LOVING THE WORD

Michael's family

The past few days we have been camping at San Elejo beach with our two youngest sons and their families. Great fun, and I am amazed as my daughters-in-law line up their 7 boys ages 1 1/2  to 8 years old to do sunscreen, climb down the bluff to the beach, get their dinner, shower,  etc., etc. Then when their Dads come in the evening from work nearby they get to build sand castles, read stories and tuck everyone in bed – in the tents.

David's family

            When all are asleep everyone sits around the campfire talking late into the night. So nice to be included and have special moments to talk with my sons and hear their latest dreams of a job possibility or a new i-phone they are excited about – whatever – it’s just nice to share their lives. Now I am recovering from numerous trips up and down the several flights of stairs from the campground to the beach. :)

             While we were down there, our oldest son’s wife was in San Diego receiving two awards as wedding and children’s photographer of the year. Patricia and Stephen do weddings everywhere from Disneyland to San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. Her website is http://www.reflectionsbypatricia.com/. We are very proud of her accomplishments. The formal shots are hers - each child photographed separately.

Stephen's Kids

Michael's kids

David's kids

 This coming weekend we will be camping again in the mountains with our church family camp and sharing a trailer with our daughter’s family. So much quality time with kids and grandkids, and I never take it for granted. It is the special blessing after all those years of investment as they grew up. (I.e. diapers, homes schooling, etc.)

Melanie's family

           I also thank the Lord for giving them Christian mates. It is so nice to have confidence as they raise our grandchildren with loving discipline and training in godliness. Thank you Lord!

[41]

A TRICK QUESTION

Read:  Luke 20:20–26

            So the spies questioned him:… Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Luke 20:21-22 NIV

 * * *

            Jesus had just told a parable which implicated the religious leaders in the plot to kill Him. Not only that, but he referred to prophesies from Psalms and Isaiah: “Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone'? Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."  (20:17-18 NIV)

          They knew He spoke the parable about them. So in order to trick Him into saying something against Rome they asked, "Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" He saw through their duplicity and said to them, "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"  "Caesar's," they replied…” (20:22-25a)

* * *

            Lord, those leaders thought they could trick You into a capitol offense. But what they didn't realize was that no one could take Your life from You. They must not have been listening when You said, "My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again." (John 10:17-18 NKJV)

* * *

            …He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." (20:25b NIV)

[40]

THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

Read: Luke 19:28-40

            …the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying: "'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"  (Luke 19:37-38 NKJV)

* * *

            After leaving Zacchaeus' home in Jericho, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, where a colt was already prepared for Jesus to make His entry. Jesus knew the donkey would be there, because His father had prophesied "Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey." (Zechariah 9:9b NKJV) The praise of the crowd echoed the words of the angels at His birth - all planned since the beginning of time.

* * *

            Lord, I want to praise You for all Your mighty works. You are the King of Kings who will one day return to Jerusalem again. You have ordained that the mouths of babes would praise You. I pray for the "babes" in my household that their lives will be lived in praise of the King and that one day we will all stand together and see You face to face.

* * *

            And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."   Luke 19:39-40 NKJV

Today on Fox News we were happy to see the interview with my husband's great uncle Frank Woodruff Buckles, age

 107. He is the last living WW1 vet. He is very dear to us and it is unbelieveable that he is the brother of my husband's

 grandfather and my children's great grandfather. Frank Woodruff Buckles. During WW2 he was captured as a civilian

 in the Philipines and imprisoned.  He lived through the death march by the Japanese. We spent many hours when he

 was around 90 listening to his stories when we visited him in West Virginia. He got me started on a hobby in

 Genealogy since he traced my husbands family back to the Mayflower. My children are Americans through and

 through.  We were surprised to see his picture with the President as we didn't realize he had visited with him.

When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." Luke 19:5 NKJV

I just have to brag a little this morning about my three oldest grandsons. David, age 12 is an awesome swimmer and yesterday he agreed to teach me to swim better. He is going to be an great personal trainer, and if he can teach me, he can teach anyone!

Riser boys

2 comments

Daniel, age 18,  is in Germany and then on to Austria to work at a castle being used as a pastor's retreat. He will be there until late August and then start his college classes when he returns. He is a wonderful young man.

This morning I received an e mail from my daughter forwarded from my 16 year old grandson Blake. He is on a mission trip to Panama:

Hello Mom,
 
I Have to make this quick because there are others wanting to send emails out at this little internet cafe in Panama.  But I just wanted to let you and everyone know that the trip is going amazing!  Panama is soo beautiful.
 
Many people have come to know the Lord through evangelizm and the discipleship is going great as well.  Tommorow we are going to the Ngobe Tribe in the jungle.  We are all really excited to see what the Lord is going to do.  He has already done so many amazing things on this trip, I cant wait to tell you all when I get back.
 
I can’t wait to see you all when I get back!
 
Love,
Blake

This just reminds me that the most important investment we can make is in the lives of our children and grandchildren.
 

            I have been looking through my personal journal over the past few months, since I have entered the world of blogging.  Certainly it has been a blessing, far beyond anything I expected, and it has also been a challenge as I have interacted with those who oppose the message of God’s Word.

            I thought I would share some of my entries in the hope that it may encourage other Christians to step out and share their faith. Some of these entries are direct from Scripture on a day when I needed it, and some are from writings by Oswald Chambers.

·        Jeremiah 20:9 “His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones.  I was weary of holding it back and I could not.”

·        2 Timothy 1:2 “The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.”

·        Jeremiah 10:23 “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

·        Oswald Chambers – “There is no responsibility on you for the work; the only responsibility you have is to keep in living constant touch with God, and to see that you allow nothing to hinder your cooperation with Him.”

·        Oswald Chambers – “God engineers everything; wherever He puts us our one great aim is to pour out our whole hearted devotion to Him in that particular work.”

·        Oswald Chambers – “Spiritually we cannot measure our life by success, but only by what God pours through us; and we cannot measure that at all.”

·        Acts 18:10 – The Lord said to Paul, “Dismiss your fears; go on speaking and do not give up, I am with you and no one shall attack you or injure you; for I have many people in this city.”

·        Acts 11:23 – About Barnabas - “He encouraged them all to remain with fixed resolve, faithful to the Lord.”

·        Acts 4:20b Weymouth – “As for us, what we have seen and heard we cannot help speaking about.”

[38]

THE PHARISEE AND TAX COLLECTOR

Read:  Luke 18:9-14

            The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,'God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  Luke 18:11 NKJV

* * *

            This religious leader may have had much to be proud of in avoiding gross sin, but he missed the fact that he was still a sinner. Salvation comes through repentance, and Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  The tax collector, so despised for his sin, had it right.  He, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'  (18:13)

            The Pharisee was like the rich young ruler who thought he could gain eternal life by doing good works. We must all come by way of repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ.  Only then can we do genuinely good works, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

* * *

            Lord, forgive me when I am guilty of looking down on someone I judge to be more sinful than I. As You have extended mercy to me, I must desire mercy for others. You look beyond the outward appearance and see our hearts. Help me to discern the heart attitudes of my children and teach them humility by example.

* * *

            ". . . everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:14 NKJV