"LIKE AS A FATHER PITIETH HIS CHILDREN, SO THE LORD PITIETH THEM THAT FEAR HIM." PSALM 103:13

"When a tear is wept by thee, think not that the Lord doth not behold; for, 'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him'. Thy sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; thy whisper can incline His heart unto thee; thy prayer can stay His hand; thy faith can move His arm. Think not that God sits on high taking no account of thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee."--- CHS

O late there have been some tears, some sighs, some whispers and prayers--this meditation by Spurgeon has been an encouragement to me. I hope it is to you also. Dad

Evangelizing

Dear Family,

Paul tells in Romans 1:16 that he is "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.." I'm wondering if we have not watered down our personal evangelism to the point where it is not evangelism at all? Many of us witnessed to the lost with almost a wild abandonment when we were first saved. We told everyone we met about Christ and what he had done for us. We tried to share with them the good news and urged them to believe it too. In our zeal in witnessing to friends and relatives we made lots of mistakes and sometimes said things, and used methods we wouldn't use today. But at least we did it. Then as time went on we cooled off and eventually got to the place where we seldom got to the point in our witnessing but spent out time "breaking the ice" thinking this would help us reach the person later. We rationalized and explained to our conscience why it was really best not to share the gospel at that time to that particular person. Inviting people to church became our "gospel". Bill O'Reilly prides himself in conducting a "no spin', 'get right to the point' news program. I wonder if we who have been transformed from death to life by the marvelous grace of God could learn something here. If we are "not ashamed of the gospel of Christ because it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth," should we not be bolder to give a "no spin" direct witness to the lost? Let's try to keep in mind that every person we talk to whether in person, or on the phone is a soul who will spend eternity somewhere. Don't use ignorance as an excuse. John 3:16 is the gospel. If you know nothing else, you can quote that. You will not regret it.

Today 5 men stopped by the house. Three of them were from Montana. I broke the ice by telling them that 50 years ago I fished some of the rivers in Montana. Then while 4 of them were busy elsewhere, I was able to draw one of them aside. I asked him some questions and found he'd just been discharged from the army after 33 years of service. He'd been to Iraqi 3 times and had parachuted into Afghanistan. I thanked him for serving our country. Then I asked him if he was afraid while in combat and what he thought about death. He said he'd discovered that there were no "foxhole atheists." I was able to share the gospel with him and gave him a tract I'd written with my testimony on it. By his language I knew he was not a believer.(it changed during our conversation) This 58 year old man got quiet, took out his wallet, and folded it carefully and put it in his wallet and we shook hands and went our ways. I try to use the pattern Jesus set for us in John chapter 4 when he dealt with the woman at the well. In closing this epistle I want to urge you to try to convey a 'no spin' gospel to someone this week.

Dad

"Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Ps. 90:12

"How soon will some few years pass away, and then when the day is ended, and this life's lease expired, what have men of the world's glory, but dreams and thoughts? O happy soul for evermore, who can rightly compare this life with that long-lasting life to come, and can balance the weighty glory of the one with the light golden vanity of the other."

--Samuel Rutherford

"BRING HIM UNTO ME" Mark 9:19

Tonight I would like to quote some of the content from Spurgeon's morning devotional for September 17.

"Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents; they may be filled with the Spirit of God, or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one receipt for the curing of all their ills, 'Bring them unto me'. O for more agonizing prayer on their behalf while they are yet babes!…Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries which betoken their actual advent into a world of sin. In the days of their youth we shall see sad tokens of that dumb and deaf spirit which will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in their soul…When they are grown up they may wallow in sin and foam with enmity against God; then when our hearts are breaking we should remember the great Physician's words, 'Bring them unto me'. Never must we cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives.....

EVENING DEVOTIONS - PS. 119:148: "MINE EYES PREVENT THE NIGHT WATCHES, THAT I MIGHT MEDITATE IN THY WORD."

Dear Family,
On September 14th I wrote to encourage you to "prevent the dawning of the morning" (Ps. 119:147) and to get up early to spend time in reading the word of God and prayer. I've heard from several of you on this and would like to hear that more of you have established this as a daily habit. One mother wrote that her eight year old got out of bed rubbing his eyes and asked for his Bible so he could read before breakfast. Tonight I'd like to urge you to regularly have an evening devotional time also. This will be more difficult as you will be tired and find it hard to concentrate, so I'd like to send you a brief guideline.

1. Read and meditate on the morning psalm again.
2. Make a quiet review of my day.
3. Confess today’s sins. (I hope this doesn't take long!)
4. Intercede for those I met today.
5. Intercede for those on my heart.
6. Thanksgiving for the blessings received today.

You may already an established an evening time with the Lord but I thought this might be a help to you who find it difficult. I'm not sure where I got this but I'm sure it is not original with me. Let me know if this helps or if you'd like to add something to this list.

Blessings on each of you, DAD

BE YE KIND ONE TO ANOTHER, TENDERHEARTED, FORGIVING ONE ANOTHER, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST'S HATH FORGIVEN YOU. Eph. 4:31

Think gently of the erring:
Ye know not the power
With which the dark temptation came
In some unguarded hour.
Ye may not how earnestly
They struggled, or how well,
Until the hour of weakness came
And sadly thus they fell.

Think gently of the erring:
Oh! do not thou forget
However darkly stained by sin
He is thy brother yet;
Heir of the selfsame heritage,
Child of the selfsame God,
He has but stumbled in the path
Thou hast in weakness trod.

Speak gently of the erring:
For is it not enough
That innocence and peace have gone,
Without thy censure rough?
It sure must be a weary lot,
That sin-stained heart to bear,
And those who share a happier fate
Their chidings well may spare.

Speak gently to the erring:
Thou yet may'st lead them back
With holy words and tones of love,
From misery's thorny track:
Forget not thou hast often sinned,
And sinful yet must be;
Deal gently with the erring, then,
As God has dealt with thee. --Julia Carney

SLEEPLESS NIGHTS - Psalm 4:8

Dear Family,

Your mother is blessed with the ability to fall asleep quickly and to sleep
soundly through the night. If you are blessed in that way, thank the Lord
every morning when you wake up. Don't take it for granted, for you are
exceptionally blessed. I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I've
slept soundly throughout the night in a year. Sometimes I get up and pray
rather than lay in bed wide awake. The psalmist said: "I will both lay me
down in peace and sleep: for Thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."
Psalm 4:8.

If any of you have this problem, you might pray this prayer when you go to
bed. I don't know the author.

When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.

Goodnight, Dad&GP

Isaiah 27:8 - East Wind

Anytime you read about an "east wind" in the Bible, it involves
something bad, oftentimes disaster. I have had many "east winds" in my
lifetime, but I am so thankful that the Lord "stayeth His rough wind in
the day of the east wind!”

Goodnight, Dad & GP

"Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Ps 107: 8, 15, 21, 31

Good evening family. I enjoyed Psalm 107 today and would like share some of the blessing with you.

Four times we have the same verse recorded in response to what the Lord has done when He hears their cry.

1. They found no city to dwell in and they were hungry and thirsty until their soul fainted within them. "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses" vv. 4-8.

2. They rebelled against the words of God and condemned His counsel. Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down and their was none to help. "Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He save them out of their distresses" vv. 11-14.

3. They drew near to the gates of death to the point where they no longer desired food. "Then they cry unto the lord in their trouble and He saveth them out of their distresses" vv. 18-20.

4. They get into such trouble as they do business in "great waters" when they “go down to the sea in ships," that they are at their "wit's end." "Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses" vv. 23-30.

Four times in trouble, four times they cry out to the Lord for help. Four times He hears their prayer and deliverers them. Perhaps you haven't experienced any of these kinds of troubles yet, but you will! When you do, don't forget how the Psalmist responded as recorded four times! As we look at the condition of our nation all of these troubles could come in your lifetime. Love, Dad and GP

"AND AS IT IS APPOINTED UNTO MEN ONCE TO DIE, AND AFTER THIS THE JUDGMENT." HEBREWS 9:27

Tonight my heart is sad since I have had a day of sobering news. I have met Pastor John Vaughn from Greenville, S.C. several times and have taken him fishing here in Alaska a couple of times. He has eaten at our table and never forgets to compliment Mom's cooking when I see him. He took particular interest when Kevin died and had his church have special prayer for Vicky when he heard her testimony. Today the headline in the Greenville News ran: "CHAPLAIN'S SON DIES IN TAYLORS COLLISION" Pastor Vaughn's 28 year old son, Daniel died from injuries incurred last night at 11 pm when he was hit by 2 cars while attempting to cross Wade Hampton Blvd. "he was a brilliant young man and full of life." John Vaughn said. "He brought much laughter to the people who knew him and loved him."

I had a couple of emails last night telling of a death in that horrible train accident in California last week. While we were on the mission field in Japan, Edith Long was a special friend who prayed for us. We met her at Hampton Park Baptist Church. She was a German language teacher at BJU. She went to be with the Lord on September 7th. Some of her family were on that train as they were returning home from the funeral. Her son Paul joined her in heaven and Paul's wife and son were injured but will survive.

The third tragedy happened to a an elderly couple who were walking on the sidewalk on Oakdale Drive near their Greenville home last evening. A vehicle drove onto the sidewalk, struck and killed them both, and kept on going. Bill Carey was 70 and his wife Ruth was 65. Their son Billy Carey Jr. said his parents took walks every morning and had been married nearly 46 years. They had four children and six grandchildren. "If I could have made my parents, I couldn't have made them any better," he said. Carey said his father was a deacon at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. His mother taught Sunday School. They lived in a brick ranch-style house for about 40 years. Aaron Carey, 16, said he had been turkey hunting with his grandfather and had been looking forward to hunting deer with him for the first time. "I loved hunting with my grandpa," he said. "We'd go to Hardee's before and get some biscuits and gravy. He loved that."

One 27, another probably about 45, and a couple 65 and 70--four souls in eternity for no fault of their own. My dear children and grandchildren we can't be prepared for deaths like these, but we can be prepared for the judgment that will follow.

NOTICE THE FOUR "WHO'S in PSALM 103:1-5

"BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL: ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS;

WHO FORGIVETH ALL THINE INIQUITIES;

WHO REDEEMETH THY LIFE FROM DESTRUCTION;

WHO CROWNETH THEE WITH LOVINGKINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES;

WHO SATISFIETH THY MOUTH WITH GOOD;

THY YOUTH IS RENEWED LIKE THE EAGLE'S.

I trust each of you can say "AMEN" to these four blessings from the Lord--Love, Dad and GP

"I PREVENTED THE DAWNING OF THE MORNING" PS. 119:147

If you are not starting your day by reading your Bible may I encourage you to begin. Don't use the excuse that you are not a "morning person" or you can't get up that early or something. If you are not practicing early morning devotions I would like you to start tomorrow and do it for a month. Don't get sidetracked but diligently pursue this for the entire month. Then let me know how it worked out. If after a month you are unable to keep this up or think it not worth the price of losing sleep then let me know that too. I know you don't have time like I do but take at least half an hour to read and pray and you won't ever regret it. If I went to my grave knowing my 9 children, their spouses, and 28 grandchildren practiced this each morning without fail even for 10 or 15 minutes each day I could wish no greater joy. Love, Dad

"Early prayers are undisturbed by the agitating cares of life,...O my soul canst thou say that thou "prevented the dawning of the morning" in thy approaches to God? Has the desire of communion with heaven raised thee from thy slumbers, shaken off thy sloth, and carried thee to thy knees?'---John Morison

"Morning devotion anchors the soul so that it will not readily drift away from God during the day." C H Spurgeon

"He who rushes from his bed to his business and waiteth not to worship, is as foolish as as though he had not put on his clothe, or cleansed his face, as unwise as though he dashed into battle without arms or armour. --CHS

"..HE TOOK THEM UP IN HIS ARMS PUT HIS HANDS UPON THEM AND BLESSED THEM." MARK 10:16

I enjoyed God's word so much this morning that it was hard to know what to pass on to you. When I finished reading I picked up my Trinity hymnbook as I always do before prayer. The hymn today was by Fanny Crosby. "Safe in the Arms of Jesus" The words I chose to send you were: "Safe from corroding care, Safe from the world's temptations, Sin cannot harm me there, Free from the blight of sorrow, Free from my doubts and fears, Only a few more trials, only a few more tears, Firm on the Rock of ages Ever my trust shall be, Here let me wait with patience, Wait till the night is o'er, Wait till I see the morning Break on the golden shore.
Safe in the arms of Jesus, Safe on His gentle breast, There by His love o'er shaded, Sweetly my soul shall rest."

Love, Dad

DELAYED ANSWER

Recently one of you declared after praying fervently for something and seemingly receiving no answer, "I'm prayed out". I have often felt that way too and have wondered if the Lord had heard my prayer. Some times I have quit praying altogether for something or the other, wondering if the Lord ever heard? "..if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. Last week while reading Luke chapter one, verse 13 grabbed my attention. The angel came to a fearful, troubled Zacharias and told him that his prayer had been heard and his wife Elisabeth would bear a son and to call his name John. I thought about Zacharias and how he and his wife must have begun to pray for a child soon after they were married for she was "barren". (vs. 7) They must have continued praying for many years but eventually gave up for they were both old and"well stricken in years"(vs 18) Now 50 or 60 years later an angel announces that God had heard their prayer! Zach got in trouble for doubting this as we see in verse 20. Let's continue to pray and believe God whatever the circumstances.

Dear Children and Grandchildren

Sept. 10, 2008
I have enjoyed the Word of God more than I ever have since I am no longer preaching 3 or 4 times a week and am not pressed for time. Some times I find things I'd like to share with all of you, or some of you individually. With your mother's encouragement I'd like to start a "Bible Blog" and share some of my thoughts with you. Last night I told Joanna that I opened a can of "Pork and Beans" for supper, (your mother is in Arizona helping Becky while Adam recuperates from a serious operation) but I found no pork so I renamed it "Beans and Beans". With a hearty laugh she wondered if I had "looked under every bean?' I trust what I send you will have some "pork" but if you find it to be only "beans" just push the delete button.

Ps.119:168 "I have kept Thy precepts and Thy testimonies: for all my ways are before Thee," As you were growing up one of the things I was careful to emphasize in our daily devotions was that the time would come when you would no longer be under the eye of Mom and Dad but you would never be out of sight of God's eye. What an encouragement we find here to keep God's Word. "all my ways are before Thee,"

"Experience makes many a paradox plain, and this is one. Before God we may be clear of open fault and yet at the same time mourn over a thousand heart-wanderings which need his restoring hand."--C.H. Spurgeon

"I may hide Thee from my eye, but not myself from Thine eye."--Wm. Gurnall