September 26. Last night, I took pictures of the full moon rising, and this morning I got a couple pictures of the full moon setting. I didn’t have any leftovers for breakfast so got out the container of chopped veggies that we had bought at Lidl’s last Thursday. Thought I detected a little bit of sour smell, but they looked good so I put them in a pot with a little water and some salt and started them cooking. As they cooked, however, the sour smell became stronger and stronger. Whew! They must be fermented. Thankfully, I had also put a small panful of oatmeal on to cook so oatmeal with cinnamon and honey, fig pieces and raisins, was my breakfast, followed by a banana. After that, we got ready to go to the girls’ house. Once we got there and had said good morning to Connie and Freddie and had put away a few fridge items, I sat outside in the fresh air for prayer time. Then, since there was too much debris on the driveway to make walking comfortable, I got out the broom and swept up a big pile of leaves, sticks, etc. off to one side. That was enough exercise for the morning. After going inside, I snacked on a piece of cheese sandwiched with a piece of deli meat. Then it was time to listen to Adrian Rogers and get my computer turned on and ready for the day’s work. We were thankful to get back to checking translation this morning, even though we were only able to complete about half the chapter as there were some places that took a lot of extra thought and revision. Then I needed to make some dinner, but I first made the corrections in the Efesas (Ephesians) file while they were still fresh in my mind. Then I got busy cutting up carrots and setting them on to cook, later adding some frozen peas and corn. In the mean time, I got a pizza made, using up the leftover spaghetti sauce. Even though it is not my usual type of meal, I thoroughly enjoyed a couple slices of pizza when it was done. I had forgotten to bring the rest of my soup, and I only had a small amount left here. After I cleaned up the kitchen and put food away, we had nap. This afternoon, I made up the shopping list for tomorrow. Did the dishes early so I would be ready for church this evening. Dr. Baker from Macedonia World Baptist Missions started off mission conference with a message from Acts 11:19-26 on A Mission-Minded Church, a church like the church of Antioch. “My greatest task as a pastor is to build a church that is worthy of duplication all over the world.” What is a mission-minded church? What should it be like? 1) It must be evangelistic. As they were going to Antioch, they evangelized along the way. Evangelism should be a normal thing in a local church. The Lord will bless a church that is seeking souls. Every person in the local assembly ought to have a heart for souls. The mission field is wherever people are. 2) There must be edification. You must edify and disciple people. People need to be grounded in the word of God. You need to invest in a person’s life and be their friend and help them grow. The first few week’s of a new Christian’s life is the most important. A mission-minded church is not just the staff. 3) It must exalt the person of Jesus Christ, not just in church, but everywhere we go. Barnabas could see the grace of God. He could see that lives had changed. They were called Christians first in Antioch because they were so taken up with Christ that others, and particularly the unsaved, could see it. 4) It will always express love to others. (v27-30) A predominately Gentile church gave their hard-earned money to help the Jews at Jerusalem. 5) It established other churches. (chapter 13) September 27. It has been one wild day. As soon as I was done with breakfast and had enjoyed some quiet time, we headed out to shop—Lidl, WM, and Aldi. Then a stop at Office Depot hoping to mail our documents off to the PNG embassy. Office Depot, however, didn’t have the needed supplies. So we have one option left (I guess) and that is UPS. Will try that route tomorrow. Back to the apartment. Put food away. Pack up to go to C&C’s house. Spend a few minutes at the computer. Fix a smoothie to take on the road later. Have a little bit early lunch. Take a short nap. And about 1:15 head out for Gastonia. We were taking Connie to meet Mary Beth and go with her to her appointment to get acquainted with her chiropractor/nutritionist. While Connie was with Mary Beth, Daddy and I killed time going to BigLots, Goodwill, Valu Village, and Ollies. We came away with a snack each and two puzzle books for Daddy. Em tasol! (That's all) Arrived back at Mary Beth’s house just about 4:15 to pick up Connie, and headed home to C&C’s house. Had supper and started the dishes. Finished up the dishes and had a little time for prayer before the meeting started. Dr. Baker’s text this evening was Exodus 17: 8-14a, looking at “The School of Prayer.” 1) An adversary (Amalek). We have adversaries—Satan, self, and the world. Missionaries will have the same adversaries who will try to keep us from doing what God wants us to do in the way that God wants us to do it. The adversaries will keep us from going where God wants us to go. (I Corinthians 16:9) Paul was constantly calling on God’s people to support him through prayer. (II Thessalonians 3:1) He wanted some people to touch heaven on his behalf. A storm came up shortly before 8:00, and the internet went out a little after that so I wasn’t able to hear any more of Dr. Baker’s message. “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” (II Thessalonians 3:1) Yes, how we need the prayers of God’s people!
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September 24. Thank the Lord for a refreshing, cool morning in which we were able to keep the door open and enjoy the fresh air. After breakfast and quiet time this morning, I made sure our passports and all the forms for sending to the PNG embassy in Washington were together and signed and dated where necessary. Daddy was going to take them out and ship them off to the embassy today, but there seems to be a bit of a dilemma with the embassy in the process of moving to a new location, and we are not sure whether to send them to the old address or the new address. He tried to call the embassy to find out, but could not get any response. After all that was together, I wrote an e-mail (which was sent out to a distribution list) requesting prayer for this current situation and necessary step in the process of making preparations for getting to the field. We must have the passports back in our hands before we can proceed any further. Next I got journal notes set up in a file for Connie and took a couple pictures of the painting I had finished yesterday. Transferred the pictures to the computer and edited them. Got the e-mail ready and sent off to Connie. This afternoon, I made up a supplement list for supplements that we’ll need to carry with us. Also answered a couple e-mails. Shortly before supper, I made a jugful of herb tea. This evening, I wrote a couple outreach lessons. Martha called and talked with Daddy for a while and then with both of us. My Bible reading this evening fell upon I kings chapter 20, the chapter that Pastor Simpson had preached on the Sunday we visited Maple Grove Baptist Church. It was a wonderful reminder that our God is a God of the valleys as well as a God of the hills, and that He will give us victory both on the hills and in the valleys if we wait on Him. September 25. A nice cool day. Cloudy too. Washed dishes this morning before we got ready to leave for the girls’ place. After we got there, I put a few food items away in fridge, made a smoothie, and sat outside and prayed while I drank the smoothie. The rest of the morning, I was busy doing various things—doing some research and writing a couple e-mails; photo-copying all our documents that we will be sending to the embassy; photo-copying some other items that have been sitting in my computer bag for a long time waiting to be photo copied; photo-copying forms for entering things into the fair; gathering together the few items that I would be entering into the fair. Then I had a little bit early lunch because I was hungry. This afternoon, I put the first coat of varnish on my piano painting. I also filled out the fair form and helped Christy finish and get ready a couple of her projects for the fair. Ate supper early too because I was hungry. Then around 6:00, we left for the fairgrounds. Items had to be entered by 7:00. I entered four crocheted items of different categories—novelty, a table center mat; small, a purse; baby set; and other, the frog. And I entered the painting of the sailboat in the sunset. I didn’t realize it was supposed to have a wire for hanging; but, thankfully, the lady there who was in charge of taking the paintings had some wire, and I was able to find a couple thumb tacks in another area so I was able to enter the painting. Connie entered eleven items, and Christy entered six. After we got home, I got busy helping Connie clean up the kitchen and then I washed the dishes. Shortly afterward, we had our family devotions. Then I wrote another e-mail to Martha with some information I had almost forgotten to send her, and then Daddy and I headed back home. Full moon tonight So big and bright Reflecting sun’s light With all its might -- Thank you, dear Lord, For this delight. “24And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” Acts 24:24,25 As Paul preached the gospel to Felix, conviction caused Felix to tremble. How sad that there is no record that Felix ever had a “convenient season” to put his trust in Christ.
September 23. Bro. Steadman, from Baptist World Mission, was special speaker this morning at EBC. His main topic for both meetings was Being a Light Bearer. Although we have no light inherent in us, we are light bearers, reflecting the light of Christ. His text in the first meeting was Mark 8:27-38, and he spoke of three areas where Christ confronted His disciples. 1) His deity: The key issue is “Who is Jesus the Christ?” It is not who other people think Jesus is, but who you believe He is. The deity of Christ is the foundation of all our lives. 2) His death: He must suffer. He had to die. His death was necessary for redemption and salvation. His death would satisfy the love of God for sinners. None of us can ever understand the misery of the cross and the depth of Christ’s suffering. Christ always spoke of the misery, but He also always spoke of the victory—He would rise again. The voice of Satan to Peter is the voice of Satan today and is the voice of contemporary Christians—avoid the cross. 3) His demands: He challenged the disciples to take up their cross. What is the cross that He calls us to take up? It is a sacrificial decision, a decision to follow Christ and deny ourselves. It is not giving up something for a little while and then going back to living for oneself. It is saying “no” to our own way. It is giving up absolute claim to our own way and saying yes to the absolute claim of Christ. The man with a cross no longer controls his own destiny. It is also a satisfying decision. If you lose your life, you will find it. And it is a significant decision. I don’t want Jesus to be ashamed of me. We are to deny ourselves and take up our cross, to be suffering servants, and be light reflectors of His glory. How are we doing as a light bearer? In between meetings, I spent time in prayer, printed out a couple copies of the sponsorship letter from Bro. Gray, and took out 44 rows of crocheting on the doily. 😊 Will make a concerted effort to get it right this time. In the latter meeting, Bro. Steadman’s message was from Acts 2, and was entitled The Communication of the light. The Gospel is the light that we are to deliver. What Peter preached on the day of Pentecost is what Paul preached in his ministry and what we are to preach in our ministry. It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The book of Acts tells us how to do ministry. Some parts of Acts are not for today—some things were only for the apostolic period. Acts shows us that the number one evidence of the filling of the Holy Spirit is boldly speaking the gospel, not speaking in tongues. Acts 2:14,22—Peter here is preaching. The first activity in the beginning of the church was the preaching of the gospel. Preaching must be the priority of the day. Preaching is central to the ministry of the church. A king’s messenger would boldly stand up and deliver the message he was to “preach.” It doesn’t matter how boldly we deliver the message, however, if we have the message wrong. The force of the message—bold proclamation; a message of authority. Peter calls on the people to hear his words. What makes preaching preaching? Not the loudness of the voice or even the circumstances, but the boldness of the speaker. Preaching may be to a crowd or one-on-one. We have a message of light and of the king. We are to be bold and authoritative and not water down the message, yet preach in love. What did Peter preach? The deity of Christ; the death of Christ; the resurrection of Christ; and the exaltation of Christ. This afternoon, I tried to touch up and finish up the painting that I’d been working on for some time. I’m not entirely satisfied with it, but it is just for my own home so will let it rest as is. I also cut Daddy’s hair. This evening, I spent some time crocheting, and we listened to another message by Pastor Weiss, from Hebrews 12:1-3, an excellent message on running the race with patience, laying aside every weight and sin that will slow us down and make us ineffective, and keeping our eyes on Jesus (not looking around) and on the joy that is set before us. We have a great cloud of witnesses watching us run the race, those who, at the end of chapter 11, finished their race, but are waiting for us to finish our race so that we all together may receive the promises. “1Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” Hebrews 12:1-3
September 21. The first day of Autumn. As soon as we arrived at C&C’s house, I put away our day’s food items, started the laundry, and then went outside to sit where it was quiet and I could spend some more time praying. In just a few minutes, Daddy came out to say that there was an e-mail from Bro. Gray saying that he has our papers. Praise the Lord!!! After prayer time, I went in and wrote an e-mail with “carbon copies” to a good list of churches and individuals, to let them know of the answer to prayer and to ask them to keep praying as we make preparations to go. Then it was time to hang out the clothes. As soon as the clothes were hung, Daddy and I checked over Ephesians 3, and then I got corrections made in the computer and everything set up in the print file. Praise the Lord for His help this morning. Also looked over our Owena house plans and made a couple changes, and looked over our PNG shopping list to see if we had listed all the priority items. This afternoon, I spent more time on outreach lessons, and a good part of the evening was spent crocheting. “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Psalm 86:5 My new memory verse. How I praise God for His goodness! He is always good. His goodness endures continually. (Psalm 52:1) How I praise God for His forgiveness, for a God who is ready to forgive! And how I praise God for His mercy! Abundant mercy! Exceedingly great and full! And it is for ALL who call upon Him. September 22. A slow, quiet day. Did a lot of crocheting. With just seven rows to go, I finally discovered where my mistake is—way back in the beginning, I thought there must be a mistake somewhere, because the spaces didn’t count correctly; but I had looked and looked and looked and couldn’t find one. Now that I’m nearly to the end, it is found. So what do I do with a doily with a mistake? Take out 44 rows of stitching and fix it? ☹ Also this morning, I folded my clothes from yesterday’s laundry and put them away, and I went to WM (with my driver, Daddy, of course) to meet Christy there and help her pick out some material to finish off a couple projects she is doing for the fair. Before dinner, I prepared and cooked a pot full of greens and carrots. And this afternoon, I made some white sauce and added the ground beef I had cooked a couple days ago; and for supper, I enjoyed some of that on a bowlful of the greens and carrots. After supper, I washed up the day’s dishes. And a little later, we went over to C&C’s house and played a table game together.
September 19. Didn’t have so much to do this morning so we were ready about an hour earlier to go to C&C’s house. Once we got there and I had put away our food in the fridge, I sat outside and finished prayer time. Then, since the driveway was covered with leaves and other debris that had blown down from the trees during the storm, I got out the broom and started sweeping. Got a little over a third of the driveway swept—actually more than that, since I swept out the carport too, all around the van which is where most of the leaves were anyway. When I had reached my limit on sweeping, I came inside and got the computer turned on. Then I took some photos of the tracts that had come last week, transferred them to the computer and edited them, and sent a couple to Connie. After that, Daddy and I checked the first chapter of Ephesians. It took a while to get through the chapter, but the Lord was our helper, and we were thankful for His help in getting it done. Soon afterward, Daddy left for Gaffney to pick up the girls’ milk, and I got corrections made in Ephesians 1 in the computer, and set it up in the print file. Then added the English for chapter 2. Then I started preparing spaghetti for Daddy’s dinner. After nap, I wrote the last outreach lesson for book 1, year 1. Did the dishes early so I would be ready for the church service. Had my supper after doing dishes. Daddy had been asked to preach tonight, speaking on How to Pray for Missionaries. September 20. It was a blessing to have an easy shopping day. We made three stops and were done with our shopping in less than an hour and a half. After getting home, getting food put away, and making a smoothie, the Lord enabled Daddy and me to check Ephesians chapter 2. I went ahead and made corrections and got it set up in the print file before lunch too. This afternoon, I made some revisions to the outreach lessons and shortened some of them; then I added some new material. In the evening, I worked on the crocheted doily and played some computer games, and Daddy and I went for a walk and had Bible study and prayer time together. “13But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” II Timothy 3:13-15 No matter how others are living and behaving in this world, we need to continue in the things that we have learned and been assured of. And let us not forget how we have been saved through faith in Christ Jesus. We must keep our eyes on Him and not on the world or what others are doing.
September 17. A pretty sunrise this morning after the rain of the past few days. After my breakfast and quiet time, we headed over to C&C’s house to find a copy of the “How to Pray for Missionaries” tract. (Pastor Ogle had texted Daddy yesterday evening to see if he would preach on that topic this Wednesday evening.) We found one, and Daddy also picked up his coffee mug and I borrowed some better (I hope) white paint to try to fix my painting. On the way back, we stopped at Big Lots to get some pasta sauce as I will need to make Daddy a spaghetti meal either tomorrow or Wednesday. As soon as we got back to the apartment, I started making the weekly soup—sweet tater soup this week. After that was ready and on to start cooking, Daddy and I checked Galatians chapter 5. By then it was lunch time, but I managed to eat lunch and get the corrections made in the Galesia file and also get it set up in the print file during lunch time. Even had a few minutes before nap to search for some bridge photos. This afternoon, I wrote another outreach lesson and pureed and bottled my soup. After supper, Daddy and I went out to Mel and Ellen’s house to visit with them, and with Tim and Ruth before they leave. They are planning to head back home in the morning. “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 A message needed for us to cry out to people of our country. “31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.” Ezekiel 33:31,32 A picture of much of Christendom in our nation today. September 18. Even though I was up a few minutes early this morning, we still didn’t get to C&C’s house until a little before 9:30. All I had left for breakfast was some haddock—needed some veggies to go with it. So after having my vitamin drinks and starting quiet time, I got busy cutting up veggies. I soon had a large container full of celery, zucchini, yellow squash, and carrot pieces. Heated up oil in a pot and dumped in all the veggies. Added dried onion, salt, pepper, and ginger. Stirred it all up and added a little water. Put the lid on and let it cook while I did the dishes. We had gone off and left the dishes undone yesterday evening, and I didn’t feel like doing them after we got home last night. Finally sat down for breakfast and a little more quiet time around 8:30. After that, we packed up things we would need for the day and headed for the girls’ house. I did not do walking exercise today. I had already been on my feet too long. After we got to the girls’ house, I made room in the fridge and put our food away. Then I set up the computer, read and deleted e-mails, searched for ministry photos and sent an e-mail with the photos to Katie N. By then it was 11:00. We only had one more chapter of Galatians to check so got busy doing that. Then I got corrections made in the computer and everything set up in the print file. Also set things up to begin Ephesians. Then I had my lunch. This afternoon, I got journal notes ready to send to Connie and also transferred and fixed up some storm cloud photos to send along with the notes. This evening, I washed the dishes and did a little crocheting. |
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