Happy Birthday!

Stunning!

I looked out my back door between rains last evening and spotted this beauty.

Collage Time for Sarah

One inside, and one outside. Hope you like them. Not too many mosquitos inside....

She's BACK!

Here I am, folks. You can quit holding your collective breaths!

Almost 5 weeks later. We are moved in, and we are LOVING our bonny Bonnie house! Beautiful hardwood floors, a BIG SEPARATE DINING ROOM, big wooden blinds in all the windows, and a BLACK kitchen and bathroom. Perfect for me. AND the back yard is wonderful--as soon as the mosquitoes die, I will go live back there. Very private and woodsy.

And we live next door to DQ. Not that that means anything to us....

And we're "around the corner" from church and my mom at the nursing home. THE BEST PART! We've been having prayer meeting here, which I love.

Greg and I just celebrated our 34th anniversary! More than a third of a century together! We are so crazy happy and blessed. Greg's working part time, driving for the nursing home.

Yesterday, Greg took me to Abilene for our anniversary. We went to the zoo @ 9am. COOL breezes! I think I got some good pics, but my computer is acting up and won't upload. Sigh. We ate at Golden Corral, and I had some sweet potato casserole, with the marshmallows on top. I took one bite, and it was Thanksgiving! It was so weird! I could TASTE Thanksgiving! Wow.

I thought about starting a series of posts on loving your husband and your children, as in Titus. May I please ask your opinion on this idea? If I get a few thumbs up, I'll get started soon.

I'm currently reading The Mortification of Sin by John Owen. Reading him is like eating steak--small bites, chew thoroughly. He is SO worth it. I took apart the book (sorry, Chad!) and put it in a notebook with blank pages between sections, so I'm commenting and writing down the good quotes--making it my own. I'm thoroughly enjoying this.

And I can't get out of Luke 1. Mary's song of praise to God has captured me. What a woman! And how God used her.

Fellowship Sunday tomorrow over here. Come see us! Mexican food!

For what it's worth, I'm back in the bloggity world again. Come back often and visit!

This Morning's Walk

Isn't this beautiful? No photoshop--that's the true color! I was quite fascinated. It's a mushroom!

I marvel at God's handiwork, both in creation and in people. He is so good!

After and Before, Technically

This is one of my favorite things to do: rescue potential treasures! What do you think? Yes, the cover looks amazingly like the curtain in the background for some strange reason.... Oh, yes, and the chair cost me $9.99 at Goodwill.

Update

Wow, a whole month without posting. Shame on me!

Surprisingly enough, the Risses are moving. Come visit us next door to Dairy Queen. How easy it that to find! It's one of Bonnie's houses, and, if you know anything about her, it's beautiful! Hardwood floors. A REFUGE of a back yard. This is the first back yard we've had that I will actually inhabit. It's so lush back there! AND a storage room, AND a covered carport. AND a BLACK kitchen. I'm excited about that, believe it or not! My kitchen here is pink and black, with beige walls. See you on the 1st to help unload the truck!

Winters has (bad English already) been very good to us. I will miss the folks here, and we had a lovely duplex in which to live. It was a good year.

I'm excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in Coleman. We've come full-circle. We started out there in 1992, and we're back! (Minus 6 children.) To go to church 1 minute away! To have Mom in the same town. To have the brethren right there. To be able to invite people to church. To be closer to Sarah. I am stoked.

God is good, and He is faithful!

Can You Believe It?

I found what appears to be a great website. http://puritanpicks.com is what you would love *net*fl*x to be. Check it out and tell me what you think. Reasonable price, and interesting conferences available, too! No long-term commitment, either.

A Nice Dog!

Anyone need a great pit bull? Her name is Downy, and she is so sweet. I might even consider her if we had a place where she could run freely. She has stolen my heart. But WOW, you can tell she is powerful! She could rip me in half easily. (Yes, that's a dinosaur bone next to her!)

Aren't they dear?

There's that sly old Gregory, telling his usual story. His dear mom looks a little wary, doesn't she?

We're having a great time out here; freeze warning this morning! You KNOW how much I'm loving that! We took a three-mile walk this morning already. I love it here (but not enough to stay!).

While enjoying the folks, I'm looking forward to getting back home. I miss my place and my people.

Love to all! Thanks for your prayers.

Stranger?

Greg asked little Sarah at school, "Who is stranger, grandpa, or PEEWEE?"

"No."

"What do you mean, No? Do you know what "stranger" means?"

"Yes; someone you don't know."

Love these baby grands!

In the 60's

Minnesota--here we come! Greg will no longer be teaching and coaching junior high; he will be teaching GED classes some evenings. The starting date got moved to the 15th, with a workshop for him on the 12th, so we can't go as scheduled. We leave for the Land of 60-degree Highs on Tuesday. I'll be basking in that weather.

Happy Lord's Day! I am so looking forward to the preaching this morning, and tonight's the Lord's Supper. My favorite kind of day. How I missed my dear church family when I was in South Dakota!

"Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to usward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." (Psalm 40:5)

Beautiful verse! I am in awe thinking of what God is doing behind the scenes, when things look their bleakest. Thank God for God! I love holy surprises.

I really have been known to post on here....

I hope to have a new post in a few days. It's so good to be home! In the meantime, please head to http://sermonaudio.com/aashepard and listen to our pastor's fine message on God Remembered Noah. What an encouragement! I needed it. Love to all my 3 readers!

Last pics of SD

These are a few of my favorites, especially of Luke just waking up. I miss my babies! Thank you, Risses, for a wonderful time in your beautiful home. I love you!

The Risses

This is not the best family pic, as my good camera won't transfer to this computer. But aren't they precious? A shoutout to Sarah: I NEEDED you for this photo shoot!

Much love to all! Going home tomorrow! Yahooey!

Hint, Hint for Sarah

Happy Mother's Day! Sarah, your gift is NOT the frap. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

Please Note the Pony Tree

This was Anna's invention, with a little help from her sidekick. I thought
it was a great idea!

Meeting Bethany Hope

Everyone got gifts! I got a new granddaughter, the children got sweet treats from their parents, Bethany got a sweet pillow from Tabitha, that thoughtful friend, and a pretty dress from Aunt Sarah in Texas, and Luke fell in love. It was a precious time. The bottom right is our first view of our girls.

God is good!

A Day without the Parents

Welcome, Bethany Hope! God is good!

Hello, Fans! A shoutout to Sarah for the family pic; the one on my good camera is excellent, but Misty laptop won't take my card. Hang on!

And Tabitha, don't the kids look great in their shirts?

Luke is in love! He didn't want to let her go. Precious. And she looks like my mom! Dark hair! Cutie! Luke looks gigantic next to her.

Thank you, Lord, for a safe labor and delivery! And thank you for your prayers.

The very grateful Emmie

PS See Misty's blog, http://family-risse.blogspot.com for better pics of Beth.

Spurgeon is Right On

PS Please note there is another new post below my Hamburger Helpers.


Those who can look with delight or any degree of pleasure upon the sins of others are not holy. We know of some, who will not themselves perpetrate an unseemly jest, yet, if another does so, and there is a laugh excited upon some not over-decent remark, they laugh, and thus give sanction to the impropriety. If there is a low song sung in their hearing, which others applaud, though they cannot quite go the length of joining in the plaudits, still they secretly enjoy it; they betray a sort of gratification that they cannot disguise; they confess to a gusto that admires the wit while it cannot endorse the sentiment.

They are glad the minister was not there; they are glad to think the deacon did not happen to see them just at that moment; yet still, if there could be a law established to make the thing pretty respectable, they would not mind.

Some of you know people who fall into this snare. There are professing Christians who go where you at one time could not go; but, seeing that they do it, you go too, and there you see others engaged in sin, and it becomes respectable because you give it countenance. There are many things, in this world, that would be execrated if it were not that Christian men go to them, and the ungodly men say, "Well, if it is not righteous, there is not much harm in it, after all; it is innocent enough if we keep within bounds."Mind! mind! mind, professor, if thine heart begins to suck in the sweets of another man's sin, it is unsound in the sight of God; if thou canst even wink at another man's lust, depend upon it that thou wilt soon shut thine eye on thine own, for we are always more severe with other men than we are' with ourselves.

There must be an absence of the vital principle of godliness when we can become partakers of other men's sins by applauding or joining with them in the approval of them.Let us examine ourselves scrupulously, then, whether we be among those who have no evidences of that holiness without which no man can see God. But, beloved, we hope better things of you, and things which accompany salvation. If you and I, as in the sight of God, feel that we would be holy if we could, that there is not a sin we wish to spare, that we would be like Jesus,—O that we could!—that we would sooner suffer affliction than ever run into sin, and displease our God; if our heart be really right in God's statutes, then, despite all the imperfections we bemoan, we have holiness, wherein we may rejoice.

Not Hamburger Helpers--Chocolate Cake Helpers!

Here's a shout-out to Mimi, who I'm sure misses her babies right about now! They are precious, and such good helpers! The recipe is chocolate cake from the back of the Hershey's baking cocoa can. Highly recommended.

Misty's looking beautiful and she's full of energy! I would be so wiped out! She is a hard worker.

Missing the family, the church, and the ladies.

Have a blessed Lord's Day tomorrow, 4 faithful readers!

The Lord's Name in Vain

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/epl-09/wat10-10.txt This is the beginning of an excellent article by Thomas Watson on taking the Lord's name in vain.



This is something I've been thinking about lately. More on this later. I encourage you to read the article. Pretty convicting!

An Excellent Sermon

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=417081452501 Who wouldn't be interested in a sermon entitled, "The Worst Sin I Have Ever Committed"? It's a LONG one, but totally worth your time. May I encourage you to listen? It might answer some questions you have about the Christian life. It blessed me! Find a quiet time, sit and listen. And let me know what you think.

Love to my 4 readers! No baby yet, but we're waiting....

Listening to the base playing Taps at 10 PM. Love it!

Revival

I come all the way to Rapid City, I go to a tiny church that our son and his family attend, listen to their older, very soft-spoken pastor teach on Malachi 3, and the subject ends up being Revival! What an incredible God. Tears came to my eyes. It has also been this dear man's burden for many years. Sweet prayer meeting.

God is good!

Pray!

Tomorrow I make Rocky Road for Mike's troops. And I get to go watch a practice! Maybe I can take pics; we'll see.

Love to all!

Awaiting our little Beth,
Emmie
PS Misty and Mike went walking. I suggested jumping jacks.

Royalty on the Loose

I thought Luke's hairdo was especially

handsome! Aren't they precious? Hi, Tabitha!

WELCOME to South Dakota!

Surprise! Isn't the Lord wonderful? This is who greeted me last night, and this is what greeted me this morning!

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

...for 18 days to South Dakota to meet my soon-to-be-birthed 14th baby grand, Bethany Hope! Misty's hanging on until I get there (I hope!). I am so excited to see our dear son and his precious family.

The good news is, I found my Dramamine. I love that stuff. You don't want to be on the same planet with me without it when I need it. I had brought out so much stuff to pack, and pared it down to a small rolling suitcase with a tote. I wanted to bring so much more!

Off to see if we leave tonight or tomorrow for McKinney. Decision: We're leaving NOW.

Love to all my 4 readers. Pray for me and for them and for us!

If I don't make it back, remember I love you all and can't wait to see you in the presence of the One whom, having not seen, I love. Be ready!

Shower at the Library

So what do I do in my spare time? What do you think?

Suzy Homemaker, aka Abby

Isn't she precious? We had a good time together in McK. She and Aunt D were making no-bake cookies, which was poor timing. Fortunately, only Aunt D and I know what that means!

It's good to be home, but I will be headed to South Dakota the 25th to watch my other baby grands while Misty brings little Bethany into the world. Can't wait to meet that little princess! AND Sarah is pregnant, so I have another coming in December. That will make 15 baby grands. Can't get enough!

It will be great to see the Risses, but I HATE missing church! Not to mention my dear, dear husband. Six weeks of school left!

Off to read. Have a blessed Lord's Day!

They're BACK!

All's well, and I'm headed HOME. Bliss.

Days 5 and 6

Dash spent the morning outside, which decreased my stress level considerably. I got a lot done here.

Enjoyed a nice, uneventful day with Abby, who had a major accomplishment, of which I will spare you the details, for the sake of TMI, but we are HAPPY! I think we did a Happy Dance to celebrate. The subject is potty training, and that's all I'll say. Progress is so nice.

I wish you could hear the kids read, especially Ian. I am crazily impressed, and he's just in 1st grade. He is so sharp. I enjoy doing homework with the kids, but the reading can get kinda tedious, especially the same book, same pages, round 3. 

Dean and Grace are coming home tonight! Whee! And my dear husband, for whom I have such a hankerin'. I miss that guy. Even willing to be entertained by the "symphony of the nose" from now on. I like that guy. A third of a century together--unreal. Getting better every day.

The kids will be home in a half hour, and the games begin. Let's hear it for FRIDAY! Yay!

Love you much, my 3 faithful readers. One can't have too many bloggity friends.

Thanks to the "prayers" for the prayers. They availed much! I needed them.

Day 4

Wonderfully undramatic. Abby and I went to Ross to check out the deals. I'm hunting for a white shirt that is not see-through. Tough assignment.

We had R and D over for supper last night. I made jambalaya. It was a hit. Good stuff. They are so dear. Good friends of Dean and Grace. Beautiful children, too!

And I awoke to the sound of rain! Bliss...and to Abby saying, at 5 AM, Emmie, I woke up. No. I sent her back to bed. 

It was a very enjoyable day. Oh, yes, we went to the park, where Ian promptly kicked a soccer ball into a big kid's face. Hard. (If you know Ian, it was hard.) And the kid walked away and sat under one of the bridges in the playground. I was impressed. You know it HAD to hurt--badly.

It's Thursday morning, and the kids will be back tomorrow night, and so will Gregory to pick me up! I'm so looking forward to their return, but I'm having a great time with my baby grands.

And I'm sleeping like 10 rocks, as a little friend of mine used to say. No "symphony of the nose" all night. And I'm loving that, though I do miss my husband and our nocturnal talks. The best!

Off to read. Have a blessed day, all!

Day 3

"Don't think I don't have an eye out for bacon!" Thus Ian has perfected the double negative. What a wonderful young man! And don't I sound like a proud grandmother. You should hear him read. In first grade, he reads better than some adults I've heard, inflection and all. I'm impressed.

Abby has had dry pants for 3 days running, even during naps. Are we happy about that! That may be TMI for pastors and such, but it's a celebration here.

And little Sarah has been such a joy. I am crazy about these kids.

It's been a great day. Breakfast for supper, bacon and pancakes. I managed to please all three of them. Wahooey!

Off to clean up. Have a blessed evening, and keep praying for us!

PS Dean and Grace are happy, happy, happy! And so am I!

Oops! And Day 2

First Baptist of Parker, TX. I drove through Allen, but the church is in Parker.

Day 2, I am happy to say, was not so dramatic. Sarah stayed home, and I made her rest and sleep, not play. She slept a lot, which is great. And she started feeling better, for which I was very thankful. She is at school today, and I didn't get a call in the middle of Ikea to pick her up. Yay!

So we had a mellow day. Then Ian got home. And that's all there is to say about that. God is good!

Day 1: The Drama

The first day of Keeping the Grands is over. And what a day it was!

Goodbye, Dean and Grace! They were GIDDY going out the door. Can I blame them? I'M gonna be giddy going out the door Saturday, I foresee!

Church. Went to First Baptist of Allen, where Hal Brunson is pastor. Ten miles takes a half hour to travel here. Now I know. THE HOUSES! Wow. Got there late, as the turnoff was WAY up, and I thought I'd missed it and turned around. Abby decided to show her Abbiness, and I pulled her out from under the pew, etc. pretty much the whole time. Ian and Sarah were great! I felt sorry for the brother in front of me. The preaching was excellent. He's a little quieter than Brother Audey. :) Preached from Leviticus 16:20-22, The Hand of a Fit Man, on the high priest and the scapegoat. I learned a lot, and grew in thankfulness for such a Sacrifice as we have in our Lord. The singing was beautiful; kinda subdued, which was interesting. They have lunch afterwards, then another meeting at 1:30. Love that schedule, and would've stayed, except for Miss Abs. 

The evening. Abby and Dash, the dog (a beautiful HYPER miniature Italian greyhound) decided to exercise their bowels in incorrect places. I'll spare you the details, but it will go down in history as the Poo-Fest. At one point we [Deana, Dean's sister] just laughed.

The fire truck. I looked outside, and there it is in all its splendor! Looked around, no smoke. There was a grass fire down the road, so they needed to fill up the truck at the fire hydrant in front of the house. The kids were overjoyed, and I would've been, too, but we went upstairs to see if we could see the fire from the balcony, and bumped into Dash's "deposit" at the door. (Have you ever heard me growl?)

The TV. It croaked. Dean has the LATEST everything--beautiful big flatscreen on the wall. It got stuck on one station, couldn't change the volume or the channel. At least that channel was HGTV. Fun. Deana and I messed with it, reset it from the closet (so THAT'S where the wires are!), etc. Nothing. We eventually got the gray screen. BUT, after I messed with it some more, I called Deana in to see my achievement--a black screen with a big red X on it! She laughed until she cried. I like that girl.

The MORNING. I mean early morning. 4:30: Emmie, I [got sick in my bed]. Here comes little Sarah. No school today for her. After Abs comes in 10 minutes later and I send her back off to bed, I say, Well, time to get myself up to read. But Dash wants to sit on my bible and make himself comfortable (he is such a snuggly dog--gag). Then I suffer guilt, knowing that I'll probably have to take him to the vet for medication because he's suffering from separation anxiety (Mike actually knew of a dog like this!), so I pat him on the head. That'll have to do, Dog. And I growled again, and Dash went and got his toy that he thrashes around like a MAD DOG (as in rabid), and wants me to play fetch.  Don't tell anyone I'm not a big dog fan, especially of little hyper ones. BUT I did manage to do my reading. Thus begins Day 2. Pray for me.

Update

Hello, bloggity friends! All's well here--awaiting a thunderstorm, which would be fabulous.

I've been so busy lately. Just got back from traveling for Spring Break--OK and McK. Lovely time. Came home to the stomach bug. Both of us. Yuck. And I'm continuing proofreading a book for our friend--what an adventure that's turned out to be. I'm loving it.

And then I'm headed north to spend a week with the baby grands while the parents go on vacation. I'm glad for them to get away--he works so hard, and so does she! Break time!

And next month (probably) I'm headed to SD, to help out my precious daughter-in-love as she brings our little Bethany into the world, while enjoying the other three (not to mention Mike!). I may even learn to play chess while I'm up there. We'll sure have time enough.

Mom's doing well; hanging in there. I love the nursing home. I'd move in there if I could (almost). Precious, precious folk. And to think I used to HATE that place--Greg would go and take the kids and I'd stay home. I used to feel so helpless and useless there. Amazing the changes God can make.

Off to proofread before prayer meeting tonight. Greg is teaching tonight, so I'm looking forward to that.

I hope to be posting more faithfully. And I might even post some pics sometime.

Love to all. Wasn't this exciting?

Three Wonders, and More

Ever hear what seems to be the most horrible news about a dear friend, grieve, cry, pray--and see God do a miracle? How about three? I have, and I want to give all the glory to God. Incredible, unless you consider that we're talking about my God, with whom NOTHING is impossible.

One of my dearest friends in the world is an RN (not you, Hassan). She is the type that can get the both of you almost kicked out of the plastic surgeon's office for uncontrollable laughter, followed by the receptionist coming over and saying, Aren't WE having a great time!? [First of all, before our dear brother Audey, I HATED it when people would say WE--as in: Waitress: Are WE enjoying our meal? WELL, sweetie, come take a bite of my burger and we'll put our opinions together and come up with an answer (and don't I look like the sweetest Christian sister sitting there while I'm thinking this?!)]!

(Anyway, how did I get off into that?) She's the kind that you could play Taboo with and CONQUER, because you just understood each other so well it was uncanny. She's also the kind you can confide in, and she has such love and wisdom that she helps you. And cries with you, and prays for you. The kind you work together with in the jail ministry, striving to reach those dear lady prisoners (while trying not to laugh out loud when one yells, Shut up, already (to another prisoner)--can't you see we're having CHURCH!? Whoo hoo! Fun times!). Your charter member of the Sisters of Compassion (ha!), of which you are the Founding Mother. And, years later, you can call after way too long and pick up right where you left off, knowing the love is there and you have prayed for each other all that time. And the kind you miss so much it hurts. How I love her! She has an excellent testimony, has boldness and compassion with/for her patients, and HELPS them as they die. And she loves the Lord Jesus Christ with all she is, and her favorite hymn is Be Still, My Soul. As well it should be, as you will see shortly.

My dear friend used to be very overweight, otherwise known as morbidly obese. She had surgery to help, and had an INCREDIBLE amount of complications and surgeries afterwards to repair so many things that went wrong. She almost died because she wasn't absorbing her nutrients, and had to have a feeding tube inserted, all the while working, sick nigh-unto-death, because she HAD to have the insurance.

Lots of tests! And the devastating verdict(s): The cause of the problem is: you have scleraderma (a HORRIBLE painful, fatal disease--look it up), lupus (ask anyone who has it), and hepatitis C! That would explain her horrible health! She accepted this diagnosis with amazing grace and a soul stilled by the Lover of her soul. And she continued ministering and working and blessing the Lord. And being a testimony to her dear lost surgeon, who has the opposite of her attitude. (Pray for him!)

And then, a call from the rheumatologist. And she calls me and tells me all that's going on, and I have to ASK her how she's doing with it all, and THEN, almost at the end of the conversation, she tells me the rheumatologist told her (AMAZING GRACE!) that she had THREE false-positives, because of the state of her nutrition (I don't know the right term for it)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How wonderful would it be to know you didn't have hepatitis C, OR lupus, OR scleraderma! How about all THREE!? Astounding! I about fell to my knees crying--I couldn't stop. How I love that girl! Great God of Wonders! Who is a pardoning God like Thee, or who has grace so rich and free? Bless the LORD, O my soul!

I love you, Pat.

How to Treat Your Pastor

These are fine words from MCheyne, written for an ordination service:

(1) Love your pastor. So far as I know him, he is worthy of your love. I believe he is one to whom the Lord has been very merciful, that God has already owned his labours, and I trust will a thousand times more. Esteem him very highly in love for his work's sake. You little know the anxieties, temptations, pains, and wrestlings, he will be called to bear for you. Few people know the deep wells of anxiety in the bosom of a faithful pastor. Love and reverence him much. Do not make an idol of him; that will destroy his usefulness. It is said of the Erskines, that men could not see Christ over their heads. Remember, look beyond him and above him. Those that would have worshipped Paul were the people who stoned him. Do not stumble at his infirmities. There are spots upon the sun, and infirmities in the best of men. Cover them--do not stumble at them. Would you refuse gold because it was brought you in a ragged purse? Would you refuse pure water because it came in a chipped bowl? The treasure is in an earthen vessel.

(2) Make use of your pastor.--He has come with good news from a far country. Come and hear.
First, wait patiently on his ministry. --He does not come in his own name. The Lord is with him. If you refuse him, you will refuse Christ; for he is the messenger of the Lord of Hosts.
Second, Welcome him into your houses.--He is coming, like his Master, to seek that which was lost, and to bind up that which is broken; to strengthen that which was sick, and to bring again that which was driven away. You have all need of him, whether converted or not. Remember there is an awful curse against those who receive not gospel messages. He will shake the dust off his feet against you, and that dust will rise against you in judgment.
Third, Do not trouble him about worldly matters. --His grand concern is to get your soul saved. He is not a man of business, but a man of prayer. He has given himself to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
Fourth, Go freely to him about your souls.--...I would like to see the taverns emptied, and the minister's house thronged. Do not hesitate to go to him. It is your duty and privilege. It is your duty. It will encourage him, and show him how to preach to your souls. It is your privilege. I have known many get more light from a short conversation than from many sermons.
Fifth, Be brief.--Tell your case. Hear his word and be gone. Remember his body is weak, and his time precious. You are stealing his time from others or from God. I cannot tell you what a blessing it will be if you will be very short in your calls. The talk of the lips tendeth to penury (poverty--vr).
(3) God's children, pray for him.--Pray for his body, that he may be kept strong, and spared for many years. Pray for his soul, that he may be kept humble and holy,--a burning and a shining light,--that he may grow. Pray for his ministry, that it may be abundantly blessed,--that he may be anointed to preach good tidings. Let there be not secret prayer without naming him before your God, no family prayer without carrying your pastor in your hearts to God. Hold up his hands, so Israel will prevail again Amalek.
(4) Unconverted souls, prize this opportunity.--...Some, I fear, will be the worse of this ministry, and not the better. The election will be saved, and the rest will be blinded. Some will yet wish they had died before this church ws opened. Be sure, dear souls, that you will either be saved, or more lost, by this ministry. Your pastor comes with the silver trumpet of mercy. Why will ye turn it into the trumpet of judgment? He comes with glad tidings of great joy. Why should you turn them into sad tidings of endless woe? He comes to preach the acceptable day of the Lord. Will will ye turn it into the day of vengeance of our God?

Angry at God?

A question I have asked myself for some time is: Is it okay to be angry at God? I've read various answers, but I finally found one that satisfies me that it conforms to scripture. Here it is, from Respectable Sins, by Jerry Bridges:

"I have encountered a number of Christians who are angry at God for some reason. Some of them think that God has let them down in some way; others feel that God is actually against them. I sit here now looking at a letter in which the writer says, 'I have felt so many times that He has slapped me in the face when I was really depending on Him.' This person freely admitted to being angry at God, because she had concluded that God was actually against her.

What are we to say to people who are desperately hurting and feel that God has let them down or is even against them? Is it okay to be angry toward God? Most pop psychology would answer yes. 'Just vent your feelings toward God.' I've even read the statement, 'It's okay to be angry at God. He's a big boy. He can handle it.' In my judgment, that is sheer blasphemy.

Let me make a statement loud and clear. It is never okay to be angry at God. Anger is a moral judgment, and in the case of God, it accuses Him of wrongdoing. It accuses God of sinning against us by neglecting us or in some way treating us unfairly. It also is often a response to our thinking that God owes us a better deal in life than we are getting. As a result, we put God in the dock of our own courtroom. I think of a man who, as his mother was dying of cancer, said, 'After all she's done for God, this is the thanks she gets.' Never mind that Jesus suffered untold agony to pay for her sins so she would not spend eternity in hell, this man thought that God also owed her a better life on this earth.

I acknowledge that believers can and do have momentary flashes of anger at God. I have experienced this myself. But we should quickly recognize those occurrences as the sins that they are and repent of them.

How, then, can we deal with our temptation to be angry at God? Must we just 'stuff' our feelings and live in some degree of alienation from God? No, that is not the biblical solution. The answer lies...in a well-grounded trust in the sovereignty, wisdom, and love of God. Second, we should bring our confusion and perplexity to God in a humble, trusting way."

I remember, as a 3 year-old Christian, being VERY angry with God for sending Greg to Korea for a year. I had Paul, and was 3 months pregnant with Dan. How I railed on God! I ended up asking His forgiveness and making my peace with it, and God gave me one of the best, albeit most painful, years of my Christian life. I learned lessons that year that I couldn't have learned with Greg around. He changed me that year. And I needed it desperately. And He protected me and provided for me in wondrous ways. And He kept Greg safe and pure in Korea, which, in man's eyes, is a HUGE accomplishment! I never would have chosen it for myself, but God, who knows the end from the beginning, and loves me with an incomprehensible and undeserved love, knew what I needed, and sent me this trial. "I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me."--Psalm 119:74

Highly Recommended

Rebekah sent me a most wonderful link, and here it is. Professor Horner (no relation) has a bible-reading system that Sarah and I have started, and we're loving it. Check it out and tell me what you think. You can start it any time. I'm on Day 11.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=46416541831

Don't Tell the Others

That's what I said to the Lord on the way home. Don't tell them what? That He has a favorite!

Here's what happened.... Stopped to visit Mom and the others at the nursing home on my way home. Who even knew it was supposed to storm? I told Mom I wanted to take off before it was completely dark. The local news said there was hail in Coleman, and the nurses and aides were trying to get their cars under the canopy in the front. It had stopped raining when I took off. A little ways down the road I hit STRONG winds (those I had all the way home) and HARD rain! It's feast or famine around these parts! It wasn't quite hard to see yet, but getting there. Then came the HAIL! Whee! God was so kind in that I was right near the Hord's Creek Store, which has gas pumps and a canopy over them. So I headed there, praying I wasn't driving into a ditch, as the rain was so bad it was hard to tell where the pavement was. So I pulled in, and a truck pulled in next to me. If you had heard Tina's stories today, you would have been creeped out! So I locked my doors (like someone's gonna attack me in a hail storm!) and waited a bit. Some of the hail was rock hard, and some was like mini-snowballs, which was kinda neat! I at first thought that there was only one person in the truck (A BIG MAN! of course), but after the rain let up a bit I saw frail and white hair combined. I rolled the window down, the sweet lady rolled hers down and yelled, Isn't this awful? and that was the end of the conversation, as the hail started up again with a vengeance. I was soaking it up, as I ADORE storms, while trying to remember if we still had full coverage on the car! (We do. Yay.)

So, the rain and hail let up and the truck took off. I said to meself, Wouldn't it be a good idea to follow them, in case the hail gets REAL bad--at least someone will know where I am. So I did, and they turned off in Talpa. Thank you for the truck, Lord! (BTW, the ride home from Coleman is 35 miles of 2-lane road, with no stores [Hord's Creek is closed] or anything commercial the whole way, and Talpa is the halfway point.)

So the rain had quit, and now it was VERY WINDY! Still is. I said, Lord, thank you for easing up on the rain; that was very kind. If You send more rain, that's fine; I know you'll help me, but a dry ride would be nice. Then I looked up and saw a STAR! Precious. And I concluded that, if you can see a star, there are no clouds (so no rain or hail!) between me and the star!

I hope y'all aren't jealous. My Father loves me, and He delights in showing me special tokens of His love. And I am blessed.

PS The pic is from the flight home from Orlando.

Depression

What a subject! Why write on that? I found a quote in my journal that I thought I'd share. Dare I say that depression is not something I struggle with? Believe it or not, I've had ONE DAY of depression since God saved me in 1974. I've been pretty sad and desperately grieved since then, but not depressed. To skip the details and get to the point, on this ONE DAY I could NOT stop crying, and it scared me, because I like to be in control of myself and my emotions at all times!
And, how weird is this--in the midst of that uncontrollable crying, I thought to myself, I HAVE to remember how this feels, so I can help others who tell me they feel this way ALL the time. And God sent me help, and I did stop crying. But it was SCARY.

Here is Lloyd-Jones' quote from "Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cures":

"The main art in the matter of spiritual living is to know how to handle yourself. You have to take yourself in hand, you have to address yourself, preach to yourself, question yourself.... You must turn on yourself, upbraid yourself, condemn yourself, exhort yourself, and say to yourself: "Hope thou in God"--instead of muttering in this depressed, unhappy way, and then you must go on to remind yourself of God, who God is, and what God has done, and what God has pledged to Himself to do. Then having done that, end on this great note: defy yourself, defy other people, and defy the devil and the whole world, and say with this man: "I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance, who is also the health of my countenance and my God."

Good advice. He tells you your responsibility in the matter, and God's help that you need.

More Good Quotes from TBOTB

Ill that He blesses is our good,
And unblest good is ill;
And all is right that seems most wrong
If it be His sweet will.
--Gadsby's Hymns

"There is enough in our holy faith to create and justify the utmost degree of rapturous delight."
--Spurgeon

Concerning a lost man: "Let him seek his happiness in God, and he will carry about a paradise in his own bosom."
--Henry Martyn

"...that having risen from the dead, He is enthroned in heaven; and uniting in His wonderful Person the tenderest sympathies with Divine perfections, His is in every way qualified to be a suitable, a compassionate, and an all-sufficient Saviour."
--Baptist Articles of Faith

"Can Christ be in thy heart, and thou not know it? Can one king be dethroned and another crowned in thy soul, and thou hear no scuffle?"
"What God takes from me is less than I owe Him, but what He leaves me is more than He owes me."
--William Gurnall

"Times are bad, God is good."
--Richard Sibbes

"Death is never sudden to a saint; no guest comes unawares to him who keeps a constant table."
--George Swinnock

"Mary Magdalen sees angels in the sepulchre, but that will not do unless she see Jesus."
--Matthew Henry

Samuel Rutherford was "impatient of earth, intolerant of sin, rapt into the continual contemplation of one unseen Face, finding his...happiness in its returning smile."

"We are never nearer Christ than when we find ourselves lost in a holy amazement at His unspeakable love."
--John Owen

"A real Christian...feels supreme love for One whom he has never seen, talks familiarly every day to Someone he cannot see, expects to go to heaven on the virtue of Another, empties himself in order to be full, admits he is wrong so he can be declared right, goes down in order to get up, is strongest when he is weakest, richest when he is poorest, and happiest when he feels worst. He dies so he can live, forsakes in order to have, gives away so he can keep, sees the invisible, hears the inaudible, and knows that which passeth knowledge."
--A W Tozer

"But never read God's Word excepting with great reverence, for in it the Highest Majesty speaketh to thee, a poor sinner."
--Christopher Dock

"It is the look that saves, it is the gaze that sanctifies."
--Robert M'Cheyne

"All is well if God be mine."
--Matthew Henry

My Scariest Quote

I collect good quotes in the back of my Bible, as the best quotes are IN my Bible. Here is one that quickly sobers me up. This is from "The Christian in Complete Armour," given to me by a former pastor who, tragically, did not heed its advice. He is now dead. And he did not have a good exit.

"Possibly God hath given thee much of His mind; thou art skilful in the Word of life, and therefore thou darest venture to breathe in corrupt air, as if only the weak spirits of less-knowing Christians exposed them to be infected with the contagion of error and heresy. Thou hast a large portion of grace, or at least thou thinkest so, and venturest to go where an humble-minded Christian would fear his heels should slip under him. Truly, now thou temptest God to suffer thy lock to be cut, when thou art so bold to lay thy head in the lap of temptation." --William Gurnall

May we fear God, and love Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds!

So Much to Discuss

First of all, howdy to faithful readers! I need to post more consistently!

The Gregory and I have completed 33.3 years of wedded bliss--ONE-THIRD OF A CENTURY! If you know us, you'd know what a wonder the grace of God is. We could not be more opposite (besides being male and female). To think, I was the tender age of 19 when we married, and now I'm 53! Boy howdy. I'm crazy about my lover!

Our Jason called the other night. It was so good to talk to him and to know that he still loves us. What a dear man. God was good when He gave him to us! Love you, Jay!

The preaching today was OUTSTANDING--dare I say the best I've ever heard--this morning. Have a listen to "The Brightness of His Glory" from Hebrews 1:3 on http://sermonaudio.com/aashepard. You will be ready to go to heaven and be with the Lord when you finish listening. At least I was.... We are blessed! Plus, we had 11 visitors this morning. Plus we had the Lord's Supper tonight. What a glorious day. Plus we spent the afternoon enjoying some Shepard hospitality. Thank you, dear ones! (Nothing like a well-structured paragraph!)

Mom seems to be adjusting well to the new nursing home (I transferred her to one only a half hour away from us, in the town where our church is located). I sure get to see her more often, and for this I am grateful. She is 80 now, and such a love. One of the men at the High-Rise told me that she's prettier than I am. I must agree! And she gets to come to church with us--a HUGE plus.

I actually walked/ran two miles the other morning! (The running was minimal, believe me.) Then I tried to go EARLY Friday morning, but how creepy is this?!: It was dark, and I went to the track, which is lit, not with football lights, but with the next dimmer ones. Four lights, two on each long side of the track. And there's a white car parked by the bus barn next to the track. Don't know if those two are related, but, at the end of the first lap, TWO lights went out on one side! As I'm about in the middle of the second lap, ONE more light went out! I'm outta there! Creeped me out. I thought--next day's headlines: Dummy! She should have gone home! And the ultimate creepiness was, when I got in the car to drive home, the lights were on again. (Sound effects: door creaking slowly open!) GAK! I betcha Eric Liddel didn't have these problems.... Plus, he had nice music when he ran. I guess I'll go in the daytime from now on.

Helped out with the resident's January birthday party at the nursing home. Whee! You would be proud of me--I skipped entertaining the troops with the Macarena, though one unnamed visitor to our church WAS spotted doing The Twist. And I have a picture! And that's all I'm saying. Those folks are precious! Had a good time snapping pics, too. The pics were shot, as another unnamed one said once....

And I can't sleep! It's a minute until midnight. That's what all that good preaching does to me. Sarah and I are memorizing (along with many others at http://challies.com/; come join us!) Romans 12 currently. And it is a good one! I hate to share my memorizing strategies, in fear of getting criticized, but I will anyway, because it just might make good reading, but certainly not emulation. For example: "...whether Prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or Ministry, let us wait on our ministering; or he that Teacheth, on teaching; or he that Exhorteth, on exhortation; he that Giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that Ruleth, with diligence; he that Showeth mercy, with cheerfulness." Now, note the bold letters: PM TE G RS. "In the PM, I drink TEa, then Go to Rising Star." Seems rather barbaric, eh, but it works for me. Sarah just shakes her head. And I might just mention THe Justice of the Peace's LeG: That's for "...whatsoever things are True, ...Honest, ...Just, ...Pure, ...Lovely, and of Good report." (Are you bored to tears yet?)

Subject change! Because I can. More cold weather--Yay! Had the AC on in the car today. Sigh. Maybe Gregorio will get a "snow" day in the next couple of days. We're supposed to get freezing rain. I am so happy.

What's your favorite day of the week, and why? Let me know. What faithful readers you are. "Sorry" to those who kept reading, thinking the good part was coming at the end!

My favorite day is:
Sunday: Because we meet to worship, and I get to hear great preaching and I get to record it and upload it to Sermon Audio and write the synopsis.
Monday: Because I'm home and get to do my cleaning and scrubbing and straightening up and laundry and think about the messages.
Tuesday: Because sometimes I'm home and get to do more of the same. And it's almost Wednesday.
Wednesdsay: Prayer meeting! That says it all.
Thursday: Because sometimes I get to be home, and I love it!
Friday: Because I usually see Sarah and company, and my mom.
Saturday: Because Greg can sleep in (I can't do that), and I sometimes have him all day, and it's almost Sunday.

A good writer knows when to quit. (Think of it: I could have been a good writer about 10 paragraphs ago!) Good morning, at 12:17. I love you beautiful people out there!

My brother, JC Ryle

"They love me best who love me in their prayers." Well said. And to those who pray for me: I cannot thank you enough. When I first came to know the Lord, I would hear missionaries ask for money, and they would invariably say, But most of all, we want your prayers. And I used to laugh inwardly, thinking: Yeah, that's what I'd say, too, if I wanted more money. (Cynicism was one of my strong points.) Here's more good quoting from my brother:



"Brethren who pray, if I know anything of a Christian's heart, you are often sick of your own prayers. You never enter into the apostle's words, "When I would do good, evil is present with me." so thoroughly as you sometimes do upon your knees. You can understand David's words, "I hate vain thoughts." You can sympathize with that poor converted Hottentot who was overheard praying, "Lord, deliver me from all my enemies, and above all, from that bad man-myself." There are few children of God who do not often find the season of prayer a season of conflict. The devil has special wrath against us when he sees us on our knees. Yet, I believe that prayers which cost us no trouble, should be regarded with great suspicion. I believe we are very poor judges of the goodness of our prayers, and that the prayer which pleases us least, often pleases God most."

(I'm getting a theme to my posts lately. Hmmm.) What's God been teaching you about prayer? How I long for a comment or two....

From Alexander Cumming

Some thoughts on prayer, well worth the read:

"...and yet so prone is he to lose sight of his Creator, and to transfer to the creature or to secondary causes the honour to which his holy name should be invested, that unless prayer had been instituted, the crown would have been snatched from the head of God."

"When we persist in the exercise of prayer, notwithstanding all discouragement, we do honour to that loving kindness which will not frustrate the anticipations that are formed upon the basis of his written declarations; and the longer the perseverance is maintained, and the more unpromising the symptoms against which it is upheld, the greater is the lustre reflected upon his character."

"When the two disciples were traveling to Emmaus, our Saviour met them, and unfolded to them the full lustre of the Scripture promises that related to his sufferings, till an expansive glory of heavenly emotion was diffused over their souls; but he did not discover himself as their risen Redeemer till their ardor for communion with him was severely tasked. He made as though he would have gone farther; and when they urged him to take shelter during the night, in their abode, he seemed to repel their kindness, till it is said they constrained him to turn aside with them; then he made himself know in the breaking of bread; and this in exact harmony with the way in which the Saviour acts in every age; he heaps many blessings even on his feeblest saints, who soar not to the sublime height of holy confidence which prompts the Jacob-like wrestlings of others; he makes their hearts burn within them by gilding some cheering promises with a ray of celestial brightness; but it is to those who by their unconquerable ardor and inflexible perseverance, compel him to turn aside, that he gives the sweetest glimpses of his reconciled countenance.... If benefits of vast magnitude are to be bestowed, they must therefore be preceded by prayers of fervid pathos; and God often delays an answer to supplication, not that he despises the anxious voice of our humble entreaty, but because he waits till our desires gain an accession of strength, and are somewhat commensurate to the vastness of the mercy that is stored up for us; and for this purpose he sometimes encircles us with an array of troubles, that they may enhance the frequency and earnestness of our addresses to the throne of grace."

Pray for me as I strive to learn to pray like this!

Ladies' Retreat

Hello, dear ones! Holy New Year!

Our church, Grace Baptist of Coleman, TX, is planning a ladies' retreat April 17th-18th. If you'd like more information on it, email me or leave a comment, and I'll send you a copy of the invite. Please pray for the speaker (yours truly)!