The Month of Thanksgiving – 8, 9, & 10

I am thankful that I remembered today. For some reason I neglected to give a thanks for the 8th and the 9th; so I will include them today.

For Friday November the 8th I am thankful for the sunshine, and its warmth for the day, for our well, and that I was able to tend its need, which I had overlooked for some time.

For Saturday November the 9th I am thankful for the day Madge and I spent together going to the Queen City of the Ozarks, seeing both daughters, getting a couple of beds for our bedrooms, the visit with Larry and Margaret; and the beautiful drive home through Ozark, Highlandville, Abesville, Galena, and through Wheelerville, and on home. It is a wonderful drive through God’s country and country side.

Today, Sunday November 10, It is Veteran’s Day for remembering all who have signed that blank check even to the giving of their lives if necessary; thankful for all the sacrifices they have made for our Nation.

Thankful for the Lord’s work in my life and for His work in all our lives.  God is good, great, awesome, and glorious. He is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.

Thankful from the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

The Month of Thanksgiving – 2 & 3

Since I overlooked posting a Thankful comment yesterday November 02, 2019 I will share two thanks today.

Yesterday was Youth Deer season, and our next to youngest grandson, Eli, got his first deer, so for that I am thankful. Thankful for that big smile his mother caught on camera as he knelt beside his first at the age of 11.  Thankful that he is enjoying the blessings of God’s creation, and His blessings.

For today I am thankful for this everyday, and most every moment of the day; and that is for God’s grace and mercy by which all can be saved from sin and the wrath of sin through Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the Church where I preach; and that they all have come under that grace through faith in Him.

Thankful from the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

Just for Thought – The Green Thing

I received the following as an email from a friend.  Thought it to be a good reminder of things.

-tim

The Green Thing

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the older woman, that she should bring her own grocery bags because plastic bags weren’t good for the environment.
The woman apologized and explained, “We didn’t have this green thing back in my earlier days.”
The clerk responded, “That’s our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations.”
She was right — our generation didn’t have the green thing in its day.
Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. But we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn’t have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn’t climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn’t have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby’s diapers because we didn’t have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 220 volts — wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn’t have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house — not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana?  In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn’t have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn’t fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn’t need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.  But she’s right; we didn’t have the green thing back then.
We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn’t have the green thing back then.
Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn’t need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza joint.  But isn’t it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were just because we didn’t have the green thing back then?

Remember: Don’t make old People mad.

Refreshing Rains Have Come

I guess you could say that it is that time of year for rains to come.  Nothing, however, is for certain here in the Southwest Missouri Ozarks area.  We have, however, been blessed by God with some nice, easy rainfall.  Easy meaning there has not been a whole lot of runoff which would be filling creeks, and ponds; which we also need.

I finally got away from Flat Creek for a while  yesterday.  My wife and I went to the Queen City of the Ozarks – Springfield, Missouri for two of our grand children’s Birthday parties.  Jonathan, our oldest grandson turned 14; and Caitlyn is about 9, I think.  Of my grandkids ages I am not real certain with some of them.  I mean when you have been blessed with 12 of them… you know what I mean.

Anyway, it is good to get the rain.  We were driving down Interstate 44 yesterday as it was coming down pretty good there.  I am thankful for the rain.  There is more on the way.

-tim

A Pathway

For most of what this Spring has brought us I have been working to clear a path through weeds and brush to have Flat Creek in our backyard a bit more accessible.  It will also give a clearer view from our back window and door of the Creek.

We wanted to make it easier to get to the Creek for swimming for the grand kids and for ourselves; and maybe even easier fishing access.  There are fish in Flat Creek.  Some pretty good sized ones.  We have Carp, Suckers, Bass, Perch, even a lot of “Rock Bass” :).

It was warm around this place yesterday.  According to our thermometer it got up to 97 degrees.  It was 99 on Friday (May 04).  That swimming sounds pretty good when temps get that hot.

Anyway the path is getting clearer, a little at a time.  The next thing we will need to do is move the barbed wire fence.  We will not remove it but move to another location not far away.

Since this is Sunday let me remind you to be in your church this morning to worship our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  He is worthy of worship and praise.

-Tim

Bird Song

During the later morning hours, sitting in my office  preparing for Sunday morning in our church; I heard a clunk at my office window.  Seeing how we had four of our grand children present, and they were outside, my first thought was that one of the smaller ones threw something and hit the window.  However, when I looked out the window I saw our dogs gathered around something on the ground, they were sniffing at it, and blocking my view of whatever it was.

I went outside and looked. It was a small bird.  It was still alive.  It’s eyes were blinking, and I could see the movement of its breast by its breathing.  I picked up the little bird, and held in my hands.  After a few minutes the bird sat up, got on its feet, still stunned.

I took it and showed it to my grand kids.  They were thrilled wanting to touch it, and pet it.  He/She just sat there in my hand.  One time flying under the trampoline.  I retrieved her/him, and she continued to sit on my hand for a while longer.  In just a little while she flew away; flying very low to the ground, finding a resting place, and perching herself on a limb; sat there for a while.  I did notice later that she was gone.  I supposed she had finally came to her senses and flew away.

This morning, as I was in the office doing my blog writing, there was a bird that came singing at my window.  My thoughts were that this bird thought she would sing a song for me praising the LORD for His goodness; and letting me know she was fine.

When I hear birds singing; I believe they are singing praises to the King of kings, the LORD of hosts, and that is what God has made them for.  He made us for worship too.  However, it seems that we are the only part that fails to do so.

Listen to the birds sing.  Listen to the Bird Song.

Along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Coldest Day This Winter

When I got up this morning it was 3 degrees outside.  I am thankful that it was not that cold inside.  Whew!  What a mess that would be.  It has dropped a bit since then, though.  It is now 1 degree, and it says “falling”.

This is exactly why Winter is not my favorite time of year.  I like heat.  It seems when I am cold that I cannot get warm enough.  It may be all that blood pressure medicine or some medicine I take; but really I have never been real fond of the cold weather.

Winter is part of the seasons of earth, and I can readily, willingly and thankfully accept that.  I am ready for Spring and Summer.  Please no more of these extreme cold temps.

Thank the LORD for the heat; and the part the cold plays in our world.

-Tim

Think About This before Voting…

I received this on an email group I am on.

Think About This Before You Vote …

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress. — John Adams

If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed. — Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But then I repeat myself. — Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle. — Winston Churchill

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner. — James Bovard

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. — P.J. O’Rourke

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors to live at the expense of everybody else. — Frederic Bastiat

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!– Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in session. — Mark Twain

Talk is cheap…except when Congress does it. — Anonymous

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin. –Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians. — Edward Langley

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have. — Thomas Jefferson

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office. — Aesop

Some pretty wise thoughts.

-Tim

Are You Washed in the Blood?

ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD?

1.  Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?  Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

2.  Are you walking daily by the Saviour’s side?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?  Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

3.  When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?  Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright, and be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

4.  Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,  And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;  There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean, O be washed in the blood of the Lamb.

refrain

Are you washed in the blood,  In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?  Are your garments spotless?  Are they white as snow?  Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Elisha A. Hoffman, 1839-1929

-posted by Tim a. Blankenship, along the banks of Flat Creek.

“Fairest Lord Jesus”

Fairest Lord Jesus

1.  Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nations,  O Thou of God and man the Son;  Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

2.  Fair are the meadows,  Fairer still the woodlands,  Robed in the blooming garb of spring;   Jesus is fairer,  Jesus is purer,  Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

3.  Fair is the sunshine, Fairer still the moonlight  And all the twinkling, starry host;  Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer  Than all the angels heaven can boast.  A-MEN.

From the German, Seventeenth Century

From Schlesische Volkslieder, 1842

Arr. by Richard S. Willis, 1819-1900

-posted by Tim A. Blankenship

Hymn – “O Safe to the Rock”

O SAFE TO THE ROCK

1.  O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,  My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;  So sinful, so weary, Thine own would I be;  Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

refrain

Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,  Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

2.  In the calm of the noontide, in the sorrow’s lone hour,  In times when temptation casts o’er me its power;  In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,  Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

3.  How oft in the conflict, when press’d by the foe,  I have fled to my refuge and breath’d out my woe;  How often, when trials like sea billows roll,  Have I hidden in Thee,  O Thou Rock of my soul.

William O. Cushing, 1823-1902

Ira D. Sankey, 1840-1908

Go and join your brothers and sisters in Christ worshipping the Lord in Spirit and in Truth today.

-Tim

Eagle On the Hunt

On the afternoon of December 31 I took a walk along the banks of Flat Creek; from just below the old mill pond down around the bend, and then to the place where our family picnics and swims – the Swimming hole.

It was at the Swimming Hole that I sat down for a spell and just looked, watched, and listened for awhile.  I have enjoyed doing that along the creek since I was a boy old enough to venture away from the house; and maybe even before I was old enough.

As I was setting there a bald eagle came soaring near me over the still water of the hole and I assume was looking for his/her prey for food for the day.  I do not believe I was ever as close to a flying eagle as I was at that moment.  I have seen them in zoos sitting on logs for all the world to gauck at, and admire; but never had I been as close as I was at that time and place; while they were flying.

I watched as she/he soared, flapped wings, turned out over the land on the other side, and back over the water, and then flew on down the creek continuing its search.

A beautiful, majestic, bird.  Yet, “bird” for an eagle just seems so small a word.

Remember to go to church today and worship our Creator who has given us all things to enjoy and glorify His name.

-Tim

By the way… HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Graveled Driveway

I found out my son had bought an old Ford pickup truck.  That is what we used to put gravel on our driveway.  We hauled several loads, but we now have better traction on our drive than we had before.

It was 18 degrees when I got up yesterday morning thus freezing the ground, and when we got to the gravel the surface of the gravel was frozen too.  After breaking through the frost layer it was not so difficult to shovel the rock.

Remember to attend worship services in your local congregation this morning and evening.  Remember that “God is Spirit: and they [we] that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”   Being born again through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus is the only way of worshipping the God of glory and all creation.

I have heard it said, “All roads lead to heaven”.  Well!  If all roads lead to heaven, then they all must meet at the cross of Jesus Christ.  There is no other way to God and Heaven but by Christ Jesus.

Enough of my preaching from the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

Hymn – “He Is Able to Deliver Thee”

He Is Able to Deliver Thee

‘Tis the grandest theme thro’ the ages rung;  ‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue;  ‘Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung:  Our God is able to deliver thee.

REFRAIN

He is able to deliver thee, He is able to deliver thee;  Tho’ by sin opprest,  Go to Him for rest;  Our God is able to  deliver thee.

verse 2 – ‘Tis the grandest theme in the earth or main;  ‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal strain;  ‘Tis the grandest theme, tell the world again:  Our God is able to deliver thee.

verse 3 –  ‘Tis the grandest theme, let the tidings roll  To the guilty heart, to the sinful soul;  Look to God in faith,  He will make thee whole:  Our God is able to deliver thee.

William A. Ogden, 1841-1897

-posted by Tim

Hymn – “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine”

Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!  Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!  Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

chorus:

This is my story, this is my song,  Praising my Saviour all the day long;  This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Saviour all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,  Visions of rapture now burst on my sight:  Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,  I in my Saviour am happy and blest:  Watching and waiting, looking above,  Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Fanny J. Crosby,  1820-1915

Mrs Joseph F. Knapp, 1839-1908

-posted by Tim A. Blankenship

Hymn – “God the Almighty One”

God the Almighty One

1.  God the almighty One! wisely ordaining Judgments unsearchable, famine and sword;  Over the tumult of war Thou art reigning:

Chorus:

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord! Amen.

2.  God the all merciful! earth hath forsaken Thy ways of blessedness, slighted Thy Word; Bid not Thy wrath in its terrors awaken:

Chorus.

3.  God the all righteous One!  man hath defied Thee; Yet to eternity standeth Thy Word;  Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee:

Chorus.

Give us peace in our time, O Lord!  Amen.

A Russian Hymn

Henry F Chorley, 1808-1872

John Ellerton, 1826-1893

Alexis F. Lwoff, 1799-1870

-posted by Tim

Sunday Worship – “O Worship the King”

O WORSHIP THE KING

“O worship the King, all glorious above, And gratefully sing His wonderful love;  Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace, Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space!  His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, And dark is His path on the wings of the storm.

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?  It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,  It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, And sweetly distils in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail:  Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer and Friend.”

Robert Grant, 1779-1838                                    Johann M. Haydn, 1737-1806

Worship the King.  Today and everyday.

-Tim

Auctions and Sales

I attended an auction just outside of Clever yesterday.  My mother called me around 7:30 or so while I was out tending our dogs, and told me that a couple who has been there long time friends was having an auction, and would I take them?  At first I said “No!  I have plenty to get done today”, but about an hour later I called her back and told her I would take them.

The drive up there was in much needed rain; and it rained and it rained and it kept on raining.  By the end of the day we had pools of water, running water, my grass seed getting plenty of water.  Yippppppeeee!!!  Anyway; back to the sale.  They had a few items I wanted to bid on.  I never even got in a bid because they started out higher than I could afford or wanted to pay.  I am happy for the couple having the sale; it was good for them.

There is something I have noticed about a lot of auctions I have attended.  People lose their heads at these things.  They end up paying the same price or more for a used item than they could buy a new one for in some cases.

I am sure thankful for the rain.  The grass is starting to green up again.  That is a good thing.

Thank YOU Lord for sending water to the earth and nourishment for it.

From along the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

From my Journal

This is part of what I wrote in my journal for today.

On this day in 2001 at around 7:30 a.m. Central time the U.S.A. was attacked by the enemy with ties to Islam.  There were four groups/teams who hijacked four different passenger  planes.  The first was directed as a bomb into the North tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.  The second, like the first was flown directly into the South tower.  The explosions were massive, and the destruction was horrific.

A third plane was directed at the Pentagon, a government building where military plans and personnel are housed.  The fourth plane was on a direct path toward Washington D.C., but did not reach its destination.  The passengers on board, upon finding out the intentions of the terrorists caused the plane to crash into a field in Pennsylvania killing all on board, but probably saving many more lives..

In total more than 3,000 people died that day.  Because of God’s intervention – Divine Providence – there could have been many more perishing in the fall of the towers that day.

In my heart I believe that was a warning to our nation of our departure from the Lord of all.  A message to the Christians especially. Judgment was beginning to increase.

Thankfully, we had a President who was a confessing Christian and appeared to trust the Lord at that time.

That has been ten years now, and there have been many destructive storms of “Nature” hit our nation.  One was hurricane “Katrina” which hit the Gulf Coast nearly destroying New Orleans, LA..  Just this past Spring tornadoes  hit the South nearly destroying the city of Tuscaloosa, AL.  Maybe I should say “destroying the city…”.  That happened in April and over 300 were killed in the South tornadoes.  On May 22, 2011 a tornado hit Joplin, MO. killing 160 and leveling a large part of the city.  Destruction of homes, businesses, hospitals and schools were recorded on video as it happened.

There is a need for repentance among the people of God today.

Much of that is word for word from my journal.  If you are a Christian stop approving of sin; and speak out against it. Live against it. Repent of it; in other words; AGREE WITH GOD.

Though I may live in Jenkins, MO and along the banks of Flat Creek;  I am not blind or ignorant of the world’s greatest need; and that is Christ Jesus.

-Tim

Maybe the heat is gone

It has been over 100 degrees at my house for the past three or four days.  One day, Wednesday I think it was 109, and miserable.  Now though according to forecast maybe the heat is starting to go South for a while.  I like the heat of Summer, but the body and the earth can only endure so much of it you know.

Yesterday I did almost nothing.  We had Men’s Breakfast at church, and only four of us were there.  We had great fellowship and enjoyed the time and good food.  In the late afternoon we attended a surprise Birthday party for a niece (Sarah Kay), and celebrated her 30 years of living in this world.  She and her husband David have become a lovely Christian couple and have a wonderful family of 5 children.  My sister Judy invited us all to come, and we were served hamburgers cooked on the grill, along with hot dogs, and even had turkey burgers; though I did not even try any of that.

We had a great time.  It was a little warm outside.  James told us that when they arrived there the temp was about 98 degrees.  I am glad we had plenty of shade to be under.

I really hope and pray that all the heat will not be gone.  Without it we would all die in short order.

From the banks of Flat Creek, I am praying that all who read this blog will be right with the Lord and attend worship services in your local church today.

-Tim