The Month of Thanksgiving – 12

I am thankful for each of Madge’s and my children who have grown into fine, strong, respectable adults. Today I will begin with our first born.

We named her Charity when she was born, because the name means “love” especially godly love.  That name is fit for her still.

I am thankful for her because she is my daughter, because of her faith in God, through His Son Jesus Christ, and she also loves her family, and has been strong, faithful, and loving in being a wife to her husband Paul; and a strong and loving mother to her three children – our grandchildren; Rachelle, Jonathan, and Caitlyn.

I am thankful for the Lord’s goodness in watching over her through the years; and especially these last two years.

Thank You Lord for Charity and her family.

Patrick Henry – The United States of America and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

“It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ. For that reason alone, people of other faiths have been afforded freedom of worship here.”
– Patrick Henry

The Nevers

Have you ever thought about all the “Nevers” you ever said?  You know, “I would never do that.”  or “I would never have that” or maybe another one or two.

I think about that once in a while.  Here are some of my “Nevers”…

The first thing I can think of is that I can remember a day when I said, “I would never pay to watch television in my own home.”

The second thing I can remember saying is that “I would never have a computer in my home.”

The third thing I can remember is “I would never have  a ‘Smart Phone'”.

On those things I can say I have done all of those now.

When we moved to the State of California we lived in a remote location, no air TV available, so the only television we could get was by cable; I paid for television.  So after that, I guess it just became the normal thing for me to do. “Never?”

In the earlier part of this 21st century I was doing our Church bulletin for every Sunday on an old electric typewriter until a good church member brought me a computer he was not using at home, and showed me how to use the word processor on the thing, and I have had a computer ever since that day.  “Never?”

Just this past Summer my wife and I went on a trip (vacation of sorts) to Kentucky to see The Ark Encounter.  It was while we were traveling I realized how much better it could be using one of them GPS systems, and Smart phones have the ability, so by the time we returned home I was convinced to get a Smart phone.  Now I have one of those.  “Never?”

There are probably many other nevers I have said, for good or for bad.  I have gotten to a place where I think a little more before I say never.  One is when I see what other people can do in wickedness…  I like to think, “I would never do that”; but then I think…

From the banks of Flat Creek,

`tim

 

April’s Green

We just celebrated Easter yesterday by remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  With the coming of Spring, and the greening of everything since March 20 it is quite fitting to mention “Resurrection”

Spring signifies the renewing of all things living.  Going through Autumn and then Winter the plants seem to die, but then in Spring they come back to life.  Resurrection is testified to by even the Creation around us.

The siblings, myself and our mother experienced the passing away of our Dad (on February 9,2017), and our mother’s husband of 63 years.  Though that was and continues to be a sad departure for us we know Dad is more alive today, in the presence of Jesus, than he has ever been.  One day, and maybe soon, he will rise from the grave in which he is buried, along with all those who died in Jesus Christ; and those who are still living in Christ will join them all in the sky, with Him.

So shall we ever, forever live with Jesus.

Why do I believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus, and all who believe in Him?  The green of April declares it.  Most of all God in His word proclaims and declares it.  Jesus is risen. “He is not here.  He is risen.”

From the banks of Flat Creek,

~tim

Hymn – “My Faith Looks Up to Thee”

As I was praying this morning this song came to may heart and mind; so I thought I would share it.

My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Saviour divine!

Now hear me while I pray, Take all my guilt away, O let me from this day Be wholly Thine!

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire;

As Thou hast died for me, O may my love to Thee Pure, warm and changeless be A living fire!

While life’s dark maze I tread, And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away, Nor let me ever stray From Thee aside.

When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold sullen stream Shall o’er me roll,

Blest Saviour, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove; O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!

Ray Palmer, 1808-1887

Lowel Mason, 1792-1872

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

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

George Washington Carver National Monument

Yesterday, two other bus drivers and myself took three buses of children to the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, MO..  There are probably a lot of people who do not know about George Washington Carver.

He was a generous man.  He cared for people.  He was a man of faith, and used his faith in his life.  He worked with peanuts and discovered many things and many products have come from peanuts because of his work.

The park is on the West side of Diamond, and is a beautiful park.  If you ever get a chance to go there it would be worth the visit.

That is it from the banks of Flat Creek today.

-Tim

With All That’s Goin’ On

With all that’s goin’ on in the world you would think that many people would get the idea that there is God; not a god, as if one of many; but GOD.  As one who created all that is, and sustains all that is.  GOD did not just create the created order then leave it for His crowning achievement to oversee, and rule.  He came down during a time in history, and gave His life for us.

With all that’s goin’ on in the world you would think that people would open their eyes about their own righteousness; that it just doesn’t exist.  Even the most immoral people can have a good streak in them occasionally, but that sure doesn’t make them righteous.  Our good deeds won’t; maybe even cannot out weigh the bad or evil we do; no matter if we do more good than bad.  With God righteousness, goodness, doing right just doesn’t work that way.

Righteous is what God says is righteous; and that is not us.  His Son Jesus is Righteous, and He died for our unrighteousness.  He is the only Mediator between God, His Father, and humanity.  Without Him we would all perish.

With all that’s goin’ on in the world you would think that there would be a lot of repentance going on, and people calling on the name of Jesus Christ; for He is the Lord of all.

It’s time for repentance and faith; even here on the banks of Flat Creek.

-Tim

My Dad

On Tuesday of this week I was nearing my home when my wife called me on the cell and told me that my Dad was possibly having a heart attack.  He was refusing to be taken to the ER for help.  My Mom had called my wife [Madge] to have her call me and if I could take him where he needed to be.

I stopped went in, and asked if he was doing okay.  He told me, “No! I’m not” even saying to me that there was the possibility he could be having a heart attack.  My words were, “Don’t you think you need to get to the hospital?”  To which he responded, “That’s a possibility”  We were getting somewhere.  He at first wanted to wait for Mom to get home.  She had a doctors appointment that day and was away with my sister Judy doing that.

Our Aunt Bonnie was there with my Day when I got there and she helped me to finally get him to agree and go.

When we arrived at the ER in Springfield an hour and a few minutes later, they quickly put him on an EKG and he was having a heart attack.  They rushed him to the cardiac cath lab; then, an hour and a half to two hours later the doctor came out and told us that basically they could do nothing; and he was continuing with the attack.  They would medicate him, keep him in CCU for a while, send him to a room, and send him home in a few days if things went well.

They have filled him with morphine, his mind is confused from it, and he thinks everyone else is confused.

My Dad made sure that my siblings and myself new the Lord by taking us to Sunday School and church every time the doors were open; and teaching us about work; and the value of family and friends.  Of course, my Mom had a big hand in that too.

There is one thing that I am convinced of and that is that God is good.  God is in control.  Not only is my Dad’s life in His hands; so is mine and yours.  None of us know the day or the hour we take our last step, breathe our last breath, or the last beat of our heart.

Whether it be along the banks of Flat Creek, Cox Hospital, any hospital, or Fairbanks, AK. we are all in the hands of our Creator.  So it is a great thing if you come to Him through His Son Jesus Christ, Creator.

-Tim

My Reading Habits

Reading at times seems to be difficult.  I can read, I enjoy reading, but there are times I would like to read and cannot make myself do it.  There is, however, one book that I have committed myself to picking up and reading at least once a day; and that is the Bible.

Since the end of December I have read three or four novels; three of which were a series.  The series is by Stephen Lawhead, and was a different version of the story of Robin Hood. The first book is “Hood”; the second, “Scarlet” and the third “Tuck”.  A great story.  I also have read one of John MacArthur’s newest works, “Slave”; and it is sure inspiring and challenging.  I have also read “Radical” by David Platt, and found out what a Christian in today’s world should really be.  Biblical.  Radical.  Like Jesus.

I actually read “Radical” before “Slave”, and I find that though written by different men, who may have never met one another (I don’t know for sure about that), the books complement one another.

I haven’t been reading much except the Bible lately.  Partly trying to keep myself physically busy with our place, church and other matters; but I still need to do some more reading.  I have much I need to catch up on.

Reading novels takes me back in time and sometimes into the future.  They are mostly imaginary, fictional, and can sometimes be inspirational and informing.  Most of the news of the day I get from television news, some online which is reading.

The sun is going to be coming over the hill shortly.  It is good to look outside and see the “book” which God has written.  The book of creation, life, beauty, and sometimes chaos and tragedy.  It is the most exciting of all.  And, it has the perfect ending.

On the banks of Flat Creek shortly before sunrise.

-Tim

Grace

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

Beautiful Day

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

When I am Afraid

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…

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

Not Just Another Week…Gone

There is no possible way the  past week can be called “Just another week” in my life; or in anyone’s life for that matter.  Events, life changing events have taken place.  For many people around where I live they have been life ending events; at least as far as physical life is concerned.

For many it has meant life will never be the same.  There are  probably many who are angry at God, and are starting a downward running away from Him.  Let me just say, Don’t run.  Stop!  Turn to Him.  Surrender!  He wants your heart, your life, your all.

My have experienced one of the most fierce tornadoes ever experienced in Joplin, MO.  Madge’s and my youngest son and his wife were in their house when it hit, destroying their home, but leaving them and their dogs untouched (physically), but very emotionally and spiritually drained.  Please pray for them and all who are in such chaos of heart.

Since that tornado hit I thing I have a new fascination for tornadoes; and maybe I shouldn’t say “New”, but that I have grown more fascinated with them.  They remind us of the awesome power in God’s created order; but even more; if this creation has such power and force; think of the awesome power of creation’s Creator GOD.

It has not been just another week.  It has been a week for faith and growth.  Growing faith.

-Tim A. Blankenship