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.