What People Won't Forget God Can't Remember

Missionary Dave Douglass wrote this poem and gave me permission to post it on my blog. If you enjoy this one, please check out his website. You'll find many more poems he has written there.

What People Won't Forget God Can't Remember

I received Christ as my Saviour, and he forgave my sin,
Eternal life he gave me, his Holy Spirit moved within.
I know I'm fully justified, and eternally secure.
My name is in the book of life, and of heaven I'm for sure.

Not by works of righteousness, but faith in Christ alone.
Purchased my redemption, by his blood I am his own.
I want to face him one day, and hear him say "well done."
And gaze upon his glory whom from hell my soul is won.

When I stand before his judgment seat to face all he did record.
I'd like to meet him on that day having never failed my Lord.
But since the time he saved me, much sin I did embrace.
But never did I even one time, ever fall from his grace.

My sins were never hidden from the eyes of God nor man.
But his foreknowledge teaches me, that he does understand.
No sin condoned nor over looked, each time I was ashamed.
I never minimized my wrongs or on others fixed the blame.

Quite hard it is for me to grasp, difficult to realize,
that never one transgression ever caught him by surprise.
But he saw every action, and he knew every thought,
Not just the ones that were exposed nor times when I got caught.

Each time I bowed before him and pled "Father please forgive."
I was amazed that he still loved me and that he would let me live.
If he'd take me on to heaven, then all my sin would cease.
No sin would be repeated, my list would not increase.

But just and faithful is our God when our sins we do confess.
And he still wants to use us, and he still wants to bless.
He did not cast the clay aside he's still working yet on me.
And when my Lord is finished, conformed to Jesus I will be.

But men are not all like him for his ways are so much higher,
For he alone is very truth, and every man a liar.
When someone seems to feel compelled to speak about my past,
They do not know that all those sins on Jesus I have cast.

Some refuse or can't forgive they delight them to recall.
But they're gone from my Gods memory; he can't remember them at all.
Those forgiven little, only love a little is what Jesus said,
But white as snow I have been washed from my sins crimson red.

My love for Christ consumes me now in fellowship so sweet,
And reaching out to others, I help many that I meet.
But there are yet some brethren, who believe I can't be used.
Invited to walk with me in fellowship, they steadfastly refuse.

I hold no aught against them; they believe things they have heard.
They know not what God's done for me, they take another's word.
They're quick to pick up stones to cast as though they're without sin.
I rejoice that God has kept them from situations I've been in.

I don't seek their support or endorsement, but for them I often pray.
That they'll experience healing, as I have along the way.
Then they, like I, will stand amazed and truly have to say:
God can forgive and change and even use the ones we cast away.

- Dave Douglass, Phnom Phen, Cambodia 2007

And Then There Were None

The birds are gone. It was so wonderful to watch how they did it....

"Mom" couldn't figure out how to get to her babies, so Bruce took down the cage and put the birds in a box, placing the box back on top of the building. From there it was just amazing to watch this mother bird communicate to her children on how to get back home.

The first bird jumped out of the box, and let me just say that the box was not shallow. It was rather deep. Anyway, the first little one jumped out and waited for his mother. She swooped down and dropped something in his mouth. Then she opened her feathers, did a little dance, sqwaked something at him and off the babe flew into the trees. She flew into the tree above the box. A moment later, the second baby hopped out. He wasn't as steady as the first and hopped, hopped, hopped all over the roof of Bruce's building. It was so cute. Again, mom flew down, dropped something in his mouth, spread her feathers, did a little dance, and the baby flew into the trees. The babies didn't fly far by any means. But what struck me was that both mom AND dad were in the trees directing their young. The father chased after the second one while mom chased the first.

I suppose they must have been worried about their children last night and imagine that they are enjoying their reunion in a new nest somewhere close in our woods. Now I need a Blue Jay feeder so they'll come back and see me.

"Are All The Children In?"

I think ofttimes as the night draws nigh

Of an old house on the hill,

Of a yard all wide and blossom-starred

Where the children played at will.

And when the night at last came down,

Hushing the merry din,

Mother would look around and ask,

"Are all the children in?"

'Tis many and many a year since then,

And the old house on the hill

No longer echoes to childish fee,

And the yard is still, so still.

But I see it all as the shadows creep;

And though many the years have been,

Even now I can hear my mother ask,

"Are all the children in?"

I wonder if, when the shadows fall

On the last short, earthly day;

When we say goodby to the world outside,

All tired with our childish play;

When we step out into that Other Land

Where Mother so long has been,

Will we hear her ask, as we did of old,

"Are all the children in?"

And I wonder, too, what the Lord will say

To us older children of His;

Have we cared for the lambs?

Have we showed them the fold?

A privilege joyful it is.

And I wonder, too, what our answers will be

When His loving questions begin:

"Have you heeded My voice?"

"Have you told of My love?"

"Have you brought the children in?"

Scarce........

....is what I may be for a couple of days. Hannah leaves for camp Sunday afternoon which leaves some shopping and sewing needed to be finished.

I cut out three pairs of coulottes last night and realized I have no thread to match any of them. LOL You'd think I'd have some sort of pink, blue, or even orange. Oh well. I hope to get a couple of Tshirt dresses made, if I have the time. Thanks to Christina for that idea.



Since I'll be concentrating on sewing today, and I DO have to CONCENTRATE on sewing :) I'll put a pot of pinto beans on for supper. I really don't like pinto beans, but hubby loves 'em. I like chili though. It will definitely be chili tomorrow, but tonight, I think we'll just have the bean! And don't forget the cornbread! You just can't have pinto beans without the cornbread.

I found this poem today and thought I would share it.

When, O When...

"When, O when, can I break the rule
and no longer go to Sunday school?
This is the question I asked one day,
And my teacher answered this funny way:

"When the water is gone from all the seas,
And pigs wear hats and coats and pants;
When kitty cats grow on the pumpkin vine,
And three times seven is twenty-nine;
When black is white and red is green
And children's faces are always clean;
When boys and girls no longer eat
Cookies and cakes and candies sweet -
Then, O then, you can break the rule
And no longer go to Sunday school!"

How To Be Perfectly Miserable

If your goal is to be miserable most of the time, the following ten actions will help you reach a state of misery in record time:

* Think about yourself. Talk about yourself. Drop "I" as much as possible into every conversation.

* Pay close attention to what people think and say about you.

* Expect to be appreciated.

*Cultivate suspicion, jealousy, and envy.

*Be sensitive to slights. Never forgive criticism.

*Trust nobody but yourself.

*Insist upon special consideration.

*Demand that everyone agree with your views and opinions on everything.

*Shirk your duties and responsibilities if you can.

* Do as little as possible for other people.

Here's a prescription for the blues...

If you wake in the morning and feel a bit blue,
And wonder whatever's the matter with you,
Don't go on a grouch the rest of the day
And make other people your penalty pay.

Just try to suppress it and put on a grin,
And no one will know what has happened within;
Just speak a kind word and do a good deed,
And others your action will certainly heed.

It was said long ago and today it's still true-
As you measure to others, it's given to you.

~Author Unknown

A Light On The Hill

A Light On The Hill

A tribute to Pastor & Mrs. Ava Goodman.

~By Vickie Davis

God put a light on a hill for all to see,

the prettiest spot in the county to me.
For it's there we meet together week after week,
to sing God's praises and His divine will seek.

In Sunday School we learn more about God's Word,

then we hear the best singing you've ever heard.
And spirit-filled preaching - well we get PLENTY
From Dr. J. Barry Goodman, the best of any.

We see the precious Holy Spirit working in hearts.

It thrills us to know that we've had a small part
in souls that have been saved, and lives that were changed
because God's people gave through faith unfeigned.

From Faith Baptist Church the Word goes out

throughout this land and regions 'round about.
Across the seas into foreign lands,
our missionaries reach out to fallen man.

Behind prison doors the faithful men of Faith go

to share the Good News with those in woe.
Those in the nursing homes are not forgotten
they're told about Jesus, God's only Begotten.

The young and the old and all those in between,

at various activities, they all can be seen.
For we love to fellowship and we love to eat.
It's just like family every time we meet.

To name the rest of our ministries would be quite a task,

so I'll mention just a few in case anyone asks.
Our orchestra is the BEST by far,
our string group features fiddle, banjo, and guitar.

The bus ministry thrives on Saturday morn,

our radio broadcasts over the airways are borne.
Our ministries keep growing year after year,
for you see, Christ's coming is drawing near.

So as we honor you, Pastor, on your special day,

we thank the Dear Lord for sending you and Mrs. Ava our way.
For the light on the hill shines brighter by far,
because of how SPECIAL the two of you are.

Children

We are children of a Father that is continually molding us into His image and His will. I'm so thankful that He makes us over and over again.

Unfortunately, we do not have that option when it comes to the little ones He has loaned to us.

When our children are small, we have but little time to mold them into how God expects them to be shaped.

I took a piece of plastic clay

And I idly fashioned it one day.

And as my fingers pressed it still,

It moved and yielded to my will.

I came again when days were past;

The bit of clay was hard at last.

The form I gave it still it bore,

But I could change that form no more.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took a piece of living clay,

And I touched it gently day by day;

And molded with my power and art,

A young child, soft and yielding heart.

And I came again when years were gone;

It was a man, a man I looked upon.

That early impress still he wore,

And I could change that form no more.

~Author Unknown

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Mending Again!

Mending again!
Week in, week out, the pile is there
Of clothes that are unfit to wear,
A botton off, a rip or two,
An overall with knee burst through.

Mending again!
Perhaps the same clothes fixed before,
With buttons off and ripped some more.
We sit and mend, and soon we learn,
Like bread on waters, 'twill return.

mending agian!
Day in, day out, the Master mends
The Christian's life, so full of rents,
Some caused by our own carelessness-
A broken hert in deep distress.

Mending again!
How patiently He comes and mends
With threads of love and selfsame rents,
Broken anew, bleeding and sore,
That He has fixed so oft before.

~Clara Fennema

A Repeat Post...

This is one of my favorite poems that I posted a few months ago. I must however quote a Scripture passage to go along with it. Yes, I choose to live my life as a wife and homeschooling Mother....but the reason I chose this way of life is because of this scripture passage. My husband and I believe that this is God's plan for man and wife. Notice, I did not say woman. I said WIFE. We are women, but when we marry, we take on a whole other role in life, which is the wife, and this is what God's Word says...

Titus 2:1, 3-5 "But speak thou the things which become SOUND DOCTRINE: The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers AT home, good, OBEDIENT TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS, THAT THE WORD OF GOD BE NOT BLASPHEMED."

I'm free THE MOVEMENT says,
I can be whatever I want to be.
I don't have to spend my life mopping up spilled milk,
getting out ring-around-the-collar,
hunting for lost cufflinks,
matching up socks - or even scratching somebody's back.

I can write the great American novel or hawk my macrame plant holders at craft festivals(wearing a gypsy scarf on my head and dirty tennis shoes on my feet - or maybe no shoes at all.)I can be a lady executive and try not to worry about whetherI took the roast out of the freezer.(THE MOVEMENT wouldn't like that!)
Or I could run for Congress -(That can't be much harder than presiding over the PTA or figuring out my own income tax. Or brilliantly coordinating my returnable pop bottles and newspaper coupons to buy 53 dollars worth of groceries with only 42 dollars and 28 cents.)

So I'm free, am I? Then I choose...I choose the "promise to obey" part of the marriage vows,the nose-wiping of a two-year-old,the bargainings with my teenagers to use -the car, the computer, the telephone, the bathroom. I choose the endless precession of bag lunches, peanut buter sandwiches, dirty dog dishes, potato chip crumbs, and yesterday's newspaper. I choose the warm curve of his back on a cold night, the precarious pleasure of an empty bank account when all the bills are paid, the promises of European tours when the children finish college. I choose to make his toast (dark) and his eggs (easy over). I choose to listen for his car turn in the drive. I choose to nudge him when he snores. No matter what THE MOVEMENT says: I choose him!-Jessie Rice Sandberg

Where O, Where

Where, oh where can my commentors be,
where, oh where could they be?
Are they timid and shy
do they just pass on by
oh, where oh where could they be??

Beautiful Service

Today we attended the funeral service of Brother Davis. I mentioned him in the last post. Anyway, "It Is Well" on his saxophone with Mrs. Tammy playing the piano. The Pastor of Davidson Memorial, where Brother Davis was a member and deacon, spoke and it was very nice the things he said about Brother Davis. He kind of reminded me of our former Pastor the way he delivered his message. Brother Davis really did have such a sweet testimony. Brother Humphries, one of our members at Faith, sang the timeless "Beulah Land." He's an older man with one of those old style singing voices. It was so wonderful. Then our Pastor spoke. Or rather PREACHED. That was the best part, really. After he preached, The Sons of Faith got up and sang "Our First In Heaven." As uaual, it was beautiful. I believe that one will be on the CD, Courtney. :) Anyway, when we got to the cemetary there were SO MANY people. It was unbelievable. But as we all walked from our cars to the tent, one of the grandsons, Nathan, and Justin played a duet on their trumpets, "Amazing Grace." They were kind of far away from the tent so it was more of an echo as they played. It was really beautiful. After the Pastor said a few words and prayed, one of the men from the funeral home asked that everyone gather in a circle, including the family. So we did. Jennifer Dyer and Jeremy Boone, two of the grandchildren, stepped inside the circle with a heart shaped basket. Jennifer read a poem. And I can't remember what all it said but it was so appropriate for the homegoing. Then Jeremy read the poem that was on the back of the paper memorial given to us as we walked into the church. This is what it says....

Going Home....

Birds in flight symbolize

the end of a Christian life.

One bird is shown leaving the flock

and "going home" to his final reward.

The three remaining birds

continue their journey through life

with peace of mind,

knowing their loved one

is now in God's hands.

Just as Jeremy finished that poem, they removed the lid from the basket and released three white doves as Nathan and Justin broke into "I'll Fly Away." That's the first time I've ever heard SHOUTIN' at a graveside service. We were blessed and honored to be a part of such a service.