Choose to be…

 Choose to be…

I found some of my notes in Philippians from a previous “read through “…” choose to be the person God wants you to be”….

With the verses,

 “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained.”

Phil.3.13-16

This was in my “travel Bible”, a lighter weight Bible I use when traveling…

We have so many choices in life, but this is a really important one…God has a plan for each us, one which is the best of all…but we can choose to go our own way and not follow it…we can ignore those guidance words, the words whispered into our hearts or sometimes shouted loud and clear and follow our own paths…stay immature….

But, how much better it is to choose to walk in the path prepared by a Father who loves us infinitely, eternally, lovingly, compassionately….who sent his son to die for us…to be our sacrifice…

Nothing compares…no earthly pleasure…to that love…but, he still gave us a choice…

We need to choose wisely….

Thank YOU…

     He restores my soul.He leads me in paths of righteousnessfor his name's sake.

Ps.23.3

 You search out my path and my lying downand are acquainted with all my ways. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand.I awake, and I am still with you.

Ps.139.3,Ps.139.17-18

 In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths. 

Be not wise in your own eyes;fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 

It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

Prov.3.6-8

 Many are the plans in the mind of a man,but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Prov.19.21

 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

Jer.29.11-13

 You have made known to me the paths of life;you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

Acts.2.28

One thing remains….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTe6NKe5PAI

 

Sushi, leftovers, photos, hugs and goodbyes…

 Sushi, leftovers, photos, hugs and goodbyes…

I have two age groups of grandchildren…simply because there is 11 years difference between my oldest child and my youngest…So as the older group is leaving their teen years, the younger group is just entering theirs…but everyone combined well at this weekend reunion event…it was fun to see all of the interactions …

We gathered for one last lunch of leftovers, sushi, fried rice….laughter all around, formal family photos, hugs and goodbyes…a weekend well lived…

Thank YOU for this special time…

Reading about Paul in the New Testament, the Epistles…the helloes and the goodbyes…the parting is hard, but life goes on…and he moved forward just as we will…I can imagine the send offs at various towns, regions he visited…maybe a farewell meal, a few last words in parting,  a small or large gathering as he entered  yet another boat or left by foot…all walking away talking about the gathering and planning for the day ahead…getting on with life…back to “normal”, whatever or wherever that looks like…

 A few partings…of Paul…

After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila.

But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus. 

When he had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the church, and then went down to Antioch. 

After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

Acts.18.18,Acts.18.21-23

 When he had gone through those regions and had given them much encouragement, he came to Greece. There he spent three months, and when a plot was made against him by the Jews as he was about to set sail for Syria, he decided to return through Macedonia. Sopater the Berean, son of Pyrrhus, accompanied him; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timothy; and the Asians, Tychicus and Trophimus. These went on ahead and were waiting for us at Troas, but we sailed away from Philippi after the days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days we came to them at Troas, where we stayed for seven days. But going ahead to the ship, we set sail for Assos, intending to take Paul aboard there, for so he had arranged, intending himself to go by land. And when he met us at Assos, we took him on board and went to Mitylene. And sailing from there we came the following day opposite Chios; the next day we touched at Samos; and the day after that we went to Miletus. For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he might not have to spend time in Asia, for he was hastening to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Acts.20.2-6,13-16

So long, farewell….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxjwb5cXTI0

Bind us together….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHJJzD46-qU

Ethan telling African spider story…

Say cheese….

Same birthdays, same names…

Getting together…

 Getting together…

As I said previously, our family is getting together this weekend…it has been more than nine years since this happened, so it has been a big, especially for me…

Since the last time we got together, every family has moved at least once…

We have added 5 by birth, 2 by marriage..there have been high school graduations, kindergarten graduations, Eagle Scout ceremonies, various sports tried, teen years entered and finished, new readers, world travels, missions accomplished, one retirement, colleges entered, houses built, medical situations, house flooding, a multitude of pets loved and lost….many, many miles travelled, either to school, trips, work…many books read, many prayers said…

We may differ politically, life styles, personalities..but, we are still family…

We have lived and loved….and God has been with us each and every day, through feast or famine…

One of the things we have shared is missions…we have been involved with them our whole lifetimes…so we went on a tour of Mission Aviation Fellowship for one of our excursions…viewing the portion of Nate Saint’s plane to hearing stories from a retired pilot…to wandering through planes, parts of planes, to a finale of flying in one…(it happened to be one  9 year old’s birthday, “best birthday ever”)…

It is so fun to pass this experience down, now, to a third generation …passing the baton, the torch, the vision …the responsibility, stewardship of the blessings God has bestowed…

I am in Acts with Paul…standing before the people, the rulers giving testimony to many…the people, the Sanhedrin, the rulers, even the soldiers…over and over again..he has travelled many, many miles, gone through a multitude of good and bad experiences…but his words are sure, he is training others in the Way…he has discipled many, encouraged many, admonished many, written much, handing off the torch…giving vision to others…

 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,

Deut.7.9

 The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

Ps.33.11

Or Joshua’s words to the next generation…in Joshua 24, “choose whom you will serve…”

Thank YOU….

I am so glad…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0zljm3KMSA

Reports from abroad….

 Reports from abroad….

 When we had come to Jerusalem, the brothers received us gladly. On the following day Paul went in with us to James, and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. And when they heard it, they glorified God. And they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands there are among the Jews of those who have believed. They are all zealous for the law,

Acts.21.17-20

Once a year we have a missionary time, when the various missionaries supported by the church give reports about their work…some of the missionaries are in person and others are videos from wherever they are…

Personally, I totally enjoy these times…their reports with the joy of their words, body language is so refreshing…it makes giving so worthwhile…because the gospel is reaching more and more people groups, the Word is being spread…the harvest is being brought in……

We, who  sit in the pews , may not be on the “frontline “ with the foreign missions, but we can rejoice with those who are…our “frontline “ is closer to home…and that is just as exciting…we are all called to do our part for the kingdom…

 Thank YOU…

 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who send him;he refreshes the soul of his masters. 

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,so is good news from a far country.

Prov.25.13,25

 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.

 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 

Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Matt.9.35-38

 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 

Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. 

For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 

I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. 

Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

John.4.35-38

 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.

 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 

So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Rom.1.12-15

 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts.1.8

 

An old hymn….bringing in the sheaves…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKGVPylQplg

 

Travel plans….

 Travel plans….

This weekend all of my children and grandchildren will all be here, in one place…first time in nine years…some are traveling in from Tennessee, others are coming from Oregon, Montana…some I have never met due to travel restrictions, health…the twelve  grandkids have grown, Some married, in college…each finding their way in the world…we have been planning this since last winter…with accommodations, travel routes, meals, activities…logistics…

Reading through the book of Acts, you might think Paul, for all of his travels, might have benefited from our  computers to make all of his plans…

In chapters 20 and 21, there’s a running list of places he visited, boats he took, people he saw…first here, then a boat there…over and over again…the ports must have been such a bustling place…finding passage to here and there a ritual that many took if they wanted to travel…

Now we think more of cars, planes, trains, less of boats…

But, Paul had a purpose…he was reaching people for the gospel, visiting people whom he had known before, he was teaching, exhorting, admonishing, encouraging at every stop…and at some, he was saying “goodbye “…he had a destination, Jerusalem…

I have met some who have travelled the world, either as missionaries or just travelled…others who haven’t left their state…Paul probably met the same kind as well…each with their paths in lives…he took the gospel to each…Jesus’ love has no partiality…

Thank YOU for each of our journeys through this world…

 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 

And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 

And when he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 

And there was much weeping on the part of all; they embraced Paul and kissed him, being sorrowful most of all because of the word he had spoken, that they would not see his face again. 

And they accompanied him to the ship.

Acts.20.21-22, Acts.20.28,Acts.20.31-32,Acts.20.36-38

 For God shows no partiality.

Rom.2.11

 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

Acts.10.34-35

Every step…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7edo5ril3WA

Early morNing tracks…

The county fair…2..

 

The county fair….2…

I retrieved my fair entries yesterday…so put  those entries back into their  places…now to go on as before…

Earthly ribbons and prizes are one thing…heavenly rewards are so much better!!!!!  They are everlasting, surpassing anything we could imagine…these here will just pass away, fading, where moth can eat…

Personally, I want my treasures to last…

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matt.6.19-21

Dr. Jeremiah writes about rewards in the following blog…

Thank YOU…for your heavenly rewards…they infinitely outweigh those here on earth, the  ribbons, trophies…

Well done…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHGZoKFSb1E

https://davidjeremiah.blog/what-kind-of-rewards-will-believers-receive-in-heaven/

https://openthebible.org/article/10-things-christ-promises-to-reward som/

https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1495&context=doctoral