Outstanding in Their Field

We finally got the garden in yesterday. Hopefully there is something left after the high winds today. Here's a little of what we should find in the summer and fall: 3 kinds of tomatoes, beans, peas, onions, okra, melons, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and more. Now I wasn't raised on a farm but my mom was. Still I know that's what we should expect to harvest. Guess how I know that?...... That's what we planted.

One of the foundational laws of Scripture taught me that. You reap what you sow.

--Job 4:8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.
--Proverbs 11:18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
--Proverbs 22:18 He who sows wickedness reaps trouble, and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.
--2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
--Galatians 6:7-8 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

So if you're tired of the weeds and garbage in your life quit griping or blaming God, change your seed.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 30:4 4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!

Scripture of the Day: Galatians 6:7-8 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Quote of the Day: The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses. ~Hanna Rion

Memorial Day

A Memorial Day emergency delivery to Carlinville kept me from the blog yesterday, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to say thanks to those who have given their lives for our country. The kids and I were able to make the ceremony here in Sycamore before I got called away though.

Give thanks to God for your freedom today.

Be Refreshed!


Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 27:19 19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man.

Scripture of the Day: John 15:12-14 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

Quote of the Day: They are dead; but they live in each Patriot's breast, And their names are engraven on honor's bright crest. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Sanctified Smoke

I had a nice smoke today.


Between the weather and schedules it's the first smoke of the spring. The picture here is about the 4 hour mark. On the top is lunch. Brats and fish (salmon, tilapia, and perch). On the bottom is food for a week. 2 sets of ribs, a brisket, and 3 pork shoulders. The bottom is only half way done so I'll throw some potatoes, onions, and garlic bulbs on the top to finish off. The pork shoulder we'll turn into pulled pork. mmmmmmm..............

Jeremiah (11) took another step towards manhood today. The first mow.


He hadn't been quite as excited as the other two boys to start mowing. I think he'd watched the other 2 over the years and figured out it wasn't as fun as it looked like it would be. He's off to a great start though.

Don't forget the church picnic tomorrow night. It's one of the highlights of the year and the unofficial start to summer. You may even get a pulled pork sandwich or strawberry rhubarb jam if you're lucky.

Be Refreshed!


Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Scripture of the Day: Acts 10:44-46 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Quote of the Day: "Vegetarian: an old Indian term, meaning "bad hunter." Unknown

Eternal Wisdom

We were at the IL A/G District Council Mon-Wed so the blog has been on vacation too.

At the ordination service on Monday night our district superintendent reminded us of a phrase that former D.S. Ernie Moen had often quoted to the ordination classes. I had forgotten it, but I was in one of the last ordination classes of Ernie Moen in 1995 and the reminder I thought would be good for all of us.

It was:

-Don't touch the gold.
-Don't touch the glory.
-Don't touch the girls.

I don't think it was original with Bro. Moen, but that's a good place for a minister to get their start. It's not too bad for any believer either. How many believers get tripped up with the love of money? How many get caught up in feelings or power of the Holy Spirit only to crash when the feeling is distant? How many have fallen into the traps of lust?

Sometimes the big things are the simplest. Don't touch the gold. Don't touch the glory. Don't touch the girls.

Be Refreshed!


Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 23:4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.

Scripture of the Day: Leviticus 10:1-2 1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.


Quote of the Day: "God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises...leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Aloha!

Our Suppers for Eight group wound down for the spring with a luau theme complete with leis and grass skirts. It was a cool night but we had kabobs off the grill and great fun and fellowship.

Thanks to all of our Supper for Eight leaders this spring and everyone who opened their home to the family of God. Breaking bread, prayer, and fellowship in one another's home. Good Stuff.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 22:31-32 31 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

Quote of the Day: "Make new friends, but don't forget the old ones." Yiddish Proverb

Opening Day 2008

Today was a beautiful opening day for Elizabeth's softball season. She scored the first run for her team this season! (Which usually at this age means she was the first batter:)


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Scripture of the Day: Acts 4:13-14 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say.

Quote of the Day: Baseball, to me, is still the national pastime because it is a summer game. I feel that almost all Americans are summer people, that summer is what they think of when they think of their childhood. I think it stirs up an incredible emotion within people. ~Steve Busby, in Washington Post, 8 July 1974

The Big 16

Ethan hit the big 16 today. Here he is with his driver's license and set of car keys. Unfortunately there was no car to go with the set of keys, just the 2 family minivans.

Would you say a prayer for him today? Ask God to raise up a mighty man of God. Thanks!

Be Refreshed!


Proverb of the Day: Proverb 16:3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.

Scripture of the Day: 1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Quote of the Day: "You may speak but a word to a child, and in that child there may be slumbering a noble heart which shall stir the Christian Church in years to come." Charles Spurgeon

Train Up a Child

Jeremiah and I cooked up 11 pints of strawberry-rhubarb jam last night. Everyone else was gone when I got home yesterday evening and Jeremiah was on the computer, so I got him off the keyboard and we went to work. After a few hours of cleaning, cutting, cooking and canning we had a good showing that will keep us smiling through the fall. Jeremiah also was wearing a pretty big smile this morning. An evening working with dad vs. time on the computer. Hmmm....

The biggest obstacle to quality time with kids is usually us parents. (And I'll raise my hand first.) It's easier to put them in front of the electronic babysitter (TV, computer, video game, etc.) or send them off to another activity and everyone is happy. But that sort of happiness is short lived and has few long term rewards. It stops the whining for the day, but no progress is made for the future.

Summer is just around the corner so my challenge to all of us parents as school gets out is to make this your greatest summer ever. Plant a garden, do a project, ride a bike, pass down a skill, tell a story, serve someone, or make some jam. That kind of growth goes a lot deeper than making it to the 4th level of a video game where they find the star of something that gives them powers to walk through walls as they seek to find the treasure so they can........

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Scripture of the Day: Deuteronomy 11:18-21 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.

Quotes of the Day:
--Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy. ~Robert A. Heinlein
--If you want children to keep their feet on the ground, put some responsibility on their shoulders. ~Abigail Van Buren
-- Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you. ~Robert Fulghum
-- The thing that impresses me most about America is the way parents obey their children. ~Edward, Duke of Windsor, Look, 5 March 1957
-- Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. ~Charles R. Swindoll, The Strong Family
-- If I had my child to raise all over again,
I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger-paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
~Diane Loomans, from "If I Had My Child To Raise Over Again"

Pentecost

With Mother's Day and Pentecost Sunday on the same day this year we really didn't get to give Pentecost the emphasis it is worthy of. That God is pouring His Spirit out on His children and empowering them for service and the supernatural.

Here is an article from the Pentecostal Evangel to give you your Pentecost message.

ARTICLE


Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.

Scripture of the Day: Acts 2:1-4 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Quote of the Day: The power of God will take you out of your own plans and put you in the will of God. Smith Wigglesworth

Ode to Jeannine

One of my favorite rites of spring is no longer this year. For years every spring I would receive a phone call out of the blue and Jeannine A. would be on the other end asking if I was home because her oven was on. Soon after would be a delivery of a fresh, hot, rhubarb cake. Jeannine went home to be with Jesus this past year, but I miss the memory as much as the cake. Somebody thought of me. Someone took some time to bless me. Somewhere along the line she found out I loved rhubarb and it turned into an annual tradition. In fact I think she enjoyed it as much if not more than me.

The best memories aren't usually the big expensive ones. It's the simple little things that come back to us. Playing in the rain, a picnic, homemade ice cream, board games, and more. Several years ago I asked the Wednesday night Bible study group what their favorite Christmas memory was. Presents were by far a minority. It was family, relationships, and simple memories.

Now I'm not hinting for a cake:) In fact I made Sonya two strawberry rhubarb pies for Mother's Day this weekend. Really! Here's one:


But I do want to encourage you to Be A Blessing today. Take a few minutes and serve someone. Turn off the TV and make a memory. Go for a walk. Play a game. Skip Culvers and fire up the old ice cream machine. Call your Sunday school teacher from when you were a kid just to say thanks.

Thanks Jeannine for blessing my spring this year even though you are gone. We miss you.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 12:28 In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.

Scripture of the Day: Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Quote of the Day: "Only your real friends tell you when your face is dirty." Sicilian Proverb

Happy Mother's Day

Hope you had a great Mother's Day. Sonya preached today on Leaving a Legacy out of the life of Ruth. I am blessed with a great legacy from my mom and my grandmothers on this Mother's Day. It's never too late to start a fresh one if you aren't so blessed. Jesus is the God of the second chance and fresh starts.

Great job Sonya!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 31:29-30 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Scripture of the Day: Ruth 1:16-17 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

Quote of the Day: "I have no faith in that woman who talks of grace and glory abroad, and uses no soap and water at home. Let the buttons be on the shirts, let the children's socks be mended, let the roast mutton be done to a turn, let the house be as neat as a new pin, and the home be as happy as home can be." Charles Spurgeon

Mmmmm... Fungi

We visited some old friends while down in Quincy a couple weeks ago and he made the mistake about bragging on his huge Morel mushroom find (4 bags full!). It's been 20 years since I've had one so we talked them into frying up a big batch. Sliced in half, dipped in egg, rolled in cracker crumbs, and fried in butter. Now that's living.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 7:2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 11:1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."

Quote of the Day: There is a mighty lot of difference between saying prayers and praying. John G. Lake

Family Camp 2008

The brochure for IL Family Camp 2008 is available online now. Click on the picture above and then scroll down past the info to the Family Fest brochure line.

Family Camp is a great, family friendly, inexpensive, close, vacation that has all the fun, water, etc. and good spiritual food too. The kids love it, parents, and grandparents also. We asked our kids a couple of weeks ago if they had to choose between their kid's/teen camp and family camp and they all said family camp hands down.

And this is not your father's church camp ground facility either. All air conditioned, water slide, 2 pools, 2 gyms, racquetball, brand new cafe', and more. Check out the campgrounds at:

LAKE WILLIAMSON

The big fireworks show is Thursday night so bring your lawn chairs for the 6th Annual Bethel Pizza, Pop, and Sparklers compliments of my family. It's a great way to end the week together. Camp is just 2 months away, so make your plans now!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 6:25-26 25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, 26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 6:12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.

Quote of the Day: Children can withstand a lot of pressure and trial from the outside if the home inside is held steady by parents whose character is steady. Stuart Briscoe

Truth in Advertising

We had such a great week at Deer Ridge last week. Thanks to everyone who prayed for us. We even saw deer multiple times a day to make the name true. I was beginning to wonder if they were trained and released at certain times of the day.

One thing I was reminded of was God's desire just to be with us. Too often we bring Him our prayer lists and songs, but we miss the times of listening, meditation, and resting in His presence. We spend a lot of our time telling Him what we think He ought to do and not much time listening to His heart. We have so much to do that we miss the most important thing. I love the story of Mary & Martha when Jesus comes to visit.

Luke 10:38-41 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

Take time this week, and every week, to sit at His feet and rest.

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverbs 5:1-2 1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, 2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Scripture of the Day: Luke 5:15-16 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Quote of the Day: He does not seem to me to be a free man who does not sometimes do nothing. Cicero