Please welcome back Dr. Dave Black and his lovely wife, Lady Becky Lynn, from their awe-inspiring trip to Ethiopia and their ministry to the people there. The Lord greatly blessed them by bringing Bereket into their lives, and the wonderous works that God has completed in his life, through Mr. an Mrs. Dave Black is a true picture of how on fire they really, truly are for our Lord, especially in the area of Ethiopia.
Coram Deo!
We’ll ya’ll, I just got back from the WCWC which I attended with Ben and Pieter. I had a very wonderful experience, learning and listening to several great speakers, making new friends and goofing off. I am, none the less, very tired, so I will save a longer post for later.
I hope that you aren’t sick of me saying that I missed my family, because it seems that I say that an awful lot. But, God forbid that the day should ever come when I stop being homesick. I love my family very much, and that love is only made stronger by the fact that I was gone.
The only thing that annoyed me when I was at the conference, was how many times I was told that I have a British sounding accent. I guess I’ll have to put a little more time and effort into sounding Irish.
Coram Deo! Graciebird
“See that foot? How could that great big foot—all of it, fit into my mouth?”
Andy Griffith in the Andy Griffith Show
I echo his sentiments.
I hate ill-given advice. But I am known to give it. Rather ironic, but true. In fact, the tendency to give advice, whether it’s wanted, or not, is quite an old human tendency. When we, in our infinite wisdom, espy a problem, conflict or grief, we believe that it is our duty to just jump right in and deal out advice right and left. Forget the fact that our time might be ill chosen to give advice, or the actual words that we may be giving, even if they do have a grain of wisdom in them, might hurt or cut the person who is recieving it.
Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness. The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, And the end of his talk is raving madness. A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
There is a time to speak and a time to keep silent. A time to give advice and a time to withhold it, too.
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
Coram Deo! Grace
Good news: I get to take a break from blogging for the next several days.
Bad news: Looking back on all my recent posts, I’ve gotten really boring. Weblog burn-out is real!
Good News: I get to spend many happy filled hours with my friends.
Bad news: I’m already developing a bad case of home-sickness. I love my family!
Good news: We finally had another quilting class after quite a few weeks and I started and finished a sewing project. Quite an accomplishment for me since I am not one known for my sewing abilities.
Bad news: Looking on my list of authentic clothing items that I need to sew for my costume as a docent, I will quite have my hands full with projects.
Good news: I’m running out of things to say! Boring!
Bad news: Here I end.
Coram Deo! Gracie
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
21:2
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
21:3
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
21:4
An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
21:5
The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
21:6
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
21:7
The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
21:8
The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
21:9
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
21:10
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
21:11
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
21:12
The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
21:13
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
21:14
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
21:15
It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
21:16
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
21:17
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
21:18
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
21:19
It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
21:20
There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
21:22
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
21:23
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
21:24
Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
21:25
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
21:26
He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
21:27
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
21:28
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
21:29
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
21:30
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
21:31
The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
Coram Deo! Grace
One of my friend’s mottos is “keep it simple”; something I could not more whole-heartily agree with.
Today I am baking French Baguettes for the second time. The first time they served as buns for hot-dogs, (unusual I know) and tonight they will be an accompaniment with sphagetti for my little brother’s 8th birthday dinner. As I was cooking this complicated sounding bread, I perused the recipe, and for the second time it struck me just how simple this bread really is. Basic ingredients are combined with an eager touch to create, France’s well known, long loaves of bread.
The problem is, how does one keep things simple in the hectic dailiness of life? I know, being the oldest sister of nine other sibling, that by 7:00 a.m, things have already gotten the point-of-no-return. Rare indeed is the time when one makes it through the day without some sort of complicted hassle. In fact, I do not know of a day when I cannot neglect facing lifes intricacies and elaborate problems. It is something that we have to deal with all the time, no escaping it, but when it comes to creating it, that is a different story.
My bread is slowly rising in its wooden bowl, covered with a towel and spread with warm sunlight. Simply, like a miracle almost, in an hour’s time I will come and find that it has risen to twice it’s size. Perfect.
The life that I strive to live is simple. I work, I eat, I sleep and I fellowship. Not even I can only survive on these four things, as a human I need more, but does a nursing baby realize that, all that keeps him alive is the heart of a mother? As I have come to realize in certain circumstances, I really don’t need all that I think I do.
Have you ever seen a Moody science presentation? We have several dozen of these videos and the kids are fascinated by them. In a simple, straightforward way, Dr. Moody explains to us, the intricacies and the granduer, the beauty and the breathtaking, amazing creation, of something as plain as a butterfly.
God’s creation is not simple. But only we in our child-like eyes can only see it as so.
Coram Deo! Gracie
I love to listen to Rich Mullins music. Usually, when we are out, I don’t roll down the windows on the car and play music loud, but with Rich Mullins I do. High on the list of my favorite songs by him are: Creed and this one, The Color Green. Here are the lyrics to it:
And the moon is a sliver of silver
Like a shaving that fell on the floor of a Carpenter’s shop
And every house must have it’s builder
And I awoke in the house of God
Where the windows are mornings and evenings
Stretched from the sun
Across the sky north to south
And on my way to early meeting
I heard the rocks crying out
I heard the rocks crying out
Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise
And the wrens have returned and they’re nesting
In the hollow of that oak where his heart once had been
And he lifts up his arms in a blessing for being born again
And the streams are all swollen with winter
Winter unfrozen and free to run away now
And I’m amazed when I remember
Who it was that built this house
And with the rocks I cry out
Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green
Be praised for all Your tenderness by these works of Your hands
Suns that rise and rains that fall to bless and bring to life Your land
Look down upon this winter wheat and be glad that You have made
Blue for the sky and the color green that fills these fields with praise
Coram Deo! Grace
I have to commend Bonnie for her excellent post on what a real man is. Though, of course, it does not include every single character trait that defines a man, I thought that she did a wonderful job on it.
A real man does not jsut prove himself through acts of strength, but rather through, grace, mercy, peace, kindness, love, charity, wisdom, honor, faith, a servant’s heart and the protection of that which God gave him to protect.
Coram Deo! Gracie
Right now I’m being hit hard and fast by spam, so just bear with me. My father changed the settings so any and all comments go into moderation. Don’t hold it against me if your comment accidentally gets deleted.
Coram Deo! Grace
Sunburned, sore, sticky, dirty, bug-bitten, dog-tired, drained. Any of these words remind you of something?
Friday my father, sisters and I made a trip up to the mountains to go camping with a couple other families. Since this was my first time ever camping excursion, I was a little nervous about it all.
As we neared our destination, we rolled down the windows and allowed the cooling temperatures to blow around and out the window, bringing with it a fresh smell of pine and mountain-streams. Cresting yet another steep, granite hill we all gasped as the sight of the Sierras, dappled with snow and topped by towering pines growing on the rocky mountain sides, hit us in the eyes. A dazzling, snow-melted lake encompased by walls of granite, lay there for our taking.
In the last two days, I learned how to handle a kayak, cast a fishing line, (no fish though) survive when realizing that I forgot a few important items and deal with the mosquitos at dusk. Of course all that I did was much longer than that list, and I tried to fill many hours of the day with hard, strenuous play. I’m quite hooked now on camping, and even feel up to it now. I want to try my hand at survival camping, and do a back-packing trip with my older siblings.
While coming home last night I looked back on the fading mountains, with flares of a setting sun reflecting off the snow, and the forests around me. All in the car was quiet, since we had quite worn ourselves out. My single thought was, God has blessed me greatly by putting me here, in this time, this place and this family. Perhaps all of us do dream of a better life, better family, better house, better surroundings, a golden-fairy land, where nothing bad ever happens, where all our fellow beings perfectly fit in with us and our life-style. The picture is crystal perfect, but in reality, unreal. Some people live their lives, striving only for this picture, instead of being content with an un-perfect family, and un-perfect home, and an un-perfect church. Our real contentment comes from knowing that our Lord is with us in our lives. Not that we cannot seek more than just this, but our chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him for ever.
Now that I am back home and back to “normal” with my siblings and life, reflection is in order. Tiredness, and the actuality of just how hard I played, is setting in. The blazing sun is cooking everything outside and the afternoon is quiet. I relish the thought that I will not have to burn a citronella candle tonight, and I praise the Lord for his goodness and grace to me. I am blessed indeed.
Coram Deo! Graciebird