The Lord Tends His Garden - Guest Post

Note: For anyone wondering why there isn't a resurrection post this weekend, please know that we look to the Jewish calendar, rather than the Roman Catholic, one to determine when Resurrection Sunday should be observed. Passover is not until April 22nd, so my resurrection posts will be on the weekend of April 28th. :-)

John 15:1-5 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

The Lord Tends His Garden

The vine of impatience is overgrown,
The weed of self will is making shown,
Poison leaves of distraction tempting and fair
Choking fruit of my heart, and leaving spots bare,

Come and tend Your garden...

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Evening Song - Break Up My Fallow Ground

For anyone wondering why there isn't a resurrection post this weekend, please know that we look to the Jewish calendar rather than the Roman Catholic one to determine when Resurrection Sunday should be observed. Passover is not until April 22, so my resurrection posts will be on the weekend of April 28th. :-)

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 

Galatians 6:7-9 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

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To purchase music visit: johnmarshallfamily.com

The Thousand Word Project - Burning Brushes

Texas Indian Paintbrush

Does It Matter Which Bible Translation You Prefer?

Psalm 119:160 Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. 

John 6:67-68 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 

Brandon Staggs, the man speaking in this video, was a friend of my brothers' years ago. He also went to high school with my husband, although they didn't know each other very well, being in different grades. It is very curious how the Lord makes connections sometimes.

I used an NASB briefly before I came to understand the issues surrounding the textual controversy - thanks to my dad's teaching. I was about 15, I think, when I made the switch permanently. I have never regretted it, and as Brandon shows a few of the significant changes that have been made in modern versions of the Bible, know that what he says is true - there are many, many more. I hope to start addressing some of these soon on The Home Makers Corner, Lord willing.

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Brother Brandon is the creator of the Bible program Sword Searcher. I have used it for my writing needs for years now, and I use it for Facetime Bible study when I can. I recommend it if you are looking for a Bible program to have on your own computer, rather than using online Bible programs.

Evening Song - Standing On the Promises

2 Corinthians 1:19-20 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. 

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Texas Memories - Bluebonnets This Side of the Border

This picture was taken another year, but they are blooming now. :-)

Short Thought - Beware of the Flatterers

"Young ladies, beware of being attracted to a man because

he makes you feel pleased with yourself.

If that is his main attraction, he is doubtless a

flatterer with little to recommend him.

That is a dangerous foundation for a

relationship of any sort."

There is a lie that is sometimes told that if a guy makes you feel good about yourself, then he's a great guy. The tragedy is that this kind of relationship is based upon flattery, not a solid give-and-take that is both strengthening and challenging. 

Flattery is a dangerous tool to those who wish to control others. In Proverbs it's called spreading a net for the person who is targeted. That means it's a trap meant to ensnare and control. In Daniel chapter 11 we read that a vile person, apparently the anti-Christ, will take the kingdom peaceably through flattery. 

Flattery is a very powerful method for gaining people's confidence and allegiance. It can be used to manipulate people into doing all kinds of things. The thing is, people who are easily susceptible to flattery are usually vain and self-focused. After all, if you find people welcome and delightful because they are always making you feel bigger and better than you are, then what does that say about you? Yet, this is a common ideology in our current society. We are told often and often to look for friends and relationships that serve us, that make us feel better about ourselves, that only support our goals and ideas - no matter how unattainable or even ungodly they are. 

Beware of flatterers, but also beware of becoming a person who likes to be flattered. 

Proverbs 28:23  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

Proverbs 29:5  A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

Psalm 36:1-3  The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful. The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

The Love of Christ - A Poem by Annie Johnson Flint

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

The Love of Christ

How broad is [Christ's] love?
Oh, as broad as man's trespass,
As wide as the need of the world can be;
And yet to the need of one soul it can narrow--
He came to the world and He came to me.

How long is His love?
Without end or beginning,
Eternal as God and His life it must be,
For, to everlasting as from everlasting
He loveth the world and He loveth me.

How deep is [Christ's] love?
Oh, as deep as man's sinning.
As low as the uttermost vileness can be;
In the fathomless gulf of the Father's forsaking
He died for the world and He died for me.

How high is His love?
It is high as the heavens,
As high as the throne of His glory must be;
And yet from that height He hath stooped to redeem us--
He so loved the world and He so loved me.

How great is [Christ's] love?
Oh, it passeth all knowledge,
No man's comprehension its measure can be;
It filleth the world, yet each heart may contain it--
He so loves the world and He so loves me.

Annie Johnson Flint
[altered]

John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

The Thousand Word Project - Petal Pink

Psalm 85:10-11 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 

Peach Blossoms - Texas

Worth Repeating - Thoughts On the Coming of the Lord

Revelation 22:20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

There are two ways of looking at the Lord's Coming. There is a looking for, and there is a looking at it. It is possible to look at it with a keen intellect and profound interest, and yet have it mean nothing to us personally.

It is possible to know but little of the theology and exegesis of the subject, and yet have a deep and holy longing for our Lord to appear. When a wedding is about to occur, the public are looking at it, but the bride is looking for it. Oh, that this great theme may not only be our study, but also our personal hope; for "unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28).   -- Dr. A. B. Simpson

My thoughts:

This reminds me of a poem by Annie Johnson Flint.

Continue Reading.

Evening Song - God Shall Wipe Away All Tears

Revelation 21:3-5 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

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Texas Memories - Red Budding

Word of the Day - Pleasure - Part 2

 

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Psalm 36:7-9 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

There is a land of pure delight,

Where saints immortal reign;

Infinite day excludes the night,

And pleasures banish pain.

Isaac Watts

Psalm 51:17-19 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 102:12-14 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof.

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See Pleasure - Part 1.

Evening Song - By the Gentle Waters

Psalm 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. 

Psalm 18:35-36 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. 

John 10:27-28 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 

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