Issue 4 Tell it on the Mountain

Issue 4 July/August 2011

ell it on the Mountain Inspiration for Today

Love is diminished when Pride Rises up Prodigal Son.... Prodigal Me Life is Like a Cup of Coffee I Wish Things That Make Me MAD “Even if you can't take me . . .�

As Arrows In the Hand of a Warrior Will There be a Tomorrow?

The Lost Art of Dirty Fingernails Staying Modest & Cool in Summer My Refuge Go to Church or Be the Church 5 questions Christians should ask themselves before logging on 7 Ways to Breathe Life into the Words you release Plus more . . .

Welcome Back Friends,

Guest List

Glad to be able to present another Uplifting filled issue of “Tell it on the Mountain”!

Toni Birdsong

We have a few more Inspiring writers to introduce you to! I'm so excited to have them share their thoughts with us! Check them out and be sure to send them a note of encouragement! You can do so through their link if available or through us, here at tellitonthemountain@live.ca Please put name of writer in the subject area of your email and I will be sure to forward it on to them.

We would love for you all to send in pictures, stories, etc. of places you toured this summer!

Won't you share your excitement?

Please submit your articles, pictures, recipes, etc to tellitonthemountain@live.ca We want to spread your inspiration with others. Don't forget to write “Submission” in the subject area of your email.

Mike Campagna Paul Cheng Gregg Harris

(Barbara Brewster)

Tami Heim Jeff Larson Mahina Mike Messerli Guy Myers

Deadline August 17, 2011.

Blessings to you all,

Holly Myers Rina Peru

Deanne MacBurnie ps: Remember to read through to the end . . . .

Lots of great stuff to ponder! :0) Introducing Shaun Groves' New CD

Click link below to listen: http://soundcloud.com/shaungroves/sets/third-world-symphony Third World Symphony by Shaun Groves. Album releasing August 30, 2011.

Purchase from shaungroves.com or iTunes.

Craig Scognamiglio Christa Wells Marie Wikle ChipAway WoodWorking Kim Winter's Photography OutFlow Ministry Shaun Groves Spreading Joy Corp

I Wish

by Marie Wikle

I wish I knew what was going on I wish you’d let me see I wish I could bring you smiles Just the way that you do me I wish I could melt the hurt away I wish you’d let me in I wish for you great happiness And that your heart will soar high again I wish away the sorrow I wish away the dread I wish you a thousand blessings Upon your life instead I wish you every kindness I wish you joy and peace I wish you amazing laughter And great love that’s within reach I wish these great things for you And even a million more And for every one that’s granted you I wish for hope restored.

What do you wish for??

Have you ever wanted to help someone and didn’t know what to say or do? ? What did you do??? http://www.spreading-joy.org Dandelion Wish image by ~dedpan

Go to Church or Be the Church

by Guy Myers Ks

A

lot of people today say they don't have to go to church to worship God. They can just go out in the woods and worship God just the same as going to a building. The problem with that statement is that it is true, but it is also false. As a Christian, can I go out in the woods and worship God? The answer is yes! In fact, I can worship God anywhere. I can worship God in my car or on top of a mountain or in the belly of a fish like Jonah did.

On the other hand, there are a couple of problems with this statement. The first question I would ask is, “What does God want?” We are supposed to be worshipping God not ourselves! Often when people make this statement it's because they don't want to go to church, but God wants us to go to church. Contrary to what our society says, God does not worship us! Many people think God should bow to our every wish, but there's a difference between a God and a genie.

Every time someone becomes a christian, they become a child of God. As a Father, I want my children to love one another and enjoy one another.

God, being a much better father than any of us, desires the same thing. Jesus said, “In my father's house there are many rooms. I go and prepare a place for you, that where I am, you may be also.”

So all Christians are going to live together for eternity. Maybe we could get together a few times a week in the mean time. Just, by the way, what DOES God want? He tells us in the Bible. Our Father commands us to, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving in our heart, enter His courts with praise!”

Another reason the enough is that when deny the definition definition of church?

woods argument isn't good we remain by ourselves we of church. What is the Is the church the building we

go to on Sunday? We call it a church but that's not the Bible's definition of church. The Bible tells us that the church is everyone who is a Christian. So when you become a christian you become part of the church. Now that's interesting because according to God's definition of church, if I go out into the woods with a bunch of other Christians, we're having church, but if I go out in the woods by myself, I'm only part of the church. It's not a very good sign if part of the church doesn't want to have anything to do with the rest of the church . . . that would make me wonder if they truly were a Christian (1 Jn 2:19). That would be like a man who says he really loves His wife, but won't spend any time with her.

So, if you call yourself a Christian and you really are, then you are part of the church and you need to get together with other parts of the church so you can be the church.

What does God want us to do when we get together? He wants us to worship Him. God's word tells us that He inhabits praise. Inhabit means to dwell in. What a picture! Christians come together to form a house that God dwells in.

Are you part of the house or are you out in the woods?

1 Peter 2:4 “As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men, but in the sight of God, chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Life is Like a Cup of Coffee Spiritual Story by Unknown

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor.

Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life......,,,, Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...

And then you began eyeing each others cups.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live.

Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee.

Savor the coffee, not the cups!

The happiest people don't have the best of everything.

They just make the best of everything.

Live simply.

Love generously.

Care deeply. Speak kindly.

More Info About The Author Of This Spiritual Story

The author of this spiritual story is unknown and greatly appreciated. If you know who wrote this, or can provide a source that I can cite, then please contact me and let me know! http://www.Spiritual-Short-Stories.com

5 questions Christians should ask themselves before logging On

by Toni Birdsong Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. ~John 14:12

Nations will come to your Light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. - Isaiah 60:3 We are God’s beloved. We are heaven’s people; the blood-bought, Calvary claimed sons and daughters of the Most High King. We are the rescued ones empowered by the Holy Spirit to cover even greater earthly ground for the gospel than Christ himself.

But do we really get what that means?

Better yet: Do believe it?

If so, we should log online each day with the untamable expectation that through our words, ideas, and interactions, Jesus Christ will be seen. When we truly believe and live out Jesus’ words in John 14:12, then The Great Commission stops being an ideal and becomes a personal, burning, reachable charge.

5 questions to consider before you log on today: 1. What’s my plan and purpose for being online?

Are you wandering around aimlessly, casually

posting minus a biblical filter? Are you chatting on and on without a point? Stop. Be quiet.

Pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to anoint you with a purpose and lead you in a plan for your online time.

2. Am I majoring in the minors?

Do you spark conflict, whine, complain, judge, make sarcastic comments, post random nothings, or criticize others? If so, you you’ve lost sight The Great Commission and the amazing opportunity to share the gospel in the online space. Log off. Get into the word. Ask God to anoint your thoughts, eyes, and words.

3. Would Jesus approve of how I spend my online time?

Not every click needs to be about sharing your faith, however, every click does need to align with the teachings of Christ. Please—be interesting, funny, creative, diverse, and opinionated—just don’t allow the “you” to clash with holiness and majesty of your King. Yes, the temptation is great so ask God for help.

4. Am I influencing culture or is culture influencing me?

Are you fixed in your purpose and standing your ground or are you easily (or subtly) swayed by the cultural banter, music, opinions, news stories, and assortment of morals swirling around you? If you’re confused about the biblical view of a controversial issue or idea —or if you are emotionally charged—don’t post!

Log off. Breathe.

Search the Scriptures. Pray.

Continued on next pg . . .

5 questions Christians should ask themselves before logging on cont . . .

5. Does my digital footprint point others toward heaven?

If you added up your posts, comments, photos, profiles, tweets and “likes,” would they point others toward heaven or confuse them about who Jesus is and why He came?

Remember, you can’t make a difference in this world unless you are different.

Your Sunday worship doesn’t need to end abruptly when you show up in the world on Monday.

Don’t hoard the Love that saved your life.

Be brave. Stand apart.

Be the light in the darkness so that others will be able to recognize and encounter the person of Jesus Christ.

Do you struggle with any of these questions?

Can you add a question/s to our list?

Post/tweet this today: Don’t hoard the Love that saved your life. Be brave. Stand apart. Be a light in the darkness. #LiveSticky

Don’t stop here! Learn how to lead, influence, engage, and share your faith on social networks— like Jesus. Purchase @stickyJesus: how to live out your faith online, today! Check out the buzz on @stickyJesus, here!

https://www.facebook.com/stickyJesus

Who & Why @stickyJesus . . . exists to equip you, the Christ follower, to confidently live out your faith in the digital world. We're here to infuse biblical perspective and daily inspiration into your online time.

We'll help you grow your technical know-how so you can share the sticky love of Jesus Christ with others. We're teaching, listening, and collaborating with a fired-up community of digital scribes about culture, social media, and the kind of relationship building that will outlive cyberspace. Are you in? ___________________

Digital Scribes

@tonibirdsong

I love the spoken word, the written word, and the everlasting Word.

That God would tap a misfit like me to communicate His sticky message of love to others is proof of His amazing grace. It's my joy to help you dig up, demystify, and, debunk the tech speak so together, we can #LiveSticky online—for Him. Here's a little more of my story.

@tamiheim

I’m a child of the liberating King; soaked in grace, living to serve, and loving others along the way. I long for the utter relief of holiness and grateful I’ve not been left here to get there on my own. Believing whole-heartedly that He qualifies the called, I’ve accepted this assignment as a digital scribe for such a time as this. Here's a little more of my story.

7 Ways to Breathe Life into the words you release

by Tami Heim

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgement for every empty word they have spoken.

For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

Matthew 12:36-27 , NIV The idea that what you write and say doesn’t matter, is simply not true. Your words carry with them the power to bring life and truth or take them both away.

A day doesn’t pass where your words aren’t influencing the thinking, behaviour, or development of another person. You create, lead, and influence with the words you release. Think about the last words you deposited in lives of your spouse, kids, parents, friends, boss, colleagues, staff, or even the last comment you posted in a rambling digital stream of conversation.

Are you ready to be accountable for every one of them? Even the ones you easily dismiss as casual or insignificant?

With your words something begins or continues. A simple or brief post, tweet, text, or status update can have an immediate impact on someone’s day. When you deliberately select lifegiving words and multiply them over time, God uses them to ignite life-change. Use discernment, be intentional, and rethink the value of each word you are about to give away.

7 Ways to ensure you breathe

life into the words you release…

1. Acknowledge God. Make mention of Him often and speak of His presence in your life. People are seeking to be connected to something bigger and you’ve access to the biggest and best of all creation.

Acknowledging Him often keeps you aware of His presence and your accountability.

It is written: ‘as surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God. ~ Romans 14:11 2. Praise God in all things.

Be quick to offer praise regardless of your circumstances.

The drift of life changes, as He inhabits your praise.

This attitude in all things transforms every situation. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father ~ James 3:9 Continued on next page . . .

7 Ways to Breathe Life into the words you release cont. . .

3. Give thanks. Show gratitude and communicate your appreciation. ‘Thank you” affirms the value of people and the situations you encounter.

Gratitude brings a spirit of calm and confidence to you and those around you.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~Philippians 4:6 4. Offer instruction. Share your knowledge and be helpful whenever you discover a need for what you know. Knowledge given is power amplified.

If you have the answer or an important insight, contribute.

Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ~ Colossians 3:16 5. Speak encouragement. Look for the good in situations, take the high road, and find ways to lift someone’s spirit. Practice being a lifter, not a leaner. Pay attention to those around you.

Listen and help them see a possibility that might be too hard for them to see on their own.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion ~ Philippians 2:11 6. Profess your faith.

Don’t hesitate to let others know where you stand and what you believe. The faith many are searching for is living in you.

Your passion and belief in what can’t readily be seen, may provide the wings another person needs to soar.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.~Romans 10:10 7. Share hope.

Look for opportunities to share the story of your life and how different it is now that Christ consumes it. Be ready at all times to be the voice and hand of hope.

You’re a brand new possibility in Christ–a light to be seen with truth to be heard.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. ~ Acts 1:8

What are some of the most life-giving words someone has spoken to you online?

Choose words that release a life-giving fragrance and impress a beautiful image on the souls of others. #LiveSticky Follow @stickyJesus

To learn more, see “Who & Why” section

Things That Make Me

MAD

By Mike Campagna

You've been MAD before! Sure you have! Are you MAD now?

(I hope not at me.)

It's interesting the whole subject of being MAD or going from not being MAD to being MAD and what causes "MADNESS" (not insanity) to overtake us.

When I stub my toe, I get MAD! I say, "Who left that stupid book on the floor?"

When the guy driving in front of me is going too slow, I get MAD! I say, "Doesn't he know the speed limit?"

When my favorite baseball player drops the ball, I get MAD! I say, "Fire the manager!" :P And then there are other things that make me MAD! When people lie.

When people take advantage.

When people don't follow through like they promised.

When people ridicule.

When people judge without all the information.

Come to think of it, there are just a whole lot of things that make (and can make) me MAD! (It's making me MAD just thinking about it.)

And I guess the point is, that I need to be MAD at the right things and . . .

FORGIVE! FORGIVE! FORGIVE! I'm cooling off already. http://twitter.com/#!/blogboy2

Do you have an

INSPIRATIONAL STORY TO SHARE?

We would love to hear from you!

Send your submissions to tellitonthemountain@live.ca for consideration.

In subject line write: Submission

Your story may end up right here!

“Even if you can't take me . . . “

by Christa Wells She’s nearly 16, but her face is un-made-up, baby soft. Her way of dressing, her way of carrying herself, not typical of her generation; she is both older and younger than her peers. At one moment she bashfully tucks herself behind her father – and then she can’t help herself, and her mouth opens and eyes search the tops of walls for words.

“I didn’t see how God could accept me…I’m so prideful, sinful, and I thought He might not take me…”

Hands, fingers move in the air and her eyes grow watery and red as the words tumble out…

“But I just thought: there’s nothing else out there. There’s nothing else worth living for. So I told Him: Even if you can’t take me, even if I’m not enough…I’m still going to serve you anyway, because You are the only thing worth living for…”

I was still on my feet, but my spirit wanted to sit down. My eyes were fixed on this beautiful creature standing in front of me, not yet out of the nest, unable to commit heinous crimes or live a life of outward depravity. But she knows her heart and is certain of her unworthiness before a holy God. But it wasn’t even that…It was the second part:

“Even if you can’t take me…I’m going to serve you anyway.”

Do I feel this way?

Is this the way we live?

Do I give myself to anything, not only not demanding a return…not only not expecting…but believing I do not

deserve?

Do we really, really believe that everything is gifted and not earned, grace? “For by grace you have been saved through

faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8) Will we keep making music, art, without awards or recognition?

Continued on next pg . . .

“Even if you can't take me . . . “ continued. . .

Will we prepare food if no one expresses gratitude for our efforts?

Will we wash the feet of people who seemingly have nothing to offer us, or people whose company we do not enjoy?

Will we remain faithfully at our post, during seasons where the fruit of our labor is unseen?

Do I agree with this young girl?

With this…

“For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”(Psalm 84:10) I want it to be true of me, that I live by this: Even if… yet I will serve you. ……………………………………………………………………

“Even if you can’t take me…”

And her father turned to her and said: “But…you couldn’t feel

that way if He hadn’t already taken you.” ………………………………………………………………………………

And my heart sang:

Glory to God, Glory to God… my life for the glory of God!

Click link below to listen!

http://www.reverbnation.com/christawells

http://www.christawellsmusic.com Click on this link to purchase Christa’s new album on Amazon

Will ?

?

?

There

?

? ?

?

be a

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Tomorrow?

?

?

?

?

?

?

By Paul P.K. Cheng

For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men are snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.

(Ecclesiastes 9:12) Joseph, Brian and Rick had all been hired at around the same time at an insurance company.

Shortly after Joseph was hired, he began to have car problems.

Once in a while, Brian would offer Joseph a ride home. Joseph learned that Brian loved to go skiing, bicycling and camping. Following doctors’ advice, Brian tried to stay physically active to control his weight and watch what he eats.

Whenever Brian had custody of his daughter for the weekends and holidays, he would make time to enjoy a day out with his little girl.

Rick soon grew tired of it. Rick’s real love was with his guns and going out to a shooting range on weekends with friends. On occasions he liked to show off to his co-workers photos of his gun collections and there were also gun magazines in his drawers.

One time in a conversation with Rick about religious matters, Joseph accidentally told Rick that guns were evil. Joseph didn’t mean to put it that way and may have gotten his thoughts twisted around. Actually, Joseph really meant to say that it wasn’t the guns that were evil but the person was the one responsible. Because Rick’s guns were personal to him, he didn’t like what Joseph had said. “You know what Joseph?” Rick upsettingly said, “If there was a choice between my guns or the Bible, I would choose my guns!”

Once, Joseph asked if Brian attends church. “I used to attend church with my mom when I was a kid but not anymore,” said Brian. “Since I have grown up, I have a mind of my own. I am a free thinker. As long as you don’t hurt anyone you’ll be just fine.” Joseph quickly learned that Brian wasn’t Sometimes Joseph, Brian and Rick would go comfortable whenever Jesus was mentioned in out lunch together. One time while eating their their conversations. lunch, seeing Joseph being the skinniest who Once in a while, Rick would also offer Joseph a ride home. Rick was very much overweight, and his diet and exercises didn’t help. Rick was single and still lived with his parents. Rick attended church only on special occasions like for Easter and Christmas. In the beginning, Rick didn’t mind Joseph bringing up Jesus in their conversation, but

could afford to eat whatever he liked, Brian and Rick became envious of Joseph. One conversation led to another and Brian felt he needed to justify that having more body fat would be an advantage for surviving the Continued on next page . . .

Will There be a Tomorrow? cont. . .

longest in the wilderness.

“Among the three of us, you would be the first to go because you are the skinniest,” Brian said to Joseph. “Then I am the next to go because I have more body fat than you but not as much as Rick.”

Rick quickly boasted, “Yip, and I would out live both of you since I have more fat than you both combined,” For the next moment, Brian and Rick continued to entertain themselves the idea that it was an advantage especially for a man to have more body fat while Joseph remained silent. Joseph regarded this as a silly conversation between the two which he would always remember.

Two years quickly came and went. Joseph returned to work on a Monday and Brian sadly told Joseph, “Did you hear? Rick’s parents came home and found him with a fatal gunshot wound to his chest.

He was in his room cleaning his guns.” Maybe it was one of those weekends when Rick was getting ready to go out with his buddies to the shooting range.

Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

(James 4:14) God can speak to us one way or another: through scriptures, through our dreams and through other people. It is also likely that the snapshots at various chapters in our life could eventually reveal a larger picture of God’s divine plan and purpose like the Biblical Joseph (Genesis 45:5-7). Because God’s timing is not our timing (2 Peter 3:8), what God may be revealing to us could even be weeks, months or years apart. So it may be helpful to keep a journal to see what picture God may be painting about our direction in life. Indeed “a picture is worth a thousand words”. But are we listening? Are we connecting the dots in our life?

Joseph certainly could never forget about the time that he had gotten to know his two co-workers who suddenly passed away. How could Joseph not think of what it might possibly mean for him? God revealed a picture to Joseph that nothing is certain about tomorrow except His will (James 4:15). So how might we make good the time we still have?

Time is short. It is better not to make the mistakes like some do, putting God last in life. Our time is in the hands of God.

Another year quickly came and went. It was a Notice in the story, the one who was supposed to Monday. Joseph was wondering why Brian hadn’t be last was the first and the first last...think about come in to the office yet and had already missed it. out on an important meeting. Then a co-worker later came to inform Joseph saying, “Brian’s exRemember how short my time is; wife called to tell me that he was at an amusement For what futility have You created all the park yesterday and was found unresponsive when children of men? What man can live and his roller coaster ride was over. Apparently he had not see death? Can he deliver his life from a heart attack and his daughter was with him.” the power of the grave?

Right away, Joseph knew that Brian was out (Psalm 89:47-48) having fun and enjoying the day out with his daughter. *** *** Brian and Rick went about doing what they planned for the weekends. Rick was preparing his guns to go out with his friends to the shooting range and Brian went about enjoying his day out with his daughter. But they never knew of their appointed day and time.

“Will There Be a Tomorrow?” is based on a real story.

Visit Paul at http://certaintyofgodslove.blogspot.com/

rises up

Love is diminished when pride

By Craig Scognamiglio http://www.deepintolove.com/

The venom of pride is lethal to love.

Lethal

Venom Without love there is no faith.

Without faith there is no heaven.

Without heaven only this life remains, and then death, and then worse.

Lethal‌ and not love.

Continued on next pg . . .

Love is diminished when pride rises up continued . . .

A confession…

For 16 of my 26 years as a Christian, I would place myself in situations destined for a fall.

I would think my faith to be superior, because my knowledge was so deep, and my relationship with God so intimate… that I could be where other men could not…

I could be with those that other men could not… and I wouldn’t fall… because I was better.

For 16 of my 26 years knowledge came first for me, humility came later – and at a great price.

Pride… borne of a desire to show oneself as a different breed… a better one…. a lie of first magnitude.

It was the original lie, from the original liar, and pride is only an imitation, only…

source

… at that.

Continued on next pg . . .

Love is diminished when pride rises up continued . . .

It is a reflection of evil – and the Evil One. Is this the reflection I want for myself?

A reflection of evil?

A reflection without love?

Pride diminishes love, and in the end, has no room for it.

Nature abhors a vacuum… and in the history of humanity… there has only been one irreplaceable person.

Aside from Our Lord, if were to erase the life of any one person ever to live, it would mean nothing to the flow of time and space and history.

Like water would rush into a river if a dam proved itself inadequate…

source …someone else would have stepped in to replace the missing piece.

Continued on next pg . . .

Love is diminished when pride rises up continued . . .

♥✞ღ Father in Heaven, You know how I once was so arrogant, so prideful, so lacking in humility.

I so wanted all of you, but lacked a most essential element.

Thank you for the crushing that squeezed out so much pride.

Thank you for the thorn that still keeps it at bay.

Thank you for keeping watch each day for your prodigal.

I’m sorry it has taken so long, for my spirit to be, as it should have been, so many years ago.

I’m grateful for the crushing, the defeat, the failure that destroyed me, so You could rebuild me.

Lord, you know I can speak, and write, and hide among the words.

Please keep my words only humble, only true.

Please keep my life a reflection of what I say I believe. Help me remain watchful because pride is an ever crouching lion in the tall grass – and a siren call beckoning sweetly into the arms of disaster.

Cause me to remember whose I am – not who I am.

Amen, and amen, and amen.

♥✞ღ

Caleb MacBurnie Age 13 NB, Canada

To place an order, please contact me at chipawaywoodworking@live.ca

Approx.

25”X 11”

Child's Pic-Nic Table

"There's no Joy like Spreading Joy" and helping you to make a difference by doing what you can, where you are - with what you have! http://www.spreading-joy.org facebook.com/spreadingJOYcorp

Signs and Lying Wonders

by Paul P.K. Cheng certaintyofdrawings.blogspot.com

Frank looked out his window on one frosty night and he saw a disk shaped metallic object hovering over his crop field and he took a picture of it before it quickly flew off into the night. Many have reported seeing UFOs or claim to have been abducted by aliens that left them only with recurring nightmares.

What about crop circles that some believe to have been formed over night in the cover of darkness?

People have claimed to have seen dancing lights that emanated from the sky over their crop fields at night. With closer examination, there was conclusive evidence that many of those circles could not have been created by hoaxers.

I don’t doubt in what people have witnessed and what they have experienced.

Let’s just say I have seen things you probably wouldn’t believe.

What I don’t believe is that we are being visited by aliens from another world and neither do I believe that the dead could come back to visit the living.

Rather, what we have been seeing are the works of Satan and it is his fallen nature to lie and to deceive us (John 8:44), for who is truly our adversary but the devil (1 Peter 5:8).

The works of Satan in the world is now preparing for the lawless one who is coming, and who will declare himself as God (2 Thessalonians 2:4).

The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, false signs, and lying wonders…(2 Thessalonians 2:9).

My Refuge

by Rina Peru

It is the enemy’s goal to fluster us so he could send us running and sulking in a corner, licking our wounds and letting misery take hold of us. He does everything in his power to drive us away from seeking the presence of the Lord, so we would give up and take cover in things that could give us instant pleasure and gratification. He tries to frustrate our plans, to ruin our day – He will do everything and use anything to keep us from worshipping the Lord.

But if we are wise, we can discern his schemes and defeat him at his own game: let him drive us to the feet of Jesus and there, seek relief and refreshing!

Do not let him drive us climbing the wall, distraught.

If he sees we are fleeing in utter defeat, he will only heap on us his whole storehouse of weapons, and before we know it, we can no longer rise from the sheer weight.

May we take a little while to look at the picture above?

That little star bravely appears in all its beauty.

Surrounded by the big petals, it seemed so small, but shines nonetheless.

If we take refuge in the Lord, we are like that little star: surrounded by His presence, His love and His power - nothing can touch us.

And we can bravely face the world and let our light shining brightly.

As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. (Psalm 125: 2) When the enemy tries his ploys on us,may we remember to run and take cover in the presence of the Lord, reviving ourselves in His peace, gaining spiritual power and obtaining victory on our knees!

Read more at http://rinaperu.com

What Makes a House a Home?

By Mike Campagna

http://twitter.com/#!/blogboy2

Before building, buying or remodelling, ask yourself what it takes to get that "at home" feeling. It's not just how a house looks that's important, but how you feel living in it day to day. Here are some ideas on how to make your house more homey.

Bigger is Not Always Better: Lofty ceilings can be dazzling, but daunting. It may be wiser to design flat ceilings at 9 or 10 feet high or tame a too-high cathedral ceiling by installing exposed, rafter-height beams of rough-hewn timber. Smaller rooms create feelings of intimacy, warmth and safety.

Furniture that Fits People: One measurement of a homey room is comfortable furniture — especially sofas and chairs. Keep in mind that people do not just sit on them. They also sit in them, curl up in them and stretch out in them.

Material Matters: Different interior materials evoke different emotional responses. It's not just the type of materials you use, but how much you use and in what combinations.

Telltale Heart: What really makes a home special are heirlooms, collections and framed family photographs exhibited where they can be appreciated every day.

As Arrows In the Hand of a Warrior

by Gregg Harris April/May 1986/The Teaching Home Dear Tell it on the Mountain Reader, When I had young children I was encouraged and challenged to read the following article, published 25 years ago by a man with two young children. Gregg Harris now has seven children. You can read some of what two of his sons have written by checking The Rebelution online at http://www.therebelution.com/ . You can hear Josh Harris in person in Prince Edward Island, Canada, August 25-28, 2011 http://www.gracebaptistchurchpe.ca/ I trust you will be encouraged and challenged.

-Barbara Brewster (Gregg Harris is the founder and director of Christian Life Workshop, Inc. Gregg and his wife Sono, teach their two sons at home in Gresham, Oregon.)

Thousands of soldiers stand in perfect lines on a dusty parade ground outside of Jerusalem. They form battalion after battalion, as far as the eye can see. In the heat of an afternoon sun, stern Hebrew generals command their captains to distribute the weapons. The army of Israel is going to war.

Solemnly, each captain approaches his band of soldiers. He issues a quiver of arrows to each, and in a tone of voice used only in time of war, he counsels him, “Aim these wisely. Make every arrow count.”

Perhaps King Solomon had such a scene in mind when he wrote, “Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth. How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them; they shall not be ashamed, when they speak with their enemies in the gates.” (Psalm 127:3-5) From this powerful military scene the wisest King ever to be born of an earthly father perceived the shadow of a larger warfare – a battle in which children are arrows to be aimed and launched from the skillful hands of their fathers.

Home schooling provides a context where parents who respond to God's call to live as Christ's soldiers can begin aiming their children at the real targets of Christian warfare. We

must have a larger vision for teaching our children at home than simply to avoid functional illiteracy.

Certainly, personal tutoring academically sharpens the point of our children better than the public classroom. True, a home practicing hospitality can develop more balanced social skills in children.

However, the question remains: What will this improved education and “socialization” accomplish? Are we aiming our arrows at different targets than public education is? A sharper arrow (improved academics) poorly aimed still pierces the wrong target!

lurks behind the abortion industry does not dismiss our obligation to speak with our enemies in the gates of civil power. We bring down strongholds through prayer and proclamation, while we open our homes to the mother in need of shelter. We pray for all those in authority, and then we elect them or reject them as the case requires. We live in both dimensions.

Children will always be pawns, casualties of weapons in the battle.

In God's plan, godly parents should be the ones to aim children as arrows. This requires a biblical strategy for training our children to The Bible clearly tells us that our be faithful as well as intelligent. children are issued to us by God as weapons to a warrior. Each child That biblical strategy should include has strategic potential. No wonder the practice of two biblical that God's enemies use every principles that combine to sharpen available means to steal the arrows the aim of home-schooling parents: from the Christian quiver. Should “touching of the palate,” and the church be surprised when “parental inclusiveness.” Though parents are wounded by the doubting these processes reflect the old adage, young members of their own “Character is more often caught than household? Who are these enemies taught, “it will be clear that each is a seeking to confiscate our arrows for necessary part of any sound strategy their own purposes? of Christian education. In closing, I will offer examples of Scripture and Our enemies are spiritual forces experience to show how these battling over the “high places” of principles can be employed in the this world.

These high places home-school. involve the hearts and minds of men, along with the thoughts and ideas Touching The Palate of The Child that shape their worldview. This One part of the process by which world's network of government, art, children are aimed at appropriate culture, business, military, and targets is revealed in Proverbs 22:6. religion is a spiritual battleground. “Train up a child in the way he Each area is a theatre of war. should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Although we must be armed with spiritual powers (see Eph. 6:10-18), The Hebrew word translated “train we cannot shirk our responsibility to up” is actually a figure of speech, confront the pawns of those spiritual forces. The fact that spiritual evil continued on next page . . .

As Arrows cont . . .

neighbors on either side were not eating the same great meals I was that can be translated “to dedicate a enjoying. desire by the touching of the palate.”

“Touching of the palate” is Later, in church, I met my wife, considered by many Hebrew who happens to be a beautiful, scholars to be a reference to a second-generation, American-born common scene in the Hebrew Japanese.

When Japan and household.

The mother would Birmingham met at the dining room “dedicate a desire” in her younger table, we had some negotiating to children for certain food by chewing do. At my house Sono would say, her own food carefully and then “Gregg, that is so greasy!” and at her discreetly reaching into her mouth house I would say, “Sono, that is for a dab of whatever was delighting raw.” Needless to say, neither of us her palate. This she would quietly wanted to depart from the things that touch to the palate of her child, had touched our palates. Appetites instilling in him a set of appetites endure. that would never go away.

The point is this, if we want to aim Note that the goal of the mother was our children at the target of living to dedicate a desire in the child, not godly as adults, we must carefully merely create a tolerance. The way instill godly appetites in them as a child was introduced to a new taste children. The dedication and nurture was important.

Harshness and of proper tastes will guide their insensitivity in touching a child's trajectory more than other influence. palate could result in a negative effect. Instead of yearning for more Therefore, our children must of the same, the young adult would learn early to “taste and see that avoid what had been “crammed the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). down his throat” as a child.

Proverbs 22:6 promises that proper How can parents capture the appetites instilled in the proper way tastebuds of the child's heart? God will not depart – even when he is tells us the way to touch a child's old. palate is to practice parental inclusiveness.

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a Deuteronomy calls us to include our reward. Like arrows in the hand children in our necessary routine. of a warrior, so are the children of We are to communicate with our one's youth. How blessed is the children “when you sit in your house man whose quiver is full of them; and when you walk by the way and they shall not be ashamed, when you lie down and when you when they speak with their rise up.” This simple but powerful enemies in the gate” strategy directs us to involve our Psalm 127:3-5 NAS children in the daily routine of adult responsibility.

Common experience bears this out.

My own father was born in In modern post industrial society Birmingham, Alabama, where they many children see adults only in a enjoy some rather regional tastes in time of leisure. While many parents food. For instance, it is not unusual spend no time at all with their to sit down to a plate of fried green children, those we would have to tomatoes, fried okra, fried catfish call “good parents” too often only and fried hush puppies (You name it, take time to play with their children. and they fried it). When my father They are careful to have “quality moved to Miami Valley in Ohio, he time” with their children, but they took all of his taste buds with him. are unwilling to include their There he met my mother and children in other facets of their immediately taught her how to cook necessary routine.

This – for him. By the time I came on the dangerously imbalanced approach scene, I had no idea that my

can distort the child's perception of the world of adulthood. It can create an inordinate appetite of leisure in the child, as well as a lack of appreciation for other facets of maturity.

Inclusiveness is not to be confused with “hurrying the child” into adulthood. Children are allowed to be children. In God's strategy of instruction parents include their children, as children, in whatever they are doing. They study together.

They practice hospitality together.

They work hard together. And when the time comes that they need to relax, they rest and play together as a family. The seasons and activities of the adult routine are all modelled for the children, and the children experience first hand the natural integration of each area of adult life.

Consistently including our children in the whole sphere of our lives also strengthens their ability to meaningfully relate with adults as well as children.

Age Integration vs Age Segregation In modern society children spend too much time separated into age groups.

Rather than training children to behave correctly with older and younger people, we delay their training by isolating them from other age groups. Proverbs 13:20 tells us that, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Like so many of the proverbs, this one cuts both ways. Companionship with wise men is contrasted with companionship with fools of any age. While it may be true that “There's no fool like an old fool,” the elderly do not seem to have a corner on this market. In Proverbs 22:15 we read, “Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.” Therefore, children who spend most of their time with other children are likely to be suffering harm as the companions of fools. continued on next pg . . .

As Arrows cont . . .

family, we are able to dedicate a desire in them for every aspect of Christian maturity.

The ageintegrated setting of godly household nurtures in children a higher level of respect and responsibility for the older and the younger members of the family and in doing so it helps to aim the child at worthy targets in later life.

The age-segregated structure of any conventional classroom can easily become a den of foolishness. In it, the inexperienced members of a peer group pool their ignorance to develop a criteria for evaluating other children. A miniature caste system develops pecking order.

Budding friendships with certain children are sacrificed for no other reason than to bid for membership in a popular group.

Patterns of Implementation The instruction and discipline of But as painful as rejection may be to children is an art, not an exact a child, the greater damage is done science. Just as the artist can learn after the child finds acceptance in his peer group. He barters away his principles for using color and own personality for a weak sense of texture to achieve certain effects, so identity in the peer group, and the parents can learn principles for price of acceptance goes up year combining instruction and after year. discipline. We have seen why the home is crucial in godly child Peer grouping encourages a child to training. Now, we will draw upon conform to whatever levels of maturity or immaturity surround Scripture and experience to present him, instead of lifting him to aspire a pattern for implementing these to the levels of maturity modeled principles in the Christian home. above him.

Noah is not commonly consulted on On the other hand, the age- the topic of child training, yet he is integrated setting of the family one of the few successful fathers in provides a place where older and the Bible. We read in Hebrews 11:7 younger children, parents and that “By faith, Noah being warned grandparents live and work together. by God about things not yet seen, in This is the closest thing we have on reverence prepared an ark for the earth to an ideal setting in which to salvation of his household. . .” Noah train up a child. In it he develops a is a father from whom we can learn strong sense of identity and a important lesson. Noah was a belonging. The structure of the man respected most by those who family encourages him to aspire to know him best. His objective was the maturity of those older than he is to prepare a means of escaping the because he wants to do what he sees judgement of God. But how would his older brothers and sisters doing. he accomplish his objective?

He finds opportunity to be responsible for others who are Noah had a big job to do, and he younger or weaker than himself. most likely included his family in This is social training for the real every phase of the project. He world of age – integrated society. launched a family project that took 120 years to complete. Keep in It is remarkable how these social mind the principles of touching the considerations dovetail with the palate and parental inclusiveness. principles of touching the palate and parental inclusiveness. By allowing “By God's grace, we must be the our children to participate with their kind of people we want our parents in the adventures of a godly children to become. This requires

us to spend ourselves on projects and causes that we will not be ashamed to call our “life's work.”

Swinging a hammer with the boys for all those years must have knit Noah's family together in a way that nothing else could.

Very few households do much of anything together today.

His children observed him in all kinds of situations. We may never know how many times Noah mashed his thumb in the process. Tempers must have flared a few times.

But through it all Noah's integrity endured. Later we find no word of persuasion needed to usher his household into the ark. Noah's word was honored when it counted most.

The means by which Noah achieved his goal were consistent with the very goal itself. Noah lived his faith in an inspiring way. He didn't try to hide the ark in his basement. Noah's faithfulness touched the palate of his family so that they respected the word that Noah brought from God, while the culture around them scoffed. And without such respect is is unlikely that his family would have entered the ark to be saved.

A New Testament Pattern Turning to the New Testament, we find the same issues. The Lord Jesus observes that “every student will be like his teacher” (Luke 6:40). To produce a better student we must become all that we hope to see our children become. As we devote our own lives to making a mark for Christ in this world, we can at the same time be raising up the foundations of many generations. The pattern of life that we embrace at home has power to aim that portion of the next continued on next pg. . .

As Arrows cont . . .

ourselves to hitting our own worthy targets. By God's grace, we must be generation that resides in our the kind of people we want our household. children to become. This requires us to spend ourselves on projects As a man faithfully follows Christ, and causes that we will not be he will model the fruit of the Spirit ashamed to call our “life's work.” to his children. As he touches the palate of his family with that fruit, A Household Target they, in turn, will seek the Lord. For the Harris household the life's These husbands and fathers are work target is to restore Christian those 1 Tim. 3:1 speaks of. “It is a families to their proper place in the trustworthy statement: if any man Church's ministry. This includes aspires to the office of overseer, it is home-schooling among other a fine work he desires to do.” The adventures.

Christian Life qualifications of such an overseer, Workshops, Inc. Is the ministry of are drawn from the man's ability to the Harris family and few close manage his own household. In friends. In partnership with God, verses 2 and 3 we read, “An we are trying to be a household overseer, then must be above devoted for ministry to the saints, reproach, the husband of one wife, like the household of Stephanas temperate, prudent, respectable, (1Cor.16:15) Believe me, this hospitable, able to teach, not ministry affords us all of the addicted to wine or pugnacious, but challenges typical of building an gentle, uncontentious, free from the ark. And, because my wife, Sono, love of money.” and I are together in this project, we know one another pretty well.

But the Apostle goes on to focus on the father's skill in “keeping his But we had grown close through children under control with all many adventures together before dignity.” Now, we've all seen it CLW was born. In the first year of done with no dignity at all. We our marriage, Sono and I started and know too well the man who has to then operated a houseplant and scream at his children in order to get terrarium business together. Later, them to pay attention to him. That while I studied for the ministry in is the man respected least by those Bible college, God used that little who know him best. business to meet our needs. We went into a youth pastorate together.

Qualified overseers have now We served a park ministry to abdicated their high calling as teenagers for one summer, and a “warriors” aiming their arrow. They missionary practicum in south Texas are able to keep their children under for a year after that. Then I was control with all dignity because they called to pastor a small church in deal directly with their children in Dayton, Ohio. discipline and instruction.

By implication they are including their During those years of trying to help children in households devoted to other families in my church, God hospitality. sharpened the focus for our present ministry. So many good Christian This means that the surest way to families were saved but still aim our children at worthy targets in wandering aimlessly. They lacked a life is to include them in our own sense of direction in their faith, and daily lives while we devote their children were anything but on

fire for the Lord. Teens were going out of orbit, simply because their parents lives were not purposeful enough to hold their attention.

There was no adventure in the home. The warriors were failing to aim the arrows.

We mad the decision to launch CLW as much for the benefit of our own family as for the good of others.

Our ministry together toward other Christian families is an integral part of the adventure it takes for our family to be spared the effects of spiritual aimlessness. We are laying our lives down in this ministry, but we are also finding our greater lives together in the process.

Our lifestyle is one of spiritual adventure and hard work – together.

We have watched the workshop ministry grow in attendance over the years. We work together on various ministries in our local church. We picket the Portland abortion clinic together. We worked for certain political candidates together before the last election. We have had a few foreign students stay overnight in our home. We went cross country skiing once, and we plan to go again. We have great stories to tell of funny or frightening things that have happened. But always there are the stories of God's faithfulness.

In a sense, Christian families are always building the “ark” for the salvation of their own household.

When we include our children in the adventures of our faith, every facet of our lives touches their palates, and dedicates in them a desire for God's purposes. Just as our Father in Heaven assures us that all things work together for the good of those who love Him, (Rom. 8:28) so everything in the godly household can work together to aim the arrows in our quiver at good targets. That, above all else, is why it is important to continue teaching the children at home.

The Lost Art of Dirty Fingernails

by Holly Myers

T

is' the squirrely season. I'm enjoying summer so much right now. Lovely weather for gardening, swimming and warm evenings in the back yard with a book and a feeling of accomplishment.

For us, summer is all about getting ready for the winter, both mentally and physically. We play hard, loving the heat, the outdoor living and the extra long days to enjoy them. We also work hard. Keeping up with garden maintenance, berry picking and chicken growing is full time work.

I call it work, but really I love doing this stuff.

Well, maybe not the chicken growing, but the other "work" satisfies my soul. Maybe it's the motherly, nesting thing or the love of order and readiness, but it seems programmed into me to collect good food and put enough away for months of enjoyment.

Sitting on top of a mountain in a strawberry field, overlooking a gorgeous view, feeling the warmth of the sun, the refreshing breeze and the sound of my kids discovering things is not my idea of drudgery. What a wonderful thing to have to do. Whether it's berries, green beans, chicken or grains, neatly packing them away in our 2 large freezers and cold room is like creating a master artwork. I stand back every once in awhile, take a look at the picture and see what needs tweeking, filling or rearranging. When it is all done, it's a beautiful thing to me.

Part of this infatuation is just a plain old love of food and cooking. I think if I went back to college, I'd take food science . . and eat all of it!

On days when I'm not in a rush, planning and preparing meals is so much fun . . . I think I'd like to be the next "Urban Peasant". Anyone remember him? That older, Santa looking, TV cook who never measures anything and cooks for real life rather than to impress people. I took many notes watching his show.

I, like my mother, prefer not to measure. It drives my husband nuts because I can rarely repeat recipes for lack of consistency . . . but man, do things taste good . . . and measuring takes too much time and dirties too many dishes. I get to experiment, create, share and enjoy all at the same time, with cooking.

Right now, I'm trying to master bread baking with fresh stone ground flour and making desserts with Stevia instead of sugar. I'm reading many experts ideas on when to eat, what to eat and how to eat to stay healthy and slim. Taking bits and pieces from each one and forming a collage that fits our family specifically. Yes, it is becoming an obsession for me . . . but a healthy one.

I think this domestic type activity has lost much of its honor and value. It is no longer seen as virtuous, but as something poor, uncultured and traditional people do while modern women advance the world. As people Continued on next page . . .

The Lost Art of Dirty Fingernails cont. . .

become more and more urbanized (and most are) this way of life is dying away. It boggles my mind when people look at me with intrigue and bewilderment about doing this stuff.

Modern freezers are filled with prepackaged, pseudo food and are only three feet square. People often do take out for meals . . . nothing prepared from their own heart and hands. It doesn't seem so difficult or strange to me. It's what people have done for centuries, only to have changed in this modern one. Don't get me wrong, I love a take out pizza, prepackaged philo pastry and soda water, but not as daily staples . . . well maybe the soda water is daily, but you get my drift.

I'm going to dig into the summer . . . into the dirt, into the dough and into the plate of glory on my table. Put a fresh bouquet of daisies in the center and open the front door to let the country breeze come in and surround the creative display only God could form. My toe and fingernails might not look very presentable, but its nothing a good coat of bronze polish won't fix.

Bon appetite!!

Pure Elegance

by Holly Myers

I

Prodigal Son..

have long believed our strengths are our weaknesses, and . . . my strength/weakness is that I think too much!

Not that I always think ‘well’ but I do think too much!

I pray to God, and give Him my burdens, THEN.. snatch my burdens back out of the very hands of God, so that I can again set them in front of me and analyze again!

'Sort, order, fret‘ , then 'sort, order, and fret' again.

IT'S EXHAUSTING! This BUSY MIND of mine keeps me from time with God (prayer & bible), and in contrast more time is focused on me as the solution maker.

Prodigal

Other times, when I am doing well, working hard, and happy, I may let my guard down when life is going ‘too’ good and the result is . .

I GET LAZY.

Me

Either way . . . BUSY or LAZY . . .

I find I have wandered away from God. He is out of the picture when to be with Him and be loved by Him is what I need.

- In the Gospel story of the Prodigal Son, the son deliberately rejects and leaves the father.

The son did not drift away, he took what was his, turned his back never thinking about returning home.

-The Subtle Prodigal Son often finds himself far from home, but is scratching his head on how he ended up so far away.

by Jeff Larson http://thebackpew.com

Whether you are a runaway, or a wanderer, the Father still waits for us.

Continued on next page . . .

Prodigal Son ... Prodigal Me cont . . .

In my busy mind AGAIN . . . I reflect on mistakes made (some known, some secret ).

I lament (though I am forgiven) serious sins acted on and in my mind.

I wonder how God can use someone like me.

Far from home (God) I have had moments of complete despair and depression . . .

Why would God ever want me back and how could I ever be of use to Him or my family?

These are very HEAVY words. Words that feel pathetic and weak, BUT today again, like the prodigal son from the Gospels, I plan to return to the Father.

I write this today, in between prodigal moments.

I don't believe I have wandered too far away from home (God) . . .

BUT I know my goodness and faithfulness is a relative state.

I pray today your prodigal son or daughter moments are few and far between, but when/if they happen . . . smile and rest in the fact God the Father welcomes you back without hanging your past wanderings over you.

May God bless and use each of you in ways that are beyond your dreams.

Let me leave you with a few Prodigal Son moments . . .

- The prodigal son’s life hits bottom when found singing with a very large hog named AbraHAM –

Regarding the return of the prodigal son the fatted Calf offers his own perspective.

- Moses was the denounced Prince of Egypt until the burning bush made him the comeback kid.

- Saul ‘the great persecutor' of the church changes course on the road to Damascus on his way to becoming the ‘first great missionary’ of that same church.

AND ON A MORE PERSONAL LEVEL . . .

- Jeff get’s out of bed … learns to trust . . . wanders outside the boat for a little water walking.

It makes me FEEL ALIVE! Come join me!

May our prodigal moments be few and far between, but Thank you God for your perfect forgiveness, and grace that allows me peace and comfort that is beyond our understanding.

Waiting for the Lord

by Mike Messerli

Psalm 130:5-6 I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

Waiting....

It's a skill learned with much reluctance. We don't want to wait.

We want, what we want RIGHT NOW! But to wait, and more specifically, to wait for the Lord is an important disciple for every believer.

It means we have put our case, our request, our problem before God and we wait for his reply. It's as if the letter has been sent, the request made, but it takes a while for the reply to arrive. Every day we go to the mailbox hoping for a response.

Every day we wait. "I wait for the Lord." There's a dependence here, a trust, an appeal to someone who can help in our time of need, but we wait.

We wait for his reply. The waiting is

just as important as the reply itself.

It means I don't try to do it myself.

I'm not working to resolve my own situation. I'm waiting.....I'm waiting for God's response. It's a trust that demands patience. How long do I wait? What do I do while I wait?

Am I being lazy by not doing something myself? How do I know when I should act and when I should wait?

Waiting is hard. Waiting on the Lord is even harder. It's the silence that makes it so difficult. While I wait, at least in my experience, I rarely hear word about the timing of the response. God doesn't e-mail me to let me know it's on the way. I just have to wait, to trust, to know that God is trustworthy.

Waiting for the Lord demands an upward focus, a trust in the Lord to accomplish what I have asked of him. Soon the answer comes and then what joy, but let me offer this there is more joy to be realized in the waiting than we ever know. In that waiting, our faith grows. We trust someone else to do what we cannot. In that waiting, we grow and that's much more important than the answer of the moment.

Want to read more from Mike?

Drop in and visit him at http://mikemesserli.blogspot.com/

Time to Hit the Reset Button?

by Mike Campagna http://twitter.com/#!/blogboy2

Do you remember when you first got your job?

You were just so happy to be working (again ~ for some of you). And you were just so relieved to be done with filling out applications and mailing out

resumes and going to interviews, etc., only to find out later that they hired somebody else. Right? ("All

that

hassle

and

gas

for

nothing?")

And then came your first day at work. Most of us are just thrilled to be wherever it is. We may have even just come from a bad situation to one that offers much promise and opportunity. And so we're chomping at the bit, ready to go, with smiles on our faces and high energy gumption. We even punch in early and don't care about staying late. The day flies by.

We can't wait to get back again. (I'm exaggerating a little to make a point.)

But then something happens to us. It's not always the case, but oftentimes it is. Time passes. And more time. And more still. And we find ourselves not so much chomping at the bit like we were at the beginning, ready to go, with smiles on our faces and high energy gumption. We may even barely punch in by eight (sometimes after) and we're gone exactly at five (sometimes before) ~ if we even come in at all. ("She's calling in sick again?")

There are many reasons for it. But the bottom line is we can go back to where we started. We can go back to Square 1. Maybe it's time for some

of us to hit the reset button? And what if just half of us did it, how might it transform an office/workplace?

(Flickr image by Tomas Rotger)

What Writing Does To Me

by Rina Peru

What does writing do to me?

A whole lot, I’d say.

It brings me closer to the Lord I write about His Word and his testimonies. I write about His words that He gently whispers in my heart.

When I walk through the dark valley, and I feel weak and afraid, He speaks comforting words, and I know I’m never alone. When I climb up a steep mountain and I get weary and thirsty, His words strengthen me, fill me, and quench my thirst.

Whatever I do, wherever I go, in triumphs and in failures, in joy and in sorrow, in celebrations and in solitude – He whispers.

And I gather and bundle up all His words here, so I would always remember.

It brings me healing Psalm 107: 20 says, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” And while I write about His words and testimonies, I’m being healed. He sends His words through my writing and these make me whole: my fears are taken away and His peace inhabits my whole being.

As I ponder on His words and put them all here where the world can see and share, His healing presence pervades in my life. A daily renewing of mind and spirit happens, and the body is strengthened. The daily dose of inspiration that comes from Him is like a bubbling brook and a spewing fountain that can’t be stopped. This, alone, invigorates the spiritual muscles and lifts the whole being to heights where there is joy and fulfilment.

As I write about Him and meditate on His wonderful deeds and loving kindnesses, He draws me closer to Him, like my spirit is in constant fellowship with Him.

It widens my world and my heart

And at night – when writing and doing and all the laboring cease – I lift up my hands and heart to praise and worship Him, and He seems to whisper, “You’ve written about Me today and spent time thinking about Me and My Word. So I’m here. So very near.”

My world shrank when I became ill and I prematurely and totally retired from work.

There was a time, at the height of my career and business’ success, that I was pondering during a lull in my busyness, and a thought entered my mind: “I would love to write someday.”

Continued on next page . . .

What Writing Does To Me cont . . .

One time, I was invited to a client-friend’s laboratory and plant inauguration in Laguna, a province south of Manila. Her sprawling cosmetics manufacturing plant was built on a plain with the most spectacular landscape.

She toured me and my staff around the plant and when we reached the laboratory, I saw through the wide glass along one wall, the beautiful, majestic mountains of Sierra Madre.

The verdant view was breathtaking! In awe, I said to my companions, “This is the best place to write! Oh, how lovely and inspiring it would be sitting here and writing!” And they all laughed, because our work was purely scientific and writing was a different world altogether.

But maybe the Lord has heard the whispers of my soul?

The silent craving hidden beneath all those technical works? I don’t know, for I grieved for my career when the Lord took it.

But this one thing I realized: that when God takes us away from the world we had loved and where we had flourished, and brings us to a place where everything is new to us, He will also provide the inspiration needed for us to be able to live and thrive there.

And so, even though I no longer go out to work, travel and visit our client-friends, the Lord has given me a whole new world of brothers, sisters and friends in my Church family, and sweet, kind friends around the world . And I thank the Lord for all of you, my blogger-friends, and for all my blog

subscribers and followers. You color my world here. I pray collectively for all of you.

Writing to inspire and encourage other people widens my heart and fills my world.

It encourages and inspires me in return, for what does the Bible say? We reap what we sow.

It brings me spiritual growth

I write about His words and in so doing, I am gathering them all close into my bosom, praying earnestly that nothing will fall to the ground.

But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.

(Deut. 30: 14) And as I soak in His words – the life lessons He continues to teach, and arrange them into sentences and paragraphs, for me and my readers – my spirit is quickened. For His words are life to me (John 6: 63). Indeed, this is my comfort in my affliction: for [His] word hath quickened me (Psalm 119: 50). His words, they give life to every cell of my being, and I grow fuller.

There is nothing truer than this: that meditating on His Word, analyzing the lessons learned, writing about them and living them out to bless others, have brought me spiritual strength, and I continue to grow.

To grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Want to follow Rina? Go to her website to find out how!

http://rinaperu.com

S && t a y i n g M o d e s t

&

Cool In Summer !

by Mahina

Summer is finally here! The season of picnics, uber-hot weather...and lots of skin.

During these months girls like me wonder how to be modest while beating the heat.

I often hear the "If you've got it, flaunt it!", "It's the guy's problem if he can't control himself!", "I can dress however I want, it's my right!" arguments, even from Christian females.

1 Timothy 2:9 says differently: "I want women modestly, with decency and propriety" And so does Romans 14:13 "Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

Ladies, immodest dress dishonors God, your future husband if you're called to be married, your brothers in Christ, and causes guys to think impure thoughts.

Guys are wired so very much by what they see. Immodest dress is a stumbling block to them and an obstacle to godly guys' extremely difficult battle to keep their minds and hearts pure. It causes our brothers in Christ, even the strongest in their faith, to stumble over us, having to try to get the image out of their mind, keep from dwelling on it, try not to look at it (which is hard to do if you are talking to them), keep their focus on God during church and other times, and many other things. It's not right of us girls to do, especially when we're their fellow believers and should know better! Guys are bombarded by immodest sights and girls everyday! Ultimately it doesn't matter whether we're called to be married or not because we should commit to modesty out of love for God and fellow believers.

Modesty is not about frumpiness or hiding your body shape. It is 100% possible to dress modestly and totally be rocking stylish clothes! The ground rules are to cover your cleavage, thighs, stomach {basically your whole torso}, make sure your bra straps don't show, have your feminine figure enhanced a little but not too much, and nothing tight! Now, for some tips that will keep you cool and modest in summer! :)) Continued on next page . . .

Staying Modest & Cool in Summer cont . . .

• Light fabrics: Cotton, linen, and similar fabrics are essential. You don't want some heavy or tight fabrics weighing you down and making you hotter!

• Wide strap tank tops - If you choose to wear tank tops. Go for wide straps preferably 2-3 inch straps and keep camis/spaghetti strap tops for layering. Make sure the tanks aren't low and your bra straps won't show.

• Bermuda, cotton, or linen shorts. Look for knee-length, not immodest short shorts. Too much l-egg there. :P Make sure though that they don't hike up when you sit down.

• Skirts/Dresses. Contrary to popular belief, showing skin doesn't make you cooler, it helps your skin burn even more! Flowy skirts and dresses are very modest and my favorite summer wear. They help the skin to breathe and air to flow. Again, make sure that they won't hike up when you sit down.

• Swimwear: Never a bikini. And a so-called tankini has a top that could potentially flip up. :P If you can afford it, I'd recommend something from modestkini, simply modest swimwear, or wholesome wear. If not, just pair swim shorts with a modest one-piece that's not very low and covers the whole torso, like this cute delia's suit!

• Eat light. Salads, sandwiches, fruit and cheese, stuff like that, just not anything heavy.

Heavy foods will make you feel weighed down. Microwave, prepare ahead the night before, grill {if possible}, crockpot, cook at night, or eat cold foods to keep heat out of the house and off of you.

• By the way, if you have spaghetti-strap tops or dresses you want to wear, pair them with short-sleeve or to-the-elbow sweaters. There are cute ones that come out for summer, you just have to check. And if a top/dress is low-cut but definitely cute, pair it with a higher-cut tank or cami! Layering can work in the summer if done right!  Wondering where to find these awesome clothes that cover? I'd suggest Old Navy, J. Crew, Forever 21, fashionable thrift stores and similar places. Old Navy always has cute or modest tops, skirts, and knee-length shorts and so does J. Crew. Shop the stores you like to find these clothes and support the ones that do have them. :)) Guys, you should also dress modestly too. Especially if you have a relatively muscular body, cover that up, because girls {including me} can get...sort of...sometimes...excited. :D Remember, do everything to the glory of God, and have some fun while doing that! :D Much love, your grilled burger-adoring, sometimes skirt-wearing, author who has decided she's gotta learn to swim sometime soon.

To see samples of clothing mentioned, please visit Mahina's blog http://mahinamk.blogspot.com/

The ABC'S of Salvation The dictionary defines salvation as: 1. deliverance 2. pardon 3. snatching from the jaws God's gift to us is everlasting life through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ All we have to do is have faith and follow these 3 easy steps Admit - Believe - Confess Ephesians 2:8, 9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faithand this not from yourselves, it is the gift of Godnot by works, so that no one can boast.

1. Admit That You Are A Sinner.

Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.

Results Of Sin And Gods Gift to Us. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What Did Jesus Do For Us? Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2. Believe In The Lord Jesus.

John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life,

for God's wrath remains on him.

Romans 10:10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

3. Confess The Lord Jesus.

Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Next Say This Prayer Believing With All Your Heart “Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

Lord the sinful life that I lived separated me from you.

Lord forgive me of my sins.

I believe that you died on the cross and rose on the third day to pay for my sins.

From this day forward I will put all my trust in you, Lord show me how to live a life for you.

In Jesus name, Amen”

Hey Businesses!

Would you like to Advertise with us?

For the next Publication,

Buy 2 Months of Advertising and Your 3rd Month is FREE! Tell it on the Mountain Reaches Not only Your Community, It Soars Around the Globe.

You Never Know Where It Will Take You! Please contact us about our terrific rates.

tellitonthemountain@live.ca