Hard Questions - Should We Power Through?

Photo by Mike Van Nattan

1 Peter 1:24-25 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

I am weary of hearing that we should just "power through it" or "push through".

Got pain or chronic illness? Power through.
Going through hard times? Power through.
Grieving? Power through.
Financially destroyed? Power through.
Depressed? Power through.

What an utterly hopeless answer.

I wonder what people really think we are, or what they think they are themselves. God clearly says that ...all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. He also tells us our life is but ...a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14) 

But, what about "powering through"?

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Sacrifice of Love

John 1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Ephesians 5:2  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.


The John Marshall Family

Texas Memories - Floating Things

Coots

Photos taken at Inks Lake, Texas.

The Heart of Home - By Martha Snell Nicholson

Homecoming into the Father's House by Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller

The Heart of Home

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith...

It isn't the house that makes it home,
but the people living there,
The dear ones who daily walk with us,
And our joys and sorrows share.

To the traveler who returns, the lights
Of home are a beckoning star;
And his heart leaps up with joy at a glimpse
Of those who await him there.

A house is but wall and roof and floor,
But the heart of the home is love.
As it is on earth, so must it be
In those palaces up above.

The mansion He built for me is tall,
And as fair as fair can be;
But it isn't the house for which I'll strain
My longing eyes - it is HE!

by Martha Snell Nicholson

John 14:2-3  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 John 3:2-3  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Evening Song - I'm In the Gloryland way

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

The Thousand Word Project - Colors of Joy

Zinnias

Judging, Being "Nice", and Final Authority

Jude 1:16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

There was a good deal of contention that arose about my recent article on the Duggars. I do not usually think it necessary to defend my position on things. Usually, if I feel that I have explained myself clearly enough but readers are still tying themselves in knots over what I wrote, I figure I can't help them much more. Indeed, one lady who made comments in social media appeared to have either not read my article or she missed the point entirely because she accused me of things that were exactly the opposite of what I was trying to teach. If they write to me personally with questions I have answered them at times. I think and hope that I am following the example of Jesus Christ in this since He did not always go to the trouble of explaining Himself to the general group, even when there were people who misunderstood Him.

In this case, however, I think there are a few things that should be pointed out, and perhaps explained more thoroughly, since they are issues on which I have not written before.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - Behold Our God

Ezekiel 44:4  Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face.

Isaiah 40:18  To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

Isaiah 40:25-26  To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

The Thousand Word Project - Glory In the Morning

Exodus 16:7  And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the LORD...

Morning Glory

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory

To show the size.

Random Acts of Blogging - Odds and Ends After Vacation

We arrived home from a good vacation on Friday, having driven a 12 hour day, and we had just pulled through the gate when my brother informed us that some long standing friends of my family were coming to visit this weekend. They are traveling in an RV (caravan) and they may park here at least one night. Since our house is the only one of the three here that is big enough hold 11+ people, we knew we had to unpack and then do some house cleaning in a big hurry, so we hit the ground running. You might say I was a bit overwhelmed. :-)  Life is certainly full of surprises!

Anyway, this blog post will be just an assortment of random things that hopefully will edify and encourage someone. (I hope to write more about our trip later, but we'll see.)

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Manna

Out of despair hope is dawning;
After the darkness comes light.
His mercies are new every morning,
He scatters His manna each night,

Scatters it freely as hoarfrost;
Then use it as freely, nor hoard
In fear of tomorrow's privation;
It pleases our bountiful Lord

To give these good gifts to His children.
His promise is faithful and true,
That He will provide on the morrow
Enough for tomorrow's need too.

- Martha Snell Nicholson

Lamentations 3:22-25  It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

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Here is an article that I read this weekend on the subject of learning to be discerning about women's Bible study courses/books. This is really important since there are so many popular women's Bible teachers out there these days and some of them are teaching things that are really contrary to scripture. We need to be alert and no just trust someone because of their name or because so-and-so said they were "good". We need to examine their teachings in light of God's word for ourselves to see if they are teaching the truth. This article has some good points to make:

Yet Another One - An Undiscerning Believer - Is Being Deceived

Philippians 1:9-11  And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;  That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

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Here is a blog post by a friend of mine who, with her husband and two daughters, is a missionary in New Zealand. She just started her blog recently and this particular post was a blessing to me to read because I can really relate to whole battle with worry. I'm sure some of you can too. :-)

Worry or Not to Worry

Philippians 4:6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Evening Song - To God be the Glory

Psalms 67:1-7  <> God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.  That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

More Fun Watercolor Techniques for Kids, Card Making, and Art

Here are some more interesting ways to use watercolors.

I'm not sure that using ordinary Scotch tape would be a best plan since it might not peel up easily in every instance. I'd use painter's tape or some kind of low-tack tape. Stick the tape to your clothes a couple time before putting it on the paper to help it release more easily after the paint is dry. Or, you can use a heat blower of some sort - hair dryer, heat gun - to soften the glue so that it peels up more easily.

Also, be sure to let the masking medium dry before you paint over it. In the video it looks like he didn't, but he must have or it would have spread all over the place.

Tennessee Memories - Muscadines

Matthew 7:16  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

In Time of Need - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

In Time of Need

Not by my need alone I ask this token
That Thou, O Lord, dost hear and heed my cry;
But by Thy promise that cannot be broken,
That all my need in Christ Thou wilt supply;
Not by my love for Thee, so oft disproved,
Not by my gifts to Thee, so poor and small,
But by Thy love that gave Thy best-beloved,
And with that one great Gift included all.

Not by my faith I plead, for that can falter,
Aye, and has faltered in the days gone by;
But by Thy faithfulness that cannot alter,
And by Thine ordered covenants on high,
Set safe and sure above Time's brief duration,
Beyond all change, eternally the same;
By these I dare my fervent supplication,
By Thy great mercies and Thy holy name.

Annie Johnson Flint

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:20-21  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

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We are going on vacation this week. Traveling is always a challenge for me, and with all my various health issues it feels like I have an unacceptable number of needs just to get through life in relative comfort. Thankfully, God's ability to provide and see me through is not limited - not by the number of needs, not by my lack of faith, not by the things that could happen, not by my unhappiness in dealing with the hard things. Not by anything, actually.

It is His faithfulness and love, His sure mercies and covenants, His unchanging wisdom that are my hope in all these things. Even when I forget it for a little while.

Is He your hope in the many needs of life?

Evening Song - Search Me, O God

Psalms 139:23-24  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.



The John Marshall Family.