Without Faith it is Impossible to Please God



Now Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped for,
 the Evidence of Things Not Seen ...Hebrews 11:1

  But without Faith it is impossible to please Him:  for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6



7.  For we walk by Faith, not by sight:  

                                                               
8.  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

9.  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that everyone may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.     2 Corinthians 5: 7-10     
                                                                                                                          

Aunt Dema's Pearls



Aunt Dema's Pearls

   After Aunt Dema passed, her brother's wife sent Aunt Dema's jewelry box to me, they had talked it over and wanted me to have it.  I opened it and almost cried to see Aunt Dema's treasures.  The little cedar box was filled with costume jewelry and little tid bits that was special to her.  There was a small celluloid doll that may have belonged to her daughter.  Tie clips that probably belonged to her husband, and these pearls.  They are not real, but, she treasured them.
   Aunt Dema received mail at the nursing home for a long time after she passed.  She got many letters from places like March of Dimes, Save the Children and many other charities.  It seemed that even on her limited income, she shared what God had blessed her with, even to the end.
   So, in my book.......Aunt Dema was the Pearl!

Aunt Dema was the Pearl



She was a Pearl of Great Price

  This is Aunt Dema, one of the most precious ladies I have ever known.  She is my Dad's sister.  We lost her several years ago, but, know that she waits on us in her new home. 
   Aunt Dema lost her only daughter, when her daughter was just a young woman; she lost her husband early in life, she lost three of her brothers when they were still young men, and then a sister who probably lived to be in her 70's.  She had one brother left, who lived away from here.  Aunt Dema was nearly blind and carried a white cane.  She was one of the kindest and sweetest people I have ever known.  She spent her last years in a nursing home.  We went to see her often.  I worked near the nursing home, so it was easy for me to stop by on my way home. Aunt Dema was all smiles, no matter how bad she felt.  I feel blessed to have known such a precious soul.

The Smells of Christmas, Cedar, Pine and Holly

Holly, Cedar and Pine Bowl

   Winter sunshine, and melting snow.  Really got us into the Christmas Spirit today.  It had been too cold to go out and find our usual evergreens to decorate our table, until today.
   The snow still lingered in patches across the fields and some places were slippery.  But, the warm sunshine took a little bite off the cold wind.
   We suited up in insulated coveralls and the like and headed for the woods.  We found the Holly in a fence row in the middle field behind the house, but had to go into the edge of the woods to find the Cedar, we clipped the Pine branches from low limbs on the trees in front of our house.  I put about a quart of water into an amber bowl and placed the evergreens in it.  The smell of Cedar and Pine, the bright red berries on the Holly, and the hot apple cider, and coffee we had, when we got home, all tells me it's beginning to look and smell a lot like Christmas.  The Blessings of Christmas, need not cost a thing.  They've already been provided, if we'd only have it so.

Christmas 1962.......Remember When

   Like so many Kentucky winters before, the cold weather came early and snow blanketed the ground long before Christmas.  The County schools had been closed for weeks and the snow packed mountain roads showed no signs of melting.  Snow blew through cracks in the ceiling and our water froze in the water buckets every night.  Our brothers got up early and built the fires in the heating stove in the living room, and in the wood cookstove in the kitchen.  Strings of shuck beans and dried hot peppers hung from the ceiling in the corner of the kitchen, along with a clean feed sack half full of dried apples; mom was saving for a Christmas stack cake.  We had plenty of water carried up from the spring, so little sister and I could spend the day playing with Walking Dogs, Jimmy Dancers, and our Fox and Geese board.
   Dark came early, so we had a lot of family time in the evenings.  Mom popped dishpans full of popcorn and told us ghost stories.  She put potatoes in the ash pan of the heating stove and shook the grates and let them bake.  She boiled molasses and made popcorn balls and tough jack candy.  We were happy and content with what God had given us.
   It was almost Christmas and the weather was brutally cold.  The clay dirt road that led to the highway had frozen and thawed so many times that it was nearly impassable.  That cold and snowy evening along about dark, a car drove up the half frozen, rutted out dirt road, and pulled into our driveway.  We wondered who could be out driving on roads like this and on a night like this.  It was our older sister and her husband from Ohio.  All the sudden things began to change around the old homeplace.  They drove mom to town and my brothers hurried out and cut down a little pine tree; brought it back and decorated it.  When the others got back from town they were loaded with Christmas presents and goodies.  The next day was Christmas.  The food was good, the presents appreciated, but, what I remember the most about Christmas 1962 was having the family together again for Christmas.

It's Snowing...........Again.



It's Snowing

      December has just begun and it has already been the snowiest December, I can remember in recent years.  When we have snow this early, it makes for a long winter.  This poem was on the Christmas cards I sent several years ago.  
I heard a bird sing in the dark of December,  
               Twas a beautiful thing,
                So sweet to remember. 
   Growing up in Eastern Kentucky in the 50's and 60's, the weather was much like our northern states are today. 
   School was called off, because of snow before Christmas, and often didn't start back until Valentine's day.  When we returned, we took our gifts from where we'd drawn names for Christmas, and our valentines on the same day.   The last several years, we've had rather mild winters and have grown to love them, and to expect them.  But, we take what comes and thank God for it.  Amen.
                        On another note, I came across this scripture in Zechariah 13: 8-9 and wanted to share it with you.......
8.  And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
9.  And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried:  they shall call on my name, and I will hear them:  I will say, It is my people:  and they shall say, The Lord is my God.
   I sometimes think that true Christians are being brought through the fire, right now.  Some in authority now, cater to those of low decree and like passions and persecute Christians.  It ought not be so, but, we know it will come, and maybe now is.
And yet another note:  1 Peter 3:12
12.  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers:  but, the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
Thank the Lord for looking over us, and hearing our prayers.

A Front Porch Christmas, and a Holy Mountain Sabbath

  
   What a Blessed Holy Season.  A light snow is falling in Kentucky and all is well.  God's peace surrounds us on this beautiful Sabbath Day.


A Front Porch Christmas, a Beautiful Way to Brighten Someone's Day. 

Welcome to Our Home 

Let Your Light so Shine

                                                                                                                                                  

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify the Father which is in Heaven.

Blessed Christmas Season

  I wish everyone a Hot Apple Cider Christmas!  A good warm fire to sit by, eggnog, apple cider, homemade gingerbread, and family and friends to share it with.  Let's make our Christmas, the best ever!  We've already recieved the best gift that could ever be given. 
  7.    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swadling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
  8.   And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
  9.   And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid. 
10.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.
                                                                                                                     Luke 2: 7-11

Why Doesn't Everyone Love the Lord?

   Sometimes I am puzzled, why everyone don't love the Lord like I do.  I have often thought about this and have come to the conclusion that they must not feel His presence in their lives, ( I'm talking about the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit) or they would love Him.
   Many things are about to come into pass in these last days that will try all those upon the earth.  We only have to read the Bible and listen to the world news, to see many of the things written about already coming to pass, and many more are in the making. 
   If I didn't know the Lord, I would cry out to Him for mercy, because I could not stand alone.  This is the season we celebrate His birth.  Many celebrate Christmas and don't even know the One they are celebrating. 
   In this Holy season, my prayer to God is, that if someone doesn't know Him now, that they would not let precious time pass until they call out to Him.
He is Holy.... He is Worthy.... He is Merciful.  His grace is the greatest gift of all.

Big Sisters, Little Sisters, Forever Friends.

  This picture was taken in the early '60's.  My two older sisters have us younger ones on their shoulders.  Looks like quite a load, to me.  Throughout our childhood, when there were good times, there was my two older sisters somewhere in the background, making it happen.  We've all been blessed to live in the same small Kentucky town for a number of years now. 
   Just knowing that either sister is just a phone call away is comforting. 
   I don't want to leave our brothers out either.  We have five of them.  We have been blessed to have them in our lives as well.  They always helped out when we were growing up.  When we were little, we didn't call them Brothers, we called them Buddies.

Mom and Dad; So Many Years Ago.

Mom and Dad

   This picture of Mom and Dad was taken many years ago. They were still young in this picture, probablly in their 30's or 40's.  Dad worked in the coal mines and mom raised the kids.  Times were hard back then and it shows in their wearied faces.   
   We lost Dad when he was only 50 years old.  Then lost mom in 1991.  We still miss them, but, know that we can see them again someday.  For that; we are thankful.  
   So many memories cross my mind when I look at this picture.  Dad's sense of humor, and how easy going he was, mom's spunk, the games she taught us, like Club Fist, I Got Some Bread and Cheese, and others, the Haint stories she told us, and what a good cook she was.  
    The Christmas Season is near again, and I am reminded of the simple Christmas's long ago.  When I was around five, I can remember getting a rubber doll for Christmas, a rubber doll with molded hair, no clothes, no wrapping paper, it was in a clear plastic sack.  My little sister got one, too.  We were so tickled when we awoke and found them on our pillows.  We got little, but, it mean't a lot.  The best gift I could think of today, would be to know that I would see my whole family again in Heaven someday.

Holy Sabbath

  Another Holy Sabbath day.  How beautiful the morning drive was through the mountains of South Eastern Kentucky this morning.  Tall trees stood against a dark blue sky, another glimpse of God's majesty.  The bite in the air, the frost on the ground, and occasional sunrays piercing through the tree tops, brought a calm serenity to our hearts.  A small grey squirrel, with a walnut in his mouth, ran to safety in front of us.  We talked of God's beauty all around us.  When the service began, we felt God's presence and His beauty surrounded us once again.  Yes, another Holy Sabbath.  I would to God that everyone could have a Holy Sabbath just like today.

A Tall Cedar grows high in the sky on Goodin Ridge.

Most things change with time, landscapes, buildings, and people.  In McCreary County, Kentucky a few things remain the same through generations and seem an endless reminder of the past.  A few years ago we went hiking in McCreary County along with my husband's dad, who was around 80 years old at the time, and his wife.  We could see this tall cedar tree from the road.  His dad insisted that we walk through briars, sage grass and undergrowth to get to it.  You see, it held fond memories for him from his childhood.  It stands in the midst of his grandpa, Tom Goodin's old homeplace; this Tom was my husband's great grandpa.  My husband's dad was named after him.  We hiked over to it, and it was breathtaking.  I couldn't take a picture of the whole tree because of it's height, but, I got a nice shot of the upper portion.  The old house was gone, no trace of the smokehouse, hen house, hog lot, or anything else that left evidence the old homeplace existed, except for this tall cedar.  No aged trees stood around it, only a few saplings and younger trees.  I don't know exactly how long this tree has been standing on the old Tom Goodin homeplace on Goodin Ridge, but, Tom's generation comes down like this, Tom Goodin, his son Wess, his son Tom, his son Bob, his daughter Selina, her son Timothy.  That is six generations.  Whether it stood before that,  I don't know.  I thank God a few things remain to remind us of those that came before us.  We all go.  They went.  So will we.  Will there be anything still standing to remind those that come after us that we were here?  Only God knows.