Driving took us almost as long as it used to on horseback!

Me...3 or 4 years old...a rest stop on the way home.*

Actually, that's an exaggeration. (And that's an understatement!) We were setting out for another visit to the Tsachi church.  From the house we stay at in Santo Domingo, it usually takes 5 to 10 minutes to reach the main highway.  This time it took an hour! We were part of a several-miles-long "caravan" snaking along at a snail's pace. We tried to relax and enjoy the lovely sunset splashed over the darkening sky.  We figured our Enemy wanted us to get all "hot and bothered"...so we just figured we wouldn't.  (Once we reach the highway, it's about a half-hour drive to the church.)

That morning we had read Psalm 90:16-17:  "Let your servants see what You're best at - the ways You rule and bless your children.  And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us, confirming the work that we do. Oh, yes.  Affirm the work that we do." It helped to remember the words.
                              ***********************************

We were a little late, but we slipped into the comfortable atmosphere of the church...and time seemed to stand still. They don't worry about finishing at a set time, so we don't when we're there.

Speaking for a few minutes, I asked them about some of the wild animals that had been around when I was a little girl.  Are there still agoutis? armadillos? ocelots? monkeys? jaguars? parrots? snakes?  deer?...Snakes still live there, but there are no monkeys, deer  or jaguars anymore, and the other animals are only found every once-in-a-while.

How things have changed! Time and "civilization" encroach on their habitat...and encroach on our memories. But I reminded them that some things never change...like our God and his love and mercy.
                               *****************************************

My husband's message touched on Wycliffe, one of the first brave men God used to open people's eyes to the errors of the then-Catholic Church, helping to pave the way for believers to have God's Word in their own languages.  He spoke clearly and simply about the necessity we have, now that we can understand it in our own tongue, to obey what the Bible tell us - how God wants us to relate to Him.

Then on to the post-service "social hour":  eating Banana Bread, getting an impromptu massage, speaking for a little video - a theology student's assignment, being given some finger bananas and oranges to bring home...and talking. My friend Carán has bad arthritis in her hands, so I had taken with me a menthol-based pain-relief gel for her to try.  (I use it daily for some of my pains.)  Of course, other ladies came to see...and I ended up with "orders" for a number of tubes of the stuff!  (The company should give me a commission!) We left the church, encouraged and looking forward to the next visit.
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                     Thank You, Lord, for being able to live the reality of this verse:

                            "Let your servants see what You're best at -
                              the ways You rule and bless your children."  (Psalm 90:16)            

                                               *******************


(*No, I didn't ride bareback.  My dad just sat me up there for a picture.  You can see his writing on the bottom part.  "In San Miguel" - which was where we would spend the night before starting the second day on horseback to reach home.)

"Two Prayers" (a 46-year-old poem)

The Pharisee and the publican...what kind of sheep is each one?  I know, that's a weird question, but it evolved as I was going off on a tangent this morning!

I had slept very badly, and awoke way too early. I went ahead and started the day and got a cup of coffee (which I don't like, but...it works.) I read my devotionals, then let God know how I felt.  Which was "lousy"!  I'm still sick, and I really need Him to help me figure things out. ("Please! This isn't easy!  I need You so much.")

After breakfast, I opened the daily devotional that we read aloud.  It started with this verse:

"I Myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD.  I will search for the lost and bring back the strays.  I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice." (Ezekiel 34:15-16)  (Oh, my! Thanks, Lord!)

Two different kinds of sheep...illustrating two kinds of people...hmm...and I remembered this poem I wrote when I was 17 years old. ("Youth in Action" magazine had a creative writing contest, and I sent this in...and won second prize.)

Remember, I was only 17, so it may not seem so terribly profound and earth-shaking!  (Actually, the first prayer has a lot of whimsical satire!) But somehow it matched the verse I read this morning.  Here it is:

                                              TWO PRAYERS

                                       Here I am, Lord - in person!
                                       your servant so humble;
                                       I've not come to mumble
                                       a word to the air,
                                       but to lift up my voice,
                                       so choked with emotion;
                                       religious devotion
                                       resounds through my prayer.
                               
                                       I'm sure that You realize
                                       why it is I here stand,
                                       and with uplifted hand
                                       pour my heart out to Thee.
                                       My brothers must see
                                       of obedience a sample...
                                       What better example
                                       to follow than...me?

                                      See that man in the corner!
                                      He must be quite poor,
                                      kneeling down on the floor -
                                      why, he's praying!
                                       I thank You, oh Lord,
                                       that I'm not like that fellow,
                                       a big streak of yellow
                                      who hides what he's saying.

                                       And he's down by a pillar
                                       where no one can see him!
                                       Oh, Lord, should I free him
                                       from being so blind?
                                       So simple his thoughts are,
                                       no meaning his words bear.
                                       If You want a good prayer,
                                       just listen to mine!

                                       That's all for today, Lord;
                                       tomorrow's oration
                                       same time and same station
                                       I'll be here to give.
                                       Oh, please bless the Mrs.
                                       and all of our kin.
                                       By the way, thanks again
                                       for the good life I live.
                                               ________

                                   
                                        Oh, Lord, I deserve not
                                         thy presence to seek.
                                        You're strong and I'm weak.
                                         Show me mercy!
                                         I'm just a beginner,
                                         an unworthy sinner;
                                         but, Lord, to thy servant
                                         show mercy!
                                 **************************** - Becky Rhon

 The publican is the "injured" and "weak" sheep, who is promised personal care by his Shepherd, and the Pharisee is the "fat" and "strong" one.  Although "fatness" tends to mean prosperity, in the Bible it can, as it does here, refer to a prosperity that results in a hard heart and makes one forget God. (And if you have loved ones who are of the "lost" and "stray" sheep, take heart!  God will continue to search for them and "bring them back"!)                            
                                           *********************

                                   Jesus, thank You for being my Shepherd! 
                                            Thank You for tending me, 
                                      Thank You for showing me mercy.

"Alternative facts" aren't new...(but some are funny!)

Do you know what language Adam and Eve spoke? The Serpent? How about God?  Apparently, a man named Andrew Kempe (who lived in the 17th century) figured it all out.  His conclusion:

God spoke to Adam and Eve in Swedish, Adam replied in Dutch, and the Serpent tempted Eve in French.

I read recently that a Middle Eastern legend thought differently.  According to the legend, Adam and Eve spoke in Persian, the Serpent seduced Eve in Arabic, and Gabriel kicked them out of the Garden of Eden in Turkish.
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In the same century, an orientalist presented a paper with his calculations of how tall some of the famous Old Testament men were.  According to him, Adam was 140 feet tall, Noah was 50 feet tall, Abraham was 40 feet tall, and Moses was 25 feet tall (comparatively a runt!).
                                         *******************************

These two may not have considered themselves liars; after all, if they said it, it must be true! (Sound like someone we know?)  Of course, "alternative facts" have been around since the beginning!  The Serpent introduced the practice (if not the euphemism)...and mankind has never been able to disentangle himself from it.  Again and again the Word of God speaks to us about making the effort to overcome it.  For example: "Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body."  (Ephesians 4:25)
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But let's cheer up! There are fabulous promises for the future.  As believers, we can look forward to a time when we won't have to worry about falsehood and deception being such an almost-inextricable part of life.  Imagine, once Jesus returns and once we begin the rest of Eternity in Heaven...

"They will never tell lies or deceive one another.  They will eat and sleep in safety, and no one will make them afraid,"  (Zephaniah 3:13)

And...                 "Nevertheless we, according to His promise,
                                            look for new heavens
                           and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."  (II Peter 3:13)
                                              ******************

Father, help us keep on a straight course, living honestly, as You want, and persevering in the hope You give us through your amazing promises.   YOU ARE AWESOME!          
             
                       

"Stand Brave!" ...a poem for when we're not

I was "down"...really "down"!  Too many things seemed to have accumulated, pressing me farther and farther toward "the pits".  It had started with something like a virus or bacteria - but in installments!  I'd get over one symptom, and another would attack, instead of getting them all at the same time.  Week after week.  Not so easy when I already struggle with several chronic illnesses.  Then one morning several other things launched themselves at my mind...particularly, not being able to do so many things I would love to do...that I feel I need  to do...all because of my health  It wasn't easy on  my good husband, and we had quite a time talking, when suddenly he said to me, "We've been looking at this from the wrong perspective."

It became obvious:  our Enemy was having a great time discouraging me...and succeeding!  Then, as Psalm 78:35 says, "And...they remembered that God was their Rock."  After Germán's heartfelt prayers, I started feeling better and better.  Soon...my physical ailments remained, but I had been pulled up...onto my Rock. 

                                                  Stand Brave!

                                       Help me!  My foot's slipping
                                       as pain and fear mock.
                                       "Child, you can't stand firm
                                       unless you stand on the Rock."

                                       So, hand and voice might tremble,
                                       and my knees might knock,
                                       but I can still stand brave...
                                       if I can just reach the Rock.

                                       Lucifer laughs
                                       when my pathway seems blocked,
                                       but he scowls as I skirt it,
                                       still aimed for the Rock.

                                       He smiles
                                       when my path on this shore erodes...
                                       til he sees the courage
                                       your Grace bestows.

                                       He's dismayed
                                       as he watches me grow more bold,
                                       and he fumes
                                       as the powers of your Grace unfold;

                                       for, though the sand where I step's
                                       undermined with each wave,
                                       You pull me up onto the Rock -
                                       and I can now stand brave!
                                                                                                   ----Becky Rhon
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The psalmist wrote:

"Be my Rock of refuge, to which I can always go."  (Psalm 71:3)

"To You, LORD, I call; You are my Rock."  (Psalm 28:1)

"He will set me high upon a Rock."  (Psalm 27:5)
                       *****************************************

Two verses which give us really good advice, especially when "Lucifer laughs":

"Trust the LORD forever, for in God the Lord, we have an everlasting Rock." (Isaiah 26:4)

                              "O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,
                        let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation."  (Psalm 95:1)

A little poem...to clutter!

I had packed away our household "stuff", as we were to be away from home for at least a year, and renters would live here. Returning from this furlough,  I was unpacking in the game room, piling "stuff" up as I emptied boxes and barrels.  Frustrating -  but unavoidable - clutter. So I wrote a little poem:

       The ping-pong table's still piled high.
       The baskets, boxes, games and books
       wait idly to be organized,
       ignoring my accusing looks,
       and deaf to reason as I say,
      "Why don't you put yourselves away?"

(I never gave it a title.  What do you suggest?)
                                        *************************************

I've sometimes wondered how neat Jesus would have kept His room...if He'd even had one to worry about!  At any rate, this post isn't about being neat or messy.  Personally, I like having things sort of organized, but my house is very rarely "as neat as a pin"!  One can go to extremes either way, right?

Just one quick comment, in the form of a little story I read.  A little boy noticed that a new family was moving in next-door.  Seeing that they had a little girl about his age, he went over to her and said, "My name's Johnny.  What's yours?"  And she answered, "My name is No-no-don't touch."  The poor little girl couldn't even relax in her own house, for fear of messing it up or breaking something.
                                        ***************************************

Remember what Jesus said to Martha when she complained about all the housework she had to do...unaided by her sister, who was listening to Jesus?  He didn't say the housework wasn't important, just that priorities should be kept straight. "Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."  (Luke 10:42)

 Even more important than clutter (or not) in our surroundings is a heart uncluttered with things that restrict our communion with God (and others).

"Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the LORD.  See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many."  (Hebrews 12:14,15)

"The camp must be holy for the LORD your God moves around in your camp to protect you and to defeat your enemies.  He must not see any shameful thing among you,, or He will turn away from you."  (Deuteronomy 23:14)

So if God Himself lives in us to "protect us and defeat our enemies", we'd be fools to not aim for the purity of heart without which we would be pretty much left on our own.  Impossible to attain?  Maybe...IF it weren't for the fact that He makes it possible."

"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."  (Hebrews 4:16)

"But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  (I Corinthians 15:57)
                                       ******************************************

        Father, thank You for loving us so much that You refuse to leave us on our
                         own as we strive to have an uncluttered heart!



               

Lovely memories in a time of upheaval? Yes!

A couple more pictures of Germán with grandkids...and Silly String...and laughs and fun.  (How come Eli didn't get any on him? Only Abuelito and Liliana were hit.)

 Noe got more of a head-full!

Looking through pictures of our five cute grandchildren, we remember that in spite of all the political and moral upheaval going on in the U.S., our family, with our shared faith and values, is a God-structured anchor to true reality.

I found numerous Bible verses that I thought would be very pertinent to a description of Trump.  The temptation was there to add them here...but I decided I should not stoop to his level!

Just a couple of suggestions for him, things to keep in mind:

"What you say flows from what is in your heart." (Luke 6:45)

""A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered."  (Proverbs 17:27)

""Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity."  (Proverbs 21:23)
                 ************************

But...you know what?  It's not only Trump who should be much more careful what he says (and how he says it).  Especially when considering our interaction with our young children and grandchildren, we would do well to remember the above verses ourselves. Would we have any right to criticize his ethics, insults and massive ego if we don't watch our own ethics, refrain from insults, and remember that, as true followers of Jesus, we should be humble?  It's not always easy, but we have Someone ready to help us with His strength.  (Too bad Trump doesn't know Him the same way.)

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips."   (Psalm 141:3)

                                     ************************

They're crazy!...and I love them dearly!

One thing I really appreciate about our family is that no one is afraid to act a little loony sometimes! (Well, Dan didn't join in with a silly face, but I think he was too busy laughing at the other four!)  

The grandkids know how to be a little crazy, too.  (A little?)  What a joy to have all five of them in the same place for two weeks during the holidays, so we could interact personally.

  (If I'd had a picture of Steve and Debbie being "locos", I would have included it!)

***********************

We are so grateful to God for our children, children-in-law and grandchildren, that this verse resonates in our heart:  "Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, 'The Lord has done great things for them.'"  (Psalm 126:2)

**********************

Philosophizing millennia ago, Solomon mused, "I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.  That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil - this is the gift of God."  (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)

True joy is a gift of God, and is best absorbed and processed when we have a personal relationship with Him.  "You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Yes, there are times when we can't quite find His joy, but we can be sure that it hasn't disappeared.  In sadness and trials, we can remember what Job's friend told him about God: "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.'"  (Job 8:21)

**********************

Thank You, Father, for giving us your Joy...and our family!