God is our Refuge and Strength

When I made our morning coffee, I looked out my kitchen window 

and saw the fog rising across the fields, the sun coming up;

 and I felt in awe of His majesty. 

 What beauty God gives us, what glory and peace within. 

This is one of my favorite Psalms;  no doubt many of yours as well:

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, 

and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea:  

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 

though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

                                                         Selah.

There is a river, 

the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,

the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:

God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, and the kingdoms were moved:

He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jocob is our refuge.   Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, 

what desolations he hath made in the earth.

He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; 

He breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder;

He burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God:  

I will be exalted among the heathen,

I will be exalted in the earth.

The Lord of hosts is with us;

The God of Jocob is our refuge.

                                                                                                         Selah.

My Soul Desires the Firstripe Fruit

Woe is me, for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, 

as the grapegleanings of the vintage:  there is no cluster to eat: 

 my soul desired the firstripe fruit. 

Micah  7 :1

   After church today, this verse kept coming to me.  

I think I know why.  We have churches all around us,

 but, don't feel God's presence in them.  

We long for the presence of God.  

That's one reason we go to church. 

 Our souls desire the firstripe fruit.

   We did feel God's presence in church this morning,

 and had a good time in fellowship afterward;

 but, we had to drive many miles into another county to do so.

   Last week the Pastor asked my husband,

 "After we're gone, do you think the younger men will pick up the reigns

 and keep the church going right?" 

 My husband said, "They will pick up the reigns,

 but, I'm afraid they might not go right, they might pull to the left."  

   I've posted before, if you are in a good Spiritual church, 

please guard it with all your heart, and fervent prayer.  

How quickly the world moves in, and moves God out of the services.  

We've seen this happen in most of the churches near us.  

Good people got caught up in politics, sports, movies, and worldly things,

and lost sight of the great commission. 

God is real, Jesus Christ is real, The Holy Ghost is real.

When we get saved, they set up their abode in our hearts.

At the end of our days, they will receive us into glory. 

Until then, my soul desires the firstripe fruit.   

Have a Blessed Day,

Trisha

Help in Times of Trouble

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, 

and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, 

though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make 

glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles
of the most High.

God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: 

God shall help her, and that right early.

The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: 

he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

The LORD of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." 

Psalm 46:1-7

Why Labor Ye for the Meat that Perisheth?

Worldly Things Pass Away

  

  I awoke this morning with this verse on my mind:
   Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you:  for him hath God the Father sealed.
                     John Ch. 6 v. 27



Then 1st. John Ch. 2 v. 15, 16, 17 says:

   Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

   For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof:  but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

   I couldn't help but think how most of us are guilty of seeking the world's goods. 

Sometimes without even realizing it. 

We have lost several friends lately, and as I reflect on their lives,

I can see that those who had little, and those who had much,

 equally enjoyed their lives. 

Yesterday we had a visit from and elderly friend, who had just lost her husband.

God has blessed these friends with much land and finances.

Our friend talked a little about selling one of their farms;

but the farm she was talking about is the one that their son loves to hunt on.

And I thought this.  If you don't need the money,

why trade the farm for paper, or numbers that will be calculated into a bank account.

The son who is an avid hunter, would be better served getting to hunt the farm,

rather than have more numbers added to a bank account.

Why do we labor for the meat that perisheth?

The Lord told us not to.

We need to set our sites on things eternal.

The friends we recently lost, took no worldly goods with them,

but those who had made their election and calling sure,

their works did follow them. 

Blessings, Trisha

   

Isaiah 55: 1,2,&3

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,

and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, 

yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?

  and your labour for that which satisfieth not? 

hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,

 and let your soul delight itself in fatness

Incline your ear, and come unto me:

  hear, and your soul shall live;

 and I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

 even the sure mercies of David.

Isaiah 55: 1,2,&3

I love this verse; it is one of my favorites.

I often post about the goodness of God, and how He gives us the desires of our hearts. 

Psalm 37:4 says this:

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Now you be the judge, how unlikely is this to have happened? 

   Victoria magazine has long been one of my favorite magazines,

and I subscribed to it for many years, until I had little time to read it anymore. 

I read an article, many years ago about charm strings. 

   I love antiques, and collect old buttons, but, had never read about the century old tradition of collecting buttons and sewing them into a charm string, with tradition having it that the giver of the thousandth button, would be the one the maker of the charm string would marry. 

 In June of 1993, Victoria magazine carried an article about charm strings. 

I really liked this article and let others read it.  With sharing it, I ended up not getting my magazine back, not even remembering, who I had last let read it. 

 I am not one to keep a lot of magazines,

but, this is one I would have liked to have kept.

I have looked for this particular magazine, for 18 years and had given up on ever finding it. 

 Until a couple of days ago, my friend who had had a yard sale, and had lots of glass left, called to see if I might be interested in buying what she had left.  I bought what she wanted to sell, brought it home, unpacked the glass, put it on shelves and tossed the stack of old magazines, with the exception of a Victoria magazine, that had caught my eye. 

   Today, I had a few extra minutes to read and picked up the magazine, just skimming through the pages, I almost squealed with delight when I came across the article about charm strings.  You might think, so what is the big deal.  I actually ran across, what was probably and old charm string about 20 years ago at a yard sale, but, didn't realize what it was, and didn't buy it.  I remember picking it up and saying to the person with me, 'Look how sweet, some little old lady has sewn her buttons together.'  Authentic charm strings bring a pretty steep price. 

 Some in 1993 were going for several thousand dollars. 

 I love collecting things that have a great story behind them. 

 Now, back to the point of this post.  After 18 years, and having given up on finding the copy of Victoria that had the article about charm strings, it shows up, and Blesses my heart, and makes me smile.  My friend did not know that I had been looking for this magazine, and still does not know.  You might think it is only a coincidence, that maybe she was the last one to read my original magazine in 1993, but, I didn't even know her then.  I only met her a few years ago.

Friend, every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights. 

 Oh, praise Him!

Have a Blessed day, wherever you are.

Trisha

Crying Out from the Altar

Revelation 6: 9-10-11 says:

   And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 

   And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?

   And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

   We visited a local church this morning, one that we visit from time to time, and I was amazed at how some of our local country churches are getting away from using the Altar. 

   When the call for Altar Prayer went out, only around six people out of the entire congregation went to the Altar to pray. 

  If Christians won't use the Altar, how can we expect non-Christians to use it?

After we got home, I was sitting here reflecting on Revelation ch. 6: 9, 10, and 11,  

and this thought came to me: 

If we never bowed a knee and prayed to the Lord at an Altar here on earth,

would our prayers be among those cried out from the Altar in Heaven.

   It's not for me to say.  But, praying at the Altar is a sacrifice of praise. 

I remember well how the Altars in country churches were filled with people crying out to God. 

 I remember well how the Holy Spirit came down and filled the house. 

I know first hand that this is pleasing to God. 

So how did so many get away from Altar Prayer? 

 So many churches are loosing power with God.

  Some are drying up like chaff. 

 Let us never be ashamed to bow our knee at an Altar of Prayer. 

We live in uncertain times, we need God now more than ever,

 my prayer is that we all call upon the name of Jesus Christ for strength to endure.

Blessings, Trisha

The Wise Shall Understand, on NTEB Radio (Live Blog Talk Radio) tonight

   I Would like to remind everyone about John McTernan's live, Talk Radio broadcast, hosted by Geoffrey Grider on NTEB Radio, Sunday night at 9:00-10:30 Eastern Standard Time; it is a Blog Talk Radio, where you can listen online, call in with questions for John McTernan or Geoffrey Grider, or join the chat room, and interact with other listeners from all around the world.  This is a very interesting program.  Tonight's broadcast will deal with the prophecies in Obadiah.  I do not know what religion, either John McTernan or Geoffrey Grider professes; simply that this is an interesting program relating to what is going on in the world, in relation to Biblical prophecy.  If you would like to listen tonight, you may visit http://johnmcternan.name/   and click on NTEB Radio, then On Air at 9:00 P.M.  EST. 
Have a Blessed and beautiful Christian Sabbath day.

Bible Verses that Speak Volumes

   Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

   While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:

   In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

   And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

   Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail:  because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets:

   Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

   Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was:  and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
                                                                                                                    Ecclesiastes 12:1-7

These verses teach us that we should do what we can for the Lord, while we are young, and still able to do it?

For we know if we live to an old age; we might not be able to do the things we could have done, when we were younger.   

Let's give God what is right, not what is left.  Blessings,

                                  Trisha 

The Prayer of a Righteous Man .......

James 5:16 says: 

Confess your faults one to another,

and pray one for another,

 that ye may be healed. 

The effectual fervent prayer of a

righteous man availeth much.

Please remember our daughter in prayer. 

She recently had surgery and is having complications. 

 The surgeon thinks he may have to operate again. 

 I know that God answers prayers. 

Please remember her in your prayers.  

And thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Have a Blessed day,

Trisha

Isaiah Chapter 55, Verse 1

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,

and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat;

yea, come, buy wine and milk without money

and without price.

This is one of my favorite Bible verses. 

  If salvation cost money, many of us would be left out.

   I am so glad it is a free gift from God. 

 Jesus Christ paid for it a long time ago.

Thank You Lord, for the gift of salvation. 

Psalm 8

1. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.

2. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

3. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;

4.  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

5.  For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

6.  Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:

7.  All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;

8.  The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

9.  O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! 
                                                                                                                                           Psalm 8

A Favorite Bible Verse

  
   But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

1st. Peter 5:10

I Found an Interesting Bible Prophecy Blog

I found an interesting Bible Prophecy Blog and would like to share it with you, check it out if you would like to.
 http://www.johnmcternan.name/

I have only read a little of it, but I watched him on TV, he seems to be well informed.   If you check him out, let me know what you think.

Many Blessings

Old Bibles from the 1800's

Old Bibles from 1847 and 1858

  This morning we were surprised with a wonderful gift from my childhood friend, Brenda, who is visiting from Nebraska.  Her dad is in the hospital and needs prayer.  She and her husband Ron drove down from Nebraska last night, so she could see her dad.

   She brought us these two old Bibles.  We haven't read any Bibles this old, and find that they are so interesting.  What a Blessing.

These Bibles contain books that are not included
in our Bibles, as well as commentaries.

These Bibles are very large, about
the size of todays Family Bibles

This old cross stitch and Bible verse cards were in one of the old Bibles.  The cross stitch has the smallest stitching, I have ever seen.  The Bible verses read differently than our Bibles, but appear to have the same meaning.   We can hardly wait to read more in the old Bibles.

This is just beautiful, and still has some of the old tissue paper stitched to the back of it.  We will treasure the old Bibles and little extras always.  But more than that we will treasure our friends even more. 





Scoffers Shall Come in the Last Days

   Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
   And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?  for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 
   For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
   Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
   But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition fo ungodly men.
   But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
   But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.  
2nd.  Peter Ch. 3 Vs. 3-10
(Lately, I have been amazed at how many people we know are acting like the Lord is slack concerning his coming.  Our church crowd was way off this morning, some were actually sick, but many were just sleeping in, sure the crowd no doubt will pick up tonight, but the children are the ones who are missing out, there won't be Sunday School classes tonight.  Children need to be taught about the Lord, sleeping in and missing Sunday School and church are not good teaching methods.  We live in perilous times, and the Bible tells us not to forsake the assembly of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, and so much more so, as we see the day approaching.)  Please remember our church in prayer.  Many Blessings.

The Bible Says



Man's Life is as a Shadow

  We took a walk through the field behind our house today.  The sunshine was warm and beautiful, so nice for the end of January.  I usually take my camera, in case we come across something I want to take a pictures of.  We saw crows flying over, a grasshopper that had just hatched out, a lady bug and a spider, but nothing that really caught my eye until we started home.  I kept watching our shadows, along side us, and began to think about how the Psalmist David, Job, and others wrote about our lives.
 All that lived before us were as a shadow, as well as we.  David and Job cast a Godly shadow, and so must we.




From the KJV Bible

Psalm 144:4
4.  Man is like to vanity:  his days are as a shadow that passeth away.

Job 7-1, 9
7.  Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth?  are not his days also like the days of an hireling? 
9.  (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:)

God is our Refuge

Psalm 46
1.  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
3.  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.
                                                                                                                                                Selah.
4.  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.
5.  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved:  God shall help her, and that right early.
6.  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved:  he uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7.  The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.    Selah.
8.  Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.
9.  He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire.
10.  Be Still, and know that I am God:  I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
11.  The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
                                                                                     Selah. 

Rags to Riches

   But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
(Isaiah ch. 64 v-6)

   Let not your heart be troubled:  ye believe in God, believe also in me.
   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.
(John ch. 14 v-1,2,3)  

    And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl:  and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
   And I saw no temple therein:  for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
   And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it:  for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
   And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:  and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
(Revelation ch. 21 v-21,22,23,24)

As the word says, our righteousness is as filthy rags.  But when we are drawn to the Lord by the Holy Ghost, and confess our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then we become far richer than possessing any amount of money, because we become heirs to the Kingdom of God.  And that is the best 'Rags to Riches' story I know of.

And the Preacher Said.

I asked the preacher for a Bible verse that was on his heart, this is what he read to me: 

   And Moses said unto God, behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, the God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, what is His name?  What shall I say to them? 
   And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:  and He said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel,  I AM hath sent me unto you.
  
Exodus 3: 13-14

It is good to know who God is.

A Bit of the Book

The Holy Bible

A Bit of the Book in the Morning,

to order my onward way.

A Bit of the Book in the evening,

to hallow the end of the day.

                by:  Margaret E. Sangster