We interrupt this campaign....

To remember Michael, who is Forever in the arms of Grace.....we remember and will not forget.

A Prayer for Guidance

Psalm 5:1-3 says;

 Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my meditation.
Give heed to the voice of my cry,
My King and my God,
For to You I will pray.
 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord;
In the morning I will direct it to You,
And I will look up.

There is such simple and beautiful instruction written here for us to follow if we will be wise;

First of all isnt it a comfort to know that the Lord does give ear to our feeble and often too shallow words? We are normally so full of ourselves but the Lord knows our true frame:)

  If we would desire the Lord to consider our meditation and the voice of our cry then we must be spending time with him and putting 'voice' to our petitions unto Him.

  And is it to our great King and God that we pray? It is so profitable to bring our burdens to Him. We often go to our neighbor or friend first and forget to bring ourselves before the Lord! This verse reminds us that unto Him will we go:)

  Upon rising is such a good time to pray. It sets our minds strait before we get up and into the hallway... and into the many frays of the day! So let these verses remind us to focus on Him first thing and see if that doesnt help us to be focused on pleasing Him and having our hearts set on eternity.

  May we remember to 'look up' throughout the day! With our hearts and minds on eternity and His eternal purposes for our lives. It is so easy to forget what those are in the midst of families, frays and frustrations. But He is our hope and ever present help in time of need~

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

My help cometh from the

Create in me a clean heart O God....

We just love the praise song; "Create in me a clean heart Oh God".

Perhaps you know it?

"Create in me a clean heart Oh God, and renew a right spirit within me...

Restore unto me the joy of my salvation and renew and right spirit within

me...."

Well, while at the doctors office today there was a young family with two little ones. One a baby and one a toddler. I couldn't help but grin and smile and be grateful that those young parents had these two little ones and that they were walking around and happy and ....alive.

I have to confess that even when the toddler was being 'naughty', I smiled just the same. Completely content that they were there. What I wouldn't give for some of our lost babies to be pitching a fit on the floor right now.

That reminded me of this verse. Create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me. Though it is wonderful those babies were there, it didn't have to be at the expense of them being trained I guess.

I was still thrilled they were there and I thoroughly enjoyed watching them.. I would still take any and all babies even if they were pitching a fit..but it got me to thinking about how we need to 'Think Rightly' as people. I don't need to think it is okay for toddlers to be naughty. I need to think rightly that children need to be brought up in the fear and admonition of the Lord. It isn't about our enjoyment..it is about the Lord fulfilling His eternal purposes in and through us and upon the earth. What does He want for our lives and for the lives of our children? Obedience, Faith, godliness. So, although in the desperation of our loss and flesh we would 'take what we could get', may we ultimately choose to accept what He gives. The Lord does all things well. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Reader, are you taught of God?

(James Smith, "Manna in the Wilderness" 1863)

"I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you--and leads you along the paths you should follow." Isaiah 48:17

God teaches all of His people the true nature, and awful consequences of sin--and instructs them "to flee from the wrath to come." His teaching makes them wise unto salvation--and holy in heart and life. Under His instructions, they . . .
  withdraw from the world, 
  enjoy private devotion, 
  unite with the saints, and 
  abound in every good work. 

"Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?" Job 36:22. The truth which he unfolds to the understanding--He impresses upon the heart. His scholars learn to imitate Him. 

Untaught by Him, we are . . .
  vain, ignorant, and wicked; 
  estranged from God, and 
  hastening to eternal perdition!

To His divine teaching--we owe all that we know of self, sin, salvation, and eternal felicity.

He teaches freely and variously--but always effectually. 

His children cry, "Teach me to do Your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing!" Psalm 143:10. He graciously answers, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you shall go! I will guide you with My eye." Psalm 32:8

Reader, are you taught of God? Has he taught you . . .
  to hate sin--and flee from it, 
  to know Christ--and love Him, 
  to discover the beauty of holiness--and pant to possess it?

"Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior!" Psalm 25:4-5

     ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Peace

Isaiah 26:3
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusteth in Thee...
  Are you at peace? Am I at peace? What is peace? A better question is ....Who is our peace? I do not know what your life is like..but this world  does not afford a measure of peace to it's inhabitants. Life and circumstances are always changing like the seasons, nothing ever stays the same. So how can your peace come from that?
  Now, God who changeth not..(Malachi 3:16, James 1:17).now there is a source of peace! The same yesterday today and forever.(Hebrews 13:8) What a comfort those words are to weary pilgims on the earth!
  There are some things that we can do to help attribute to our sense of peace;

Psalm 34:14

Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 119:165

Great peace have they who love Your law, and nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 85:8

I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to His people, His saints-- but let them not return to folly.

  But sometimes we just need to be reminded of what our 'mission' is. Our goal...our utimate goal. It is often difficult to remember what is really important when we are struggling in adversity or discouragement, or just overwhelmed with our myriads of responsibilities like..homeschooling, laundry and/or whatever job we may have. So may the Word of God encourage us today, and may you experience and enjoy true PEACE. Not as the world gives....John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Matt.11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 16:33

I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

2 Thess 3:16

Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all!

by Grant Colfax Tullar

"My life is but a weaving betwixt my God and me;

I do not choose the colors He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride

Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside.

Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly

Will God unfold the pattern and explain the reason why.

For the dark threads are as needful in the Weaver's skillful hand

As the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned."

Dads Determinations

We have also now changed the Dads determinations page to Dads/Husbands determinations page. We simply can't seem to be able to separate being a spouse from being a parent! More is added on this new page and we hope you view and enjoy it!

For a challenge...

Part 2. What humility isn't....Dads determinations page.

Sola

There are so many people who are hurting. As much as we would like to offer encouragement...often there is nothing we can do or say. I have learned myself that the only one way to deal with this life's tragedy and grief, and injustice is;

• 1 Sola scriptura ("by Scripture alone")
• 2 Sola fide ("by faith alone")
• 3 Sola gratia ("by grace alone")
• 4 Solus Christus or Solo Christo ("Christ alone" or "through Christ alone")
• 5 Soli Deo gloria ("glory to God alone")
• 
  
• Though we can and should offer prayers and encouragement to those who are hurting, yes we can pray for ourselves as well...it is only the Lord who is able to carry one through...really carry them through. So if you are in that place~ my encouragement to you is that ; You will get through Sola gratia...By Grace alone, Solo Christo, through Christ alone. And that , I have found...is enough.

Contemplate

Here is the power of the cross; Jesus became sin for us....

Its all eternal...

  Well we Adams did not fall off of the face of the earth..this past 8 days or so, our family has survived some traumatic events. The Lord has, as usual, been gracious to bring us through. Trauma's are difficult to go through, but I find that sometimes, in the aftermath...things aren't much easier. If you're like me, you are ok during a trial but when the stormy seas settle, then your rough times begin. I keep thinking of a song;
Jesus, all for Jesus
all I am and have
and ever hope to be.
For its "only in your will
that I am free"...
Wow, the Sovereignty of God. That is simply the most comforting doctrine and bible truth that I hang on to during life's many trials. May you find your 'freedom' in God's will as well.
Blessings, The Adams clan

Unto Jesus by Theodore Monod (1836-1912)

Unto Jesus and not-do we need to say it?-at our pretence of righteousness. Ill above ill is he who believes himself in health; blind above the blind he who thinks that he sees (John 9:41). If it is dangerous to look long at our wretchedness, which is, alas! too real; it is much more dangerous to rest complacently on imaginary merits.T.M.
   It is healthy to remember that we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Not to be crushed under the knowledge of it, but the knowledge of it lifts us up and we turn our eyes to Jesus~the author and perfecter of our faith and say "Unto Jesus", be all power, glory and honor forever and ever amen~

Unto Jesus by Theodore Monod (1836-1912)

Unto Jesus and not at the sincerity of our intentions, and at the strength of our resolutions. Alas! How often the most excellent intentions have only prepared the way for the most humiliating falls. Let us stay ourselves not on our intentions, but on His love; not on our resolutions, but on His promise.

Henceforth~Theodore Monod

 Oh, the bitter shame and sorrow, that a time would ever be, when I let the Saviour's pity plead in vain, and proudly answered; "All of self, and none of Thee".

 Yet He found me; I beheld Him bleeding on the accursed tree. Heard Him pray; 'Forgive them Father', and my wistful heart said faintly: "Some of self, and some of Thee".

  Day by day His tender mercy, healing, helping, full and free, sweet and strong, and ah! so patient, brought me lower, while I whispered; "Less of self, and more of Thee"

  Higher than the highest heaven, deeper than the deepest sea, Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered; grant me now my supplication; "None of self, and all of Thee"