March 31, 2011

Happy Birthday Jerry

yesterday was school, cleaning of church and Bible Study, there were quite a few there.

by Greg Laurie:

A Working Conscience Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron. — 1 Timothy 4:1–2  Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the famed Sherlock Holmes novels, was a bit of a practical joker. One day, on a lark, he jotted out a note and sent it to 12 of his closest friends. The note read, "Flee at once! All is discovered!" Within 24 hours, all 12 of his friends had left the country. The conscience is a bit like an alarm; it warns us of impending danger. Sometimes we are tempted to ignore or even disable alarms because we don't want to listen to them. The smoke alarm in my house only goes off at 3:00 A.M., warning that the battery is dead. It is very tempting to disconnect it so that I won't have to listen to it. But if our conscience is working, if it is reminding us that something we have said or done is wrong, then that is a good thing. We want a conscience that is tender, a conscience that works properly. We don't want to try to disable it, and we certainly don't want to dull it, because the Bible warns that we can sear our conscience as with a hot iron (see 1 Timothy 4:1–2). This means having a conscience that is calloused and hard. Everyone has a God-given conscience. As Romans 2:14 tells us, "For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them." We need to teach our conscience how to function properly. We want to effectively educate it with God's Word so it will do what it is supposed to as designed by our Creator.

March 30, 2011

Yesterday after school I went over to visit Frank and Dorothy, always a good conversation with them.  At home it was a quiet evening,   These are some really challenging thoughts....

"You Did It For Me"


"Then the King will say, 'I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.' Then
the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you thirsty and give you something
to drink?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one
of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'"

--Matthew 25:34-40

The year is A.D. 33. It's late on a stormy Friday afternoon, and I am standing on
a rugged hill by a trash heap outside Jerusalem. I huddle with a group of women
just a few yards from the cross. Large drops of rain begin to pelt the dust, and
 I clutch at my head shawl, wiping away tears and rain.

I cannot take my eyes off Jesus. His body is ramrod stiff, covered with caked dirt
and blood, back arched, near death, yet hands stretched and fingers splayed. Jesus'
head bobs against the crossbar and He groans, "I thirst."

I step out of the group and cock my ear. Did Jesus say He was... thirsty? A soldier,
half-drunk, cracks off a stock of hyssop, spears a sponge and, after soaking it
in sour wine, laughs and thrusts it into His face.

I am horrified. Wait. Don't give Him wine gone acidic. This is the Lord who is asking
for a drink. O, God, if only I had a jug of fresh spring water! But history is written.
I am helpless to do anything.

It is this year. It is late on a stormy afternoon. You drive by a nursing home,
recalling a community notice mentioning the need for more dinnertime volunteers
at the home.

Jesus said that when we meet the needs of our neighbors, we have ministered personally
to Him. Hurting people are our neighbors. History can be rewritten-we can still
give the Lord that drink.

March 29, 2011

Yesterday there were students missing because fo Carolyn Thorson's funeral, some came back afterwards.  But for me it was a usual day, after school and helping a student so she is ready for today, I went home and rested, after fixing supper and eating, I went to senior center to help Presley Morstad sew.  We got almost done, but have a glitch that we can fix and finish next time.  They are a relly nice family and when I see her sitting there sewing, I feel that she will be able to go ahead on her own.

The seasons in our lives change, I know my feelings are different than each of yours, and that is o.k.  God is there and guiding our steps. One thing I forgot to tell you, it is starting to melt so those little lights along the flowerbed are peaking through and shinning brightly that is exciting.

Winter's End


"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts
of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

--Ecclesiastes 3:11

I'm getting tired of winter. But not the winter you are used to. In southern California,
the season is one long stretch of balmy, sunny days. Oh, how I miss the cold, wet
winters back in my home state of Maryland.

I've been nagging Ken to drive me up to Lone Pine, California, a little town on
the edge of the high desert near the base of the snowy Sierra Mountains. The road
is one long, straight line across the desert and you can see Lone Pine long before
you come to it. When you arrive, it's just a couple of Victorian houses, a few stoplights,
and a corner café called BoBo's Bonanza. But the highlight is the awesome view of
the towering Sierras at the edge of town. An icy downdraft from the mountains takes
your breath away... and I love it!

I'm longing for a change of seasons. And just like I'm wishing for snow, you are
 most likely pining for the caress of a warm, sunny day. How good of God to make
 us such "seasonal" people. We enjoy change, and having been imprinted with the
image of the Creator, we love variety. God has set eternity in our hearts and we
 simply must move forward like the changing of seasons.

So hang in there until Spring. I may get my drive up to Lone Pine before the snow
melts off the peaks. You may see warmer, sunnier days on the horizon. There's a
time for everything, and God promises that your days will be beautiful... in His
 time.

Lord of winter and spring, I praise You for making everything beautiful in its time.
Give me patience to wait for change in my life.

March 28, 2011

Yesterday was a busy day with Sunday School and Church, Isaiah Nolte from Fargo spoke to us about his desire to go to Nicaragua, he has been there 8 times, but feels God calling him to go back and start churches.  Jerry said he was interesting and he is.  Jerry, I  am not sure if that is the word you used.  We are way to stoic here, to much Scandinavian influence.  He will fit in with the people there.  It is obvious that God has called him and that is what counts.  If we were really focused on Jesus we might be a bit more exuberant, too.  After wards came home and rested and then went to family service for Carolyn, visited with some who had come from a distance for that occasion.  I have highlighted a couple of paragraphs, because if we want to hear from Jesus and to really sense his voice we have to take time to listen and focus and then do what he says.

Mary Listened
~

"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on
Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the
fragrance of the perfume. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later
to betray him, objected. 'Leave her alone,' Jesus replied. 'It was intended that
 she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.'"

--John 12:3-4, 7

For weeks, Jesus had been telling His disciples that He would soon be crucified
and taken from them. Judging from their confusion after His death, it's obvious
they did not listen. But one person listened, really listened to the words of Jesus.
It was Mary, the sister of Martha.

I'm sure that the Lord was deeply touched by her demonstration of devotion, the
pouring of perfume on His feet. What may have touched him more, however, was the
 knowledge that Mary was doing this as a preparation for His burial. Perhaps she
 realized that crucified criminals were not permitted to be anointed for burial;
 perhaps this act of devotion was her way of offering, in advance, what might not
be permitted after His death.

How did Mary know all this? She sat at the feet of Jesus and drank in His every
word. She pondered the things He said, weighing everything, considering it all.
The disciples failed to genuinely listen and missed the chance to minister to the
Lord before He went to the cross.

We bring so much delight to the Lord when we sit at His feet and consider all the
things He says. Others may miss the point or bypass the lesson. But for those who
hang on His words, to them, God reveals His secret plan and purpose.

Lord, today I sit at Your feet to listen. Oh, may I genuinely hear what wonderful
things You have to say.

March 27, 2011

Yesterday was a busy day.  I have been trying to get things put away for spring and I knew that Jerry's children were coming, too.  In the morning Dad and I went to Starkweather for benefit for Stella Blake we were able to visit with some of their children and others who were there.  Then came home and over to Grandpa's house and Jerry's children came over to be with us.  They were all there and we ate and visited, children stayed while Jerry and Julie went back across the road, about 3 we took the children over and went to town to spend time with the few seniors left.  There is a sign on the billboard about missing Carolyn.   I guess the rest of the day was here.

VERSE:
  He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to
present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from
accusation.
   -- Colossians 1:22
      http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Colossians+1:22

THOUGHT:
  "Christians aren't perfect; they're just forgiven." We know we
are not perfect. We know our weaknesses, inadequacies, sinfulness,
pettiness, immaturity, cowardice ... But Jesus demonstrated his
love for us on the Cross as he offered his body and shed his blood.
His sacrifice means that God looks at us as "perfect." Jesus'
sacrifice means we are holy, without blemish, and without
chargeable offense in God's presence! Jesus' perfect sacrifice has
brought us perfect reconciliation with God!

PRAYER:
  Forgive me, Almighty God, for my sins. I get sick of them and
frustrated with my own inability to completely overcome them.
Strengthen me, dear Father, so that I will have more fortitude and
courage to face temptation victoriously. Thank you, God of glory,
for sharing your perfection and glory with me by sending Jesus. I
praise you O God, my Rock and my Redeemer, for you have made me
your child! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

March 27, 2011

Yesterday was a busy day.  I have been trying to get things put away for spring and I knew that Jerry's children were coming, too.  In the morning Dad and I went to Starkweather for benefit for Stella Blake we were able to visit with some of their children and others who were there.  Then came home and over to Grandpa's house and Jerry's children came over to be with us.  They were all there and we ate and visited, children stayed while Jerry and Julie went back across the road, about 3 we took the children over and went to town to spend time with the few seniors left.  There is a sign on the billboard about missing Carolyn.   I guess the rest of the day was here.

VERSE:
  He has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to
present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from
accusation.
   -- Colossians 1:22


THOUGHT:
  "Christians aren't perfect; they're just forgiven." We know we
are not perfect. We know our weaknesses, inadequacies, sinfulness,
pettiness, immaturity, cowardice ... But Jesus demonstrated his
love for us on the Cross as he offered his body and shed his blood.
His sacrifice means that God looks at us as "perfect." Jesus'
sacrifice means we are holy, without blemish, and without
chargeable offense in God's presence! Jesus' perfect sacrifice has
brought us perfect reconciliation with God!

PRAYER:
  Forgive me, Almighty God, for my sins. I get sick of them and
frustrated with my own inability to completely overcome them.
Strengthen me, dear Father, so that I will have more fortitude and
courage to face temptation victoriously. Thank you, God of glory,
for sharing your perfection and glory with me by sending Jesus. I
praise you O God, my Rock and my Redeemer, for you have made me
your child! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

March 26, 2011

Yesterday was a school day, the cook was gone and the sub had no knowledge of what to do, so I helped as much as I could, some glitches, but we survived.  After school I went to Devils Lake to take care of taxes, etc.  Dad was cooking himself something to eat, so I ate that and that was the day.  Devotion by Greg Laurie......

What Is a Disciple?

In the Great Commission, Jesus told us to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations. But what does it mean to make disciples? And more to the point, what exactly is a disciple?

As I have stated before, every disciple is a Christian, but not every Christian is necessarily a disciple. So, before I can make disciples, I have to be sure that I myself am one, because it takes one to make one.

In Luke 14, Jesus laid out His requirements for discipleship. Let's look at one of them here: The disciple must love Jesus more than anyone or anything else.

Jesus said, "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26).

I know that statement sounds shocking to us today. We ask, "Is Jesus really asking me to hate my family members to follow Him?" In the light of the New Testament, we see that Jesus was not demanding an unqualified hatred. He could not command us to honor our fathers and mothers and then also demand that we hate them.

He could not command husbands to love their wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, and then advise them to hate them. He could not tell His followers to love their enemies and hate them at the same time.

The fact is that we are to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, and love one another as Christ has loved us. That is what Scripture teaches. So what gives with this statement about hating father, mother, wife, children, etc.?

Jesus was using the method of sharp contrasts, essentially saying that your love for God must be so strong—so intense—that all other loves would be like hatred in comparison.

Another way to say it would be, "If you want to really be My disciple, and live your Christian life to its fullest, you must love Me more than anyone or anything else!" You must love God more than your career or your possessions. You must love God more than your friends. You must love God even more than your family!

You might say, "My marriage is the most important thing in my life! My wife/husband is my number-one priority!" As noble as that sounds, it is the wrong number-one priority. Marriage is important, but it should not be the most important thing in your life.

Jesus should be.

The fact is that when you make Jesus the center of your life, you will be a better spouse.

Others might say, "Our children are the center of our life!" Listen, Jesus should be the center of your life! In fact, if you want to ruin your children, make them the center of your life. The best thing we can do for our children is to show them how to make Jesus the Center of their lives because He is the center of yours.