Tuesday, September 18, 2018

AN ANGEL OPENED THE DOOR

Lauren Daigle--Trust in You

This has been a week of tragedy across the United States.  Hurricane Florence has destroyed much property; and the resulting floods have swept away houses, cars, and everything in its path.  Then there have been explosions in the Boston area destroying houses and taking another young life. Closer to home a young fifteen year old boy was killed on the railroad tracks when a train couldn't stop. 

What can we do?  We can pray and we can meditate on the Word of God.  Praise music can help.  Music by Lauren Daigle, in the above You Tube, was recommended to me at Bible study today.   I read this blog about growing your prayer life.  In hard times the only place we have to go is to God. 

Also, I listened to "Seeking Him", a 1 minute commentary on how sometimes God does miracles. You can find it here. The men were in a desperate situation and an angel opened the door for them.  Maybe God won't open a door but will do something other than what we were expecting.   It's all about growing in faith. My favorite chapter in the Bible is Hebrews 11:


Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two,[a] they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.


39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.



I love the music of Keith and Kristyn Getty








Friday, September 7, 2018

FIRE FIGHT



The summer of 2018 has been one of the worst fire seasons in California.  One of the notable fire fighting teams is from America Samoa.  They are all Christians. They sing and worship God as they fight the fires.  Above is a short video of a news story.  The first hymn they sing is "What a Friend we have in Jesus." For the lyrics click here.  To hear the story on World Magazine click here .

Saturday, September 1, 2018

GROVETON HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH THE YEARS

I think Wandra posted this at the picnic in 2011

As I sit next to my open office window with the gentle breeze caressing me, I contemplate my life. I marvel that I've made it this far-- 3/4's of a century.  There have been many changes during this time. People of our age had more cars with stick shifts than automatic transmissions.  And now we are facing the age of the self driving car.  We had our radios and black and white movies; then came black and white TV followed closely by both in color.  Computers have gone from room size to the smallest that will fit in a pocket.  Now we have computers in phones, watches, refrigerators, and just about everything, including humans.  We've seen a man walk on the moon and plant an American flag.  (I think the U. S. could colonize the moon and Mars.  My brothers always hoped that we would.)   

The adjustments in my life have been many as well.  At Groveton I didn't make cheerleading! I wasn't asked to the senior prom. (Now with the sexual revolution happening that was a good thing!) I was chosen for several parts in Tiger Theatre productions.  I was made business manager of the Tiger Rag.  Mrs. Lindberg chose me as her assistant and told me that I should major in PE in college. I received a BA from EWU and taught school ( 3 years.) I married and had 2 children. Now I have 3 grandchildren. I've lost my older brother (accidental death) and younger sister (cancer), both GHS grads.  I came down with fibromyalgia.  Of course 9/11. I've traveled all over the world by plane, train, car, bus, cruise ship, le truck, and sailboat.  Through it all, by God's grace, I've learned to be content.  

My family's move to Virginia,  my experiences at Groveton High School, and the people who have kept in touch through reunions, have been a blessing.  I could name names (you know who you are)  but I may leave somebody out.  I will just post the pictures.  I was a lost Groveton High School classmate from 1961 until 1991 and then again in 1996.  Maybe you were a lost classmate also.   
 GHS class of 1961 graduation

 GHS 1961

GHS 1961

 GHS '61 Reunion 1991

GHS Class of 1961 Reunion 1991



GHS reunion 1996 


Pam League, Pat Lewis, Sandra Shelton

 2001 class of '61 reunion 

2001 Jeanne, Stina, Nancy, Bobbi


2001 Mt. Eagle Elementary reunion

1958 to 1964 reunion 2001 Claudia


GHS band alums and Mrs. Tabor 2001



Carol and Barry 2001



2001 Dody, Anne, Rita

2001 Jeanne and husband


2001 Belle, Chuck


2001 Karen, Shelby, Patty, Stina


2001 Jeanette, Jackie


2001 Freddi Ann, Jackie


2001 Jack


2001 Jack, Sue, Nancy, Jackie, Freddi Ann


2001 Sue, Shelby, Chuck

2001 Karen and Freddi Ann

2001 Carolyn, Douglas, Nancy

2001 Beverly Barrett and husband

2001

Jamie White, Karen Vest, Sue 2001

 GHS '61 reunion 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

 2005

2005


2005

2005


GHS class of '61 reunion 2011


2011


2011

2011

2011


2011 Classmates who attended Belleview Elementary


2011


2011


2011

2011 

2011

2011

2011

2011

 2011

2011

2011


2011

We have lost many of our Groveton classmates along the way.  I pray that they have all made peace with God through Jesus so that we can have a big reunion in Heaven.