up. So the rest of the day’s routine turned into a Saturday routine while Connie ran scans and tried to figure out how to help out the computer. Instead of computer work, I did a little stitching on my long stitch, swept our bathroom and bedroom floors and the kitchen floor, got water ready for washing floors, washed and dried our bathroom floor, and dried the kitchen floor while Daddy washed it. Then I had supper and did a little more long stitching. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” III John verse 4 Yes, both my biological children, and my spiritual children. June 17. This morning, Daddy and I went off to WalMart to look for some yogurt since mine is gone, and Connie is planning to postpone our Charlotte trip for a week. Made a stop at the PO on the way to mail an overseas letter and purchase some extra overseas stamps. Later I managed to get the rest of John 3 added to the print file without any frustration. Then I backed up everything that hadn’t been done for a while. It just seems like this computer is getting slower and slower and having more and more problems. I don’t want to lose any of the work that’s been done so need to make sure I keep things backed up. This afternoon, I made a batch of peanut butter cookies for Daddy. Worked a little while on the long stitch picture. June 14. This morning, Daddy shared with me the news item about the twenty-four story apartment building in London that burned down. As people described how women and children were standing at the upper windows and crying out, and others were jumping out of windows, my heart was saddened by the disaster. I wept for those people, but wept also for those there, and those in our neighborhood, who will burn forever in the lake of fire if they aren’t saved. Daddy and I also checked John chapter 2, and then I made corrections and set it up in the print file. While Daddy was gone to Gaffney, I did some writing in The Isles are Singing and completed a chapter this afternoon. Also did a little stitching of the long stitch picture which I started yesterday evening. “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” I John 3:22 We cannot expect God to hear and answer our prayers unless we keep his commandments and do what pleases Him. Holy living is a pre-requisite to answered prayer. June 15. So thankful for a good night’s rest. Slept really hard and it was going on 6:30 when I woke up this morning. Slept hard at nap time today too for about 1 1/2 hours. A little before 9:00, Daddy and I went off to Aldi and WalMart to do shopping. Saw Mary M in WalMart. She said that Joe is still not feeling very well. Got back home a little after 11:00 and put away groceries. Had time to answer a couple e-mails before lunch. After nap, I cut Daddy’s hair, then worked on the Proverbs lessons for the youth until supper time. Enjoyed a meat and cheese sandwich for supper and also a bowl of fruit salad with yogurt and pecan pieces. Did up the dishes after that - it was nice to have only a small stack of dishes to wash this time. Then found recipes for cream of broccoli soup and peanut butter cookies to make for Daddy. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” I John 4:18 Lord, help me to love you and to love others with a perfect love, that fear may be cast out and that your love may be manifest to those around me.
June 12. A very warm day, but we are thankful that it is not as hot here as it is in parts of the north. Early this morning, before we had gotten out of bed, I heard a thunkity clunk and wondered what was making noise now. Then I heard it again, and so did Daddy. “Somebody’s after the birds,” I said. I jumped out of bed and went to the back door. Sure enough. There was Tommy* looking up at me with that innocent look as if to say, “Is something wrong?” I chased him off and came back into the house. Shortly after that, I looked out and saw mother robin back on the nest and father robin standing on the edge of the nest looking in with her. The nest doesn’t look quite the same though, but I can’t see into it to see if the babies are there or not. It appears that mother and father robin are bringing food so perhaps they are. First thing after breakfast and quiet time, Daddy found the story of “The Real McCoy” for me, and I e-mailed that to myself from his computer and pasted it into yesterday’s journal notes. Then I transferred some pictures to Kodak and edited them, and got journal notes sent off to Connie with a few photos. Daddy and I went for a walk a little before 9:00, and it was already getting quite warm. We didn’t go very far though, not because it was too warm, but because of my knee making walking a struggle. After that, Daddy and I started checking the gospel of John. We are thankful to get back to translating again. It is so important for us to stick to it as much as possible. I also made a shepherd’s pie for Daddy’s dinner. In the afternoon, the Lord helped us to complete the checking of John chapter 1. “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.” I John 3:5 Praise the Lord for a sinless Saviour who willingly became our sacrifice for sin, the only perfect sacrifice. *Tommy is the neighbor’s cat. Sometimes he is kind of naughty, but he is also a sweet cat and a good mouser too. He also helps keep the possums away. June 13. It was a pretty warm day again, but a light welcome rain cooled things off late this afternoon. I put a load of clothes in to wash and put clean sheets on the bed and wrote a thank you note to Old Rugged Cross Baptist Church while the clothes were washing. Daddy helped me hang them out and then went off to Save-a-Lot to get some milk and prune juice. I got a letter written to Mary so I could get her newsletter out in the mail. The rest of the morning was spent doing more packing of PNG items. This afternoon, after getting the clothes in, I set up John chapter 1 in the Scripture print file. This evening, Daddy has gone with the girls to VBS so I am having a quiet evening to myself with the Lord. “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.” I John 3:7 June 11. So thankful for a good night’s rest. We had a combined Sunday school time this morning -- all teens and adults together in the auditorium. The Musical Merrills were there and will be starting VBS this evening. However, they had charge of Sunday school and the morning service this morning. The teaching in Sunday school was about Philip the deacon/evangelist, and most of the songs were by Philip Bliss. The challenge from Acts 8 was “Arise and go,” and “Go near.” How my heart cried for the opportunity to “go near” to our neighbors. The main message was from Psalm 92 and especially verses 13-15 which talk about "plant," "produce," and "present" (show). Mr. Merrill spent time particularly on producing, even in old age. It was a good reminder that the Lord still wants to use us all the days of our lives and that, in His time, He will take us to PNG. But it also reminded me that He can still use us to plant, produce, and present here in our neighborhood even though things have seemed so discouraging and impossible. Mr. Merrill told the story of a preacher named Charlie McCoy. Here is the story from a book by Franklin Graham called This One Thing I Do: THE REAL MCCOY: (A story) about a seventy-two-year-old Baptist preacher named Charles McCoy. McCoy was pastoring a Baptist church in Oyster Bay, New York, when at age seventy-two he was mandated by his denomination to retire. A lifelong bachelor, he had cared for his mother for as long as she lived. In his spare time he had earned seven university degrees, including two Ph.D.’s — one from Dartmouth, the other from Columbia. But now, at age seventy-two, he was being forced to retire from the ministry.He was depressed. “I just lay on my bed thinking that my life’s over, and I haven’t really done anything yet. I’ve been pastor of this church for so many years and nobody really wants me much — what have I done for Christ? I’ve spent an awful lot of time working for degrees, but what does that count for? I haven’t won very many to the Lord.” A week later he met a Christian pastor from India, and on impulse asked him to preach in his church. After the service the Indian brother asked him matter-of-factly to return the favor. Since he had preached for McCoy, would McCoy come to India and preach for him? McCoy told him that he was going to have to retire and move to a home for the elderly down in Florida. But the Indian insisted, informing McCoy that where he came from, people respected a man when his hair turns white. Would he come? McCoy thought and prayed about it and decided he would. The members of his church were aghast. Dire predictions were made. The young chairman of his board of deacons summed up the attitude of the congregation when he asked, “What if you die in India?” I love McCoy’s answer. He told him he reckoned “it’s just as close to heaven from there as it is from here.” He sold most of his belongings, put what was left in a trunk, and booked a one-way passage to India — his first trip ever out of the United States! When he arrived in Bombay, he discovered to his horror that his trunk was lost. All he had were the clothes on his back, his wallet, his passport, and the address of missionaries in Bombay he had clipped from a missionary magazine when he left. He asked for directions, got on a streetcar and headed for their house. When he got there, he discovered that while he was on the streetcar his wallet and passport had been stolen! He went to the missionaries who welcomed him in, but who told him the man who had invited him to come to India was still in the U.S.A. and would probably remain there indefinitely. What was he going to do now? they wanted to know. Unperturbed, McCoy told them he had come to preach and that he would try to make an appointment with the mayor of Bombay. They warned him that the mayor was very busy and important and that in all the years they had been missionaries there, they had never succeeded in getting an appointment with him. Nevertheless, McCoy set out for the mayor’s office the next day—and he got in! When the mayor saw McCoy’s business card, listing all his degrees, he reasoned that McCoy must not be merely a Christian pastor, but someone much more important. Not only did he get an appointment, but the mayor held a tea in his honor, attended by all of the big officials in Bombay! Old Dr. McCoy was able to preach to these leaders for half an hour. Among them was the director of India’s West Point, the National Defense Academy at Poona. He was so impressed at what he heard that he invited McCoy to preach there. Thus was launched, at age seventy-two, a brand new, sixteen-year ministry for Dr. Charles McCoy. Until he died at age eighty-eight, this dauntless old man circled the globe preaching the gospel. There is a church in Calcutta today because of his preaching and a thriving band of Christians in Hong Kong because of his faithful ministry. He never had more than enough money than to get him to the next place he was to go. He died one afternoon at a hotel in Calcutta, resting for a meeting he was to preach at that evening. He had indeed found himself as close to heaven there as he would have been at his church in Oyster Bay, New York, or in a retirement home in Florida. It was incongruous—an old man, waiting to die at age seventy-two, leaving everything he had ever known and preaching around the world. ------------------------------ Slept like a log again at nap time today. Maybe this hot weather makes we want to sleep more. Praise the Lord for a good meeting and good reception this evening at Old Rugged Cross Baptist Church here in Shelby. Pastor Jerry Allen had Daddy give a 15-minute overview of the ministry in PNG. Immediately following that, he had the church vote on whether to support us or not and the church approved. Praise the Lord! Here is another church that just had a missionary come off the field and was considering whom to take on in his stead. We are sorry for anyone to have to leave the field, but are thankful for this additional support. We thank the Lord for Bro. Bishop too who has been seeking churches to help support us and has a good reputation in this community. “2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” I John 3:2,3 All those (every man) who have the hope of being like Christ at His appearing will put forth every effort to live a holy life. Because I have that hope, I must strive to be pure and holy, even as my Saviour is pure. June 9. After family time last night, I sent a birthday card off to Steve via e-mail and then got ready for bed. Guess I haven’t caught up with sleep yet. After I put the clothes in to wash this morning, we started cleaning the house. Living room first as CJ & Jum were expected to come look at the leak. Put some things away that didn’t need to be lying around. Then took the rug outside and swept it all off, after which Daddy and I taped it up, covered it with plastic, and laid it under our bed for shipment to PNG later. Sat down a few minutes to rest before hanging out the clothes. Had just started when Jum and CJ’s father came to check out the leak and the coon problem. They did find a hole, but didn’t think it was big enough for the coon to get in. They didn’t know what to do, however, other than block off the hole. They said if we still hear something up there to call them and they will send someone out to get it. They found a few tiles that had been pulled up so tarred over those, hoping that will take care of the leak. Connie was on the phone for about two hours this morning with Lola, a friend of Martha, who was helping Connie fix up all the glitches in her new computer. The rest of my day was spent working on the display board. Praise the Lord for His help, and that I finished that project around 7:30 this evening. Christy was home around 1:00 today. She had put in extra hours this week so was able to leave early today. Daddy was having phone problems today, but was finally able to get through to PNG. He talked with Amos, Mike, and Matthew. They report that things are going well. Mike said the Sunday school lessons that we mailed in January finally arrived and he will start Sunday school tomorrow. I was excited to have opportunity to say hello to Mike. “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.” I John 1:4 June 10. Praise to the Lord for a good night’s rest. This morning was busy with making pancakes for Daddy, getting a gift and card ready for a friend, cutting out pockets for my black jumper in hopes that Mary will be able to stitch them on for me, making a pot of veggie soup for the next few days’ dinner, and e-mailing the rest of the newsletters with thank you notes to supporters. Christy and Connie went out to market, did their laundry, and Christy did their weekly shopping since they will be busy helping with VBS starting tomorrow evening. Slept like a log at nap time. After nap, I worked on the Proverbs lessons for the youth -- finished adding questions and applications to lesson 18. C&C left around 5:30 for church for a VBS meeting in preparation for this coming week. There was a HUGE stack of dishes as Connie did a lot of cooking today so she can have a lot done ahead. Christy thought she was going to do the dishes before she left. She would never have had time. It took me an hour to do them this evening. I figured that could be my way of helping VBS as well as helping Christy. Daddy dried lots of dishes too so I would have room for the rest. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” I John 1:7 |
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