A hymn of praise to our God and King…
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, Opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; Drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day!
Have a great day and worship the King at your local church.
-Tim
Yesterday morning I went out after breakfast and dug some potatoes. We never planted any potatoes this past Spring, but we had potatoes growing from last year; so I endeavored to care for them, maybe a little too late; but I started to do so anyway.
I may have gotten 10 pounds of small to smaller ones. Even among a few people I know who planted potatoes they have reported harvesting small potatoes.
After I dug the potatoes, I went and borrowed a pickup truck, and a chainsaw to cut a limb off a gate which goes into our family cemetery. A week or so ago we had a strong wind come along and a limb broke off crushing one of the two metal gates, and resting on top of them both. I cut the limb into wood chunks, and threw the brush from the limb over the hill side. It looks much better now.
In the afternoon I replaced a missing shingle on our house, which was due to wind damage some time ago. That’s done now.
I am thankful for the Fruit of the Ground which the GOD of all creation has provided, and the labor that goes with it; especially the strength to do it, along the banks of Flat Creek.
-Tim
I am glad it’s not raining inside. Now that would be a fluke. It is raining outside to water the grass, the gardens that are needing the rain, and the fields of so many farmers who are growing corn, and other foods.
The rain I am seeing is a slow, steady rain; which means it will soak in and have less run-off.
At a time when people in North Dakota are experiencing flooding and people in Eastern Missouri and all along the Mississippi; it just seems odd to be needing rain; but that is the blunt of it.
Thank YOU Almighty GOD for the rain.
-Tim
My how wonderful is the grace of God. We have been studying grace in the book of Galations on Wednesday evenings at Carr Lane Baptist Church where I am pastor.
Without grace I would be forever condemned in sin and darkness. I would be lost. Thankfully our Creator sent His Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross in my place, become my sin, take the wrath which I deserved, died, was buried and bodily arose from the dead. Because of that wonderful gift of God; there is no more condemnation in my life; but only grace.
My future is brighter, because of God’s gift. My future is assured, because of God’s gift. My future is blessing, because of God’s gift of grace.
“Grace, Grace; God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all our sin…”
-Tim
Summer time has officially arrived at least astronomically. For the beginning of Summer it is a bit cooler, not a lot, but a bit. The wind is blowing pretty lively.
I am ready for Summer, and pray God gives us all the strength to bear it.
-Tim
I was on Facebook moments ago and noticed my oldest daughter Charity had left me a Father’s day greeting. My how touched I was by her sincere and earnest words. I am not going to post them here, but I did want to say that I was genuinely touched by the words and thoughts she expressed.
Not only was I touched by them, but I was greatly blessed and encouraged as well.
Thank you Charity. You are also a good mother leading your children on the right path toward the Lord.
-Tim
In our back yard. We have a large front and back yard. Flat creek is just through the trees of our back yard, and last night we had a birthday party for our 13 year old grand daughter. She had several of her friends down and camped out. We built a big bonfire and ate roasted wieners and such.
Understand my wife and I did not camp out. We slept in our comfortable bed and rested. Rachelle’s mother and father were here too, but slept on the hide-a-bed in the living room; and several other family members were here too. It was a grand evening.
It made a great place for an evening under the stars, around a fire, and my the wonderful stories that young ones can use to frighten city girls from Springfield, MO.
-Tim
Last night Carr Lane Baptist Church hosted the monthly Worker’s Conference of the Barry County Southern Baptist Association; made up of about 33 churches across the county, and two or three outside the county – including Carr Lane which is in the Southwest corner of Stone County.
We were honored to welcome the people of the churches of Barry County, the Association, our Director of Missions Randy Comer, his wife Sheena, and the guest speaker Jay Scribner. Jay is the former pastor of First Baptist Church of Branson, and if I remember correctly a past President of the Missouri Baptist Convention.
We were blessed by the message Brother Scribner proclaimed. The message was from 1 Peter 1:13-17, and titled “Be Holy”. A very needed message for Christians of the twenty first century. There is a very urgent need for holiness and holy living in Christian living.
Holiness should set us apart from the lives of those who do not proclaim to be Christian. We are followers of Christ. We are “Christian” and that means ‘Like Christ”, and that portrays “Holiness”.
It was an honor to host such a fine group of Baptist Christians; and a blessing to hear the Word of God proclaimed. Thank you Dr. Scribner.
-Tim
It was early Wednesday morning which the wind I wrote of previously came, and struck a bit of fear in my mind. That wind had some power and did some damage. Not to my home, or my life. The damage is something which can be fixed.
The damage was at our family cemetery, just up the hill from where my wife and I live. There was two good metal gates which hung at the entrance off the road, now there is only one which is in good shape; the other badly damaged. Both have been de-hinged from the post and the tree. One was hung on a post and the other on a large oak tree.
I noticed this damage as I was going out our road to our Pastor’s luncheon in Cassville. I stopped at my parents house and let Dad know about the tree limb which was on the gates, and the damage done.
One of the sad parts about all that wind is there was very little rain in the storm – it barely got the ground wet; it settled the dust. Thank the Lord for the lack of damage. It could have been much worse.
-Tim
Not too many people will admit they are fearful, or have even been afraid at times. Well! Let’s be honest here. I have been afraid, fearful at times. I experienced some last night shortly after midnight.
A strong wind blew in; I was in bed asleep and it woke me from my sleep. I awoke wondering “What is going on?” We must say there are many in our world, and the USA included; maybe especially people in the USA who are fearful. Fearful of what the economy will do in the next few months. Fearful of losing our freedoms. Fearful of what will happen on the stock market. It has happened before; it is bound to happen again. People losing millions of dollars because of faith in man’s economy. Fear is a powerful force.
When I was awakened by the wind, experiencing the fear my first thought was to go to my LORD and turn the fear over to Him. I prayed, sought His comfort; and He gave it. I arose from my bed came out and checked the skies; as best as I could see; the wind still blowing ferociously; checked on my son and his wife who were still awake, and they were shaken by the wind; (You see they are living with us because their home in Joplin, MO. was destroyed in the tornado of May 22); and I went back to bed and slept until nearly 6 this morning.
The storm never ended for me, but the storm of fear was put away. My what faith in God can do. God is an awesome GOD.
-Tim
Another day of sunshine? Another day of rain? Right now it is hard to tell. I look out my office window here at 6:30 in the morning, and the sun does not seem to have made it into our valley yet. It is partially cloudy. We do need some rain. That’s hard to believe after all the rain we received in April and May, but it is getting dry, and hard to work the soil.
Every day is a day to be thankful. Being grateful, thankful and full of praise to our GOD is a part of the faithful Christian’s life. He is what makes life worthwhile. Without Him where would we be?
My conclusion for a day that is just beginning is…
Another Day of Grace.
-Tim
Though I am not often proud of the things I do; or some things which I leave undone; I am glad to have the name Timothy Alden Blankenship. I go by Tim. My friends, and maybe those who aren’t my friends call me by that name of maybe some other name even such as Timmy.
The name Timothy has a biblical meaning: It means “Honoring God”. The only way I honor God is due to the love and grace of God my Savior Jesus Christ. I know that I fall far short of being perfect. I don’t even try to be perfect. I do expect perfection on the day I see Him face to face.
My goal in life is to honor God, and glorify His name.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Flat Creek Rolling 