Necessary Food

That was quite a storm that rumbled through town last night. We woke up in the middle of the night as the winds were howling and screeching. I ran out onto my deck to save my hanging planter that was thrashing against the house. I will have to transplant the poor thing as the planter broke.

In our spiritual lives, God is the refuge from the storm - the storms of our lives. He rescues us and stills the storms. Luke 8:24 mentions the time when the disciples were in the boat with Christ and they were so afraid. But Christ rebuked the storm "and the storm subsided and all was calm."

A fellow blogger said this past week "since I have started reading the Bible, there is a sense of calm. I love it."

Many people feel that they just don't have time to read the Bible. Our pastor had an excellent sermon on time management yesterday that you can listen to here! (and if you say you are too busy to listen, you really ought to take the time to do so - ha!)

Two people this past week asked me what I do for my Bible reading time. Do I have a method, certain tools to help me? Over the years, during the various seasons of my life, I have done different things.

First, though, I have a place. This is my "holy of holies" so to speak. The place I read the Word and pray. Meet with my Saviour. I like to do this first thing in the morning.

"You will fill me with joy in Your presence." Psalm 16:11

Job 23:12 says "I have treasured up the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. "

I love reading God's very Word to me!

Where do I read? I've done various things.

One time I read a chapter of Proverbs each day (31 chapters, one for each day of the month) along with a chapter from Psalms.

The Navigators have an on-line study and also other resources that are excellent! There are many devotional guides out there.

Some years I have done the "Read through the Bible in a year". It helps to ask 2 questions when doing that and recording the answers. From the passage:
1. Who are You, Lord?
2. What would You have me do?

For the past few years, this is what I have done:
"Today in the Word" that is put out by Moody Bible Institute (click on Today in the Word at the top of the page). You read a portion of Scripture and then it has a little devotional with it. You can read this on-line or have a copy sent to your home each month. It is free! I like to have the printed word because I don't much care to sit with the computer on my lap or sit at my desk to read. I like my chair! And a cup of coffee!

A few years ago, going through a "storm"in my life, a friend gave me a copy of "Streams in the Desert" by L.B. Cowman. So, along with "Today", I read "Streams" every day. There is a short devotional for every day of the year. This book has been like a bandaid on a wounded soul. Not that I feel wounded all the time; usually not, but it speaks to me all the same. And it has brought much healing during suffering.

I have a prayer journal. I write down thoughts from my devotions, and also I printed out a prayer request/answers to prayer page that I punched holes in to fit into my binder. It has been absolutely breathtaking at times to see how God answers prayer!

"In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice;
In the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation!"
Psalm 5:3

When time permits, as some mornings allow, I also will read a portion from another book. I love books by DL Moody, Anne Graham Lotz, Stowell and many others. These men and women of the faith have strengthened my own walk with the Lord. I have my song book that I often go to and sing also. Sometimes I will sit at the piano and play it. I have a terrible voice but He created it so He will just have to "enjoy" it! And I stink at the piano but no one hears it but God. I close the windows so the neighbors can't hear it either.

Last Christmas, my Aunt Millie gave me a copy of the devotional "Bedside Blessings" by Charles Swindoll. That is how I close out my night before falling asleep.

So anyway, that answers your question, to those who asked. I would love to hear what you do! What I do to "feed" on God's Word may not at all fit you. Just like one person might love brocolli and another hate it, although we all need to feed on the Word of God, how we go about it, what else we read, how He speaks to each person will vary.

As believers, we all need to feed on the Word. A loss of appetite is a sign of disease isn't it. The sick have little appetite. It is the same I believe spiritually. If spending time reading the Bible sounds boring to you and you have little desire to do so, ask God to give you that desire.

I have read some comments on Jess' blog where people have said "I wish I had faith like that". They can! In 1 Thess. 3:10 Paul prayed that God would supply "what is lacking in your faith", and we see the answer in 2 Thess.1:3 "your faith is growing more and more". Christ desires relationship with us and He desires our faith to grow.

Physically speaking, when we are hungry and we eat, we get full. But spiritually, the more we eat of it, the more we hunger for it and the more we desire it. The sheep follow their Good Shepherd to green pastures. He will give you the desire to "eat".

"The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, my Deliverer." Psalm 18:2

God rocks!

(ok. that's corny. but I wanted to post this picture!)

Petersons

Yesterday Tommy and Helen Peterson and their four children arrived at our home - the first stay on a 3-month journey. They are missionaries with Avant and are planning to go to France as soon as they are able to raise support. Jill, our daughter, went to Moody Bible Institute with Tommy and that is how we became acquainted.

After their 8 1/2 hour trip yesterday from Denver, the children enjoyed "swimming" in the bubble bath!

Onward to Houston today - an 11 hour drive.

May the Lord go before you and prosper your work for Him!

Hog Wild!

On Sunday, we showed our Sunday School teachers and helpers our thanks by catering Hog Wild for them and for their families for lunch.

Our workers are incredible!! I think about the nursery crew (I'm the Nursery Director) - I have 43 people who serve regularly in the nursery (83 infants to young threes). That is excluding those rotating volunteers who serve once a quarter during 1st service. During 2nd and 3rd service, these workers serve every week or every other week. There are check-in people, teachers (some teach weekly, others co-teach), and LOTS of helpers, someone who cleans the toys and sheets, and one who does the scheduling and calling. These people are so great with the children! They love on them, bounce the babies, feed them, change diapers, greet them with smiles and comfort those who are crying. They take them for walks in the strollers, play outside or in the gym (can't wait for that new playground - Cora's Playground coming soon!, do playdough, bubbles and of course, most importantly teach the children about our Lord Jesus!! Thank you workers!!!

"We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thess. 1:2,3

Huh?

My mother received this timer. Made in China.
We had such a good laugh over it that I just have to share it.

On the front, it says it is an Illustrative Stopwatch that "Only Need One Button Cell". You can see the words Pi Pi Pi Pi written by it. I guess it makes that sound when the timer goes off. "Cooking? Take me with you!" I think it means you can clip this on your shirt and if you are outside while your cookies are cooking, it will let you know when the cookies are done. Only problem is, who can really understand how to use this thing??

Here are the operating instructions from the back just as they have it typed (errors in spelling included):
One, production use
This production can enactment noon break time, study time, hair dressing time, stew wime, sun edition time....and so on.
Two, production function
This production is be read disply maximum countdown capacity of 99 minutes 59 seconds.
Three, use means
1. Press M button to set desired minutes.
2. Press S button to set desired seconds
3. Press START/STOP button once to start timer.
4. press M to show the S key to return the zero to reset at the same time.
5. Beenactment time to countdown is "zero" second hour occurrence alert.
6. Press RESET button to stop alarm.
Four, bateries usr and barter
1. Replace battery when ever reading becomes dim & difficult to read.
2. usage button G13 type battery.
3. Open the battery door, and take out the old battery, and peg out the new batery plus or minus very put into, and press back, nome position the battery door.

HUH? I think the Chinese instructions on the left side were just as instructive as the "English" ones.

Cuckoo

Today a yellow-billed cuckoo flew into our picture window on our back deck. (I spared sharing a photo of the dead bird and found one on-line instead.) I am so sad. I'm sure he broke his neck. I have these sticky leaves that I have put on my window that I purchased from the Wild Bird store in Wichita. They are supposed to keep the birds from flying into windows. I believe it has cut down on how many do. But sometimes it still happens. When it is such a beautiful bird as this one, I just cringe. Does anyone have any other ideas on how to prevent this?

Friends

This morning I was reading John 15:15.
"I have called you friends."
Isn't it remarkable? Amazing!

I have just joined Facebook. I don't really get it. One thing I have noticed is the phrase, so and so "wants to be your friend". Christ wants us to be His! It is so precious to think of it.

It used to be that in Japan, when someone asked you "Can I be your friend", it was quite an honor and responsibility. One you don't take lightly. (Many things have changed in Japan since I lived there, and maybe this has too.) On Facebook, asking someone to be your friend isn't that way. People I don't even know pop up somehow in the internet space and ask to be your friend.

I had to think of Michael Gungor's song, Friend of God. I've been singing it in my head this morning.

I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
I am a friend of God
He calls me friend.

Who am I that You are mindful of me
That You hear me
When I call
Is it true that You are thinking of me
How You love me
It's amazing

God Almighty
Lord of glory
You have called me friend.


I'll have to figure out Facebook I guess. It seems a little silly. But I know many of you love it and perhaps I'll get hooked. I probably will. But I do love blogging! Infact, I was just thinking how it is really an extension of my ministry as a Nursery Director.

On Sunday morning, when the kids arrive, sometimes they might be fussy, crying. They don't want mommy and daddy to leave them. But to be able to say,

"Taylor, I heard you went to the zoo! You saw those elephants! They are BIG!"
or
"Oliver, you are such a big boy now! Wearing big boy undies!"
or
"Eli, did you go fishing with your Daddy?"

I know these things because of the blog. And I am able to distract the kids and help them to shift their thoughts and forget that mommy and daddy are leaving them in the nursery. They always end up having so much fun! Well, except for Luke last week! Hoping his teeth are better and he'll be full of smiles again tomorrow!

Arkansas

On Sunday, right after church, Jill, Hannah, Sophia and myself made a trip to Northwest Arkansas to see my son, Josh and his family.

It was a long trip.

Sophie slept a little of the way.

Unfortunately she cried for about 45 minutes.
Those DVD machines are great to keep a kid entertained!

I remember when I was a kid we didn't have seat belts.

We would lay down in the back of the station wagon.

Cut out paper dolls, play travel bingo....

Lots of fun times and good memories!

Kissin' cousins!

Emeri and Sophia

Josh grilled for us! Yum!

Since getting pregnant, Staci has a hard time cooking.
She is quite nauseous.
We had a gift for the new baby!
Can you tell what it will be??


Staci found a great boy name starting with an E and it goes great

with emeri and emeri LOVES it...Elmo! Isn't it perfect?!?!?!?
Staci tells us that Emeri's name was going to be Cole if she came out a boy. Josh still likes that one but Staci doesn't as much. She likes Eli but he doesn't as much, so the arguing has begun :)Staci's mother knew their delimna and said they should just name him Ecoli. get it?


On Monday, we went to this awesome place!
It is a safari park located outside of Gentry, Ark.
(north of Siloam Springs)
It was sooooo fun!
We thought the warnings were a little scary.

Not responsible for Accidents.
So much so it is written twice.
Luckily, none of us were injured.

First off you can walk around looking at animals.
Petting them.
Feeding some.




There are all kinds of exotic animals here
including 12 tigers.
But the kids found the bunnies their favorite!

See the joey in the pouch?

Then there is this drive through safari.

It is really quite amazing how many emus and other

animals there are here.

Other things we did -

Here is a picture of Sophia.

She is just a little shy of Josh's dog, Molly.

So she stayed close by mommy while Hannah gave Molly a bath.

Hannah loves Molly!

She took her for a walk.

She wants a dog.

Jill tells her when she grows up she can get one.

The girls colored....

Sophia ate some crayons....

and the girls did playdough (Sophia ate that too).

A playdough necklace.
It even matches the dress.

The girls went swimming.

We had a fun time!

Wish we all lived a little closer.

As a missionary kid, I saw my cousins every 5 years when we'd come "home" on furlough.

("Home" was not really home for us kids. Japan was home.)

So at least Emeri, Sophia, and Hannah and soon to be Elmo or Ecoli or whatever great E name they come up (if they end up with an E name), get to see eachother more often than that.

If you have any great E name that would go great with Emeri, can you share it?