Busy but Blessed

Life has become extremely busy and blessed in the recent weeks. My blog might be quiet for some time. There are two longer-type posts (one on the trust you can place in the King James Bible, and another on the importance of dressing like a lady) that I have been wanting so much to finish writing since months ago, but I really can't see when I will be able to share them. That makes me sad because sharing with you, my readers, what the Lord lays on my heart is something I love doing. Even so, I am committed to redeeming every moment of time God has entrusted to my care, and I long to give my best to the responsibilities He has blessed me with. Blogging just happens not to be one of those things right now.

The Lord has been teaching me such precious lessons lately. I have faced some hard trials that I wish I just didn't have to go through, but His everlasting arms are beneath me and His sheltering wings are over me! I am so safe. There is no more wonderful place to be than in the center of His will.

Perhaps next week I will be able to finish a post about some big changes that I will be facing in three weeks... big changes concerning Bible college. God has led me through some stony paths. I have a long way still to travel. But I will follow on! 

I will write as I find time and as the Lord leads. Until then, I pray the Lord is blessing your life as richly as He is mine!

A Cheerful Giver

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; 

and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Proverbs 11:24

In the photo: Taken at the village BBQ on the 4th of July. I love watching little children play; they are so comical. In this picture they were amusing themselves with Arctic cotton grass. Isn't it the fellow that is supposed to give the lady flowers? Oh my... (chuckle)

So Thankful for God's House

Yesterday was such a good day. I love being in God's house! I found so many things to give thanks for throughout the day. The Lord is so good in my life.

Another excellent message by Dr. S.M. Davis, How to Use Acceptance to Build Others. My dad has been in the Lower 48 since mid-May for shoulder reconstruction surgery (he will be home in only 10 more days!!!) and we have been showing preaching videos by Dr. Davis since the pulpit has been empty. I love my dad's preaching and I can't wait to hear him preach the Word of God again soon, but these messages have been so good. So many needed truths have been made so clear; I have received so much good counsel; it has made a difference in the our lives.

The difference a smile can make. It is the clearest way of showing acceptance to others. It is a ministry!

Quiet, restful Sunday afternoons.

A Sunday school lesson to prepare. We have been teaching through the Old Testament at a very thorough pace to give our children a good, solid understanding of these timeless stories. Those of us who grew up in Christian homes can't remember a time when we didn't know about David or Daniel or other Bible heroes. These children have never heard them before. Oh, what a privilege it is to teach them! I have taken these incredible stories (true stories that happened to real people!) of God's faithfulness and power for granted. Lately we've been learning about Joseph. As I have been preparing my lessons, God has been showing me such remarkable things about him that I never saw before. One of the best ways to learn God's Word for yourself is to teach others!

Happy, smiling little faces. Laura. Justus. Kayla and Tera (twin sisters). Kevin. Tiana. The children that come to Bible Time are some of my very favorite people in the whole world. We've made an investment in each others' lives; the difference they've made in mine is the greater. They give me so much joy!

Maak and Cora. Two dear ladies who come to church faithfully.

A quick, refreshing walk along the beach. After church as we were fellowshiping, someone called saying that a herd of belugas was swimming past the village. My mom drove my sister and me down so I could get some pictures. Sadly they had already passed that area and had been herded into the lagoon (yes, to be slaughtered =), but I got some beautiful pictures anyway. Oh, the lighting was just divine!

These were taken at around 8:30 PM. We have 24 hours of sunlight now. If you think you wouldn't be able to stand sunlight all day and night, you'd better get ready for Heaven (Rev. 21:23). (chuckle) I love it! Heaven will be so wonderful!

Hold Your Peace & Show Love

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: 

but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

Proverbs 11:12

In the photo: Arctic poppies and a snow fence in the background. It was a cloudy day but these flowers have a sunshine all their own. =)

How to Make a Glycerite Tincture

Do you want to make a pure, effective herbal medicine for your family that builds the immune system, soothes sore throats, and fights infection? You can make this medicine in the comfort of your own kitchen and have absolute confidence that it will be safe and effective for even the youngest members of your family. It contains no alcohol and yet is completely preserved. Making a tincture doesn't have to be complicated! All you need is an assortment of herbs, a jar with its corresponding lid, a towel, and a Crock-Pot! In just six simple steps you will have a pure, concentrated herbal medicine.

Step #1: Prepare your herbs

This step is not always necessary. Some herbs need a bit of crushing and grinding to give the extraction a head start, especially if those herbs have a tough exterior. In my lovely marble mortar I have a nice bunch of dried rosehips which I crushed slightly with my pestle.

Rosehips are full of seeds and a peculiar fuzzy mass.

Character Building

Chapter Four of Beautiful Girlhood by Mabel Hale 

“Let every man take heed how he buildeth.” (I Cor. 3:10)

The most precious earthly treasure a girl can have is character. Her character is what she really is. If she will look beyond what she appears to be, and what people think of her, and look at her heart fairly and honestly, judging herself by the standards of right and wrong to which her own conscience gives sanction, then she can know whether she has a good character. When a girl is misunderstood and misjudged, it is comforting to know that deep in her heart she has been true. But it will rob even her friends’ praises of the real pleasure if, in her heart, she knows she has been untrue.

Character is not given to us; we build it ourselves. Others may furnish the material, may set before us the right standards and ideals, may give us reproof and correction, may guide our actions and mold our thoughts—but after all, we build our own character. It is we, ourselves, who take of the influence about us, copy the ideals, reach the standards, and make ourselves what we are.

I Am a Soldier!

Author Unknown

I am a soldier in the army of my God!

The Lord Jesus Christ is my Commanding Officer!

The Bible is my code of conduct!

Faith, prayer and the Word are my weapons of warfare!

I have been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by adversity and tested by fire!

I am a  volunteer in this army and I am enlisted for eternity!

I will either retire from this army at the rapture or die in this army, but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out or pushed out! 

I am faithful, reliable, capable and dependable!

If my God needs me, I am there!

Seek Right Counsel

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit. 

Proverbs 12:5

In the photo: The Arctic Ocean, just a few blocks from my house, finally showed progress in breaking up this past week (the last week of June). We are seeing spectacular icebergs and beautiful open water along the shore although the pack ice, in the background, remains intact. Just beyond that rise is water as far as the eye can see.