Impromtu Fellowship!

We had a beautiful, refreshing visit down in Aleknagik with my sister Kotya and her family. I loved the week we spent with them. We cut it a day short to skedaddle out before the low that was threatening reached us. We decided it was best we left when we could, otherwise we could probably be out there longer than Doug should be. Life happens - and we must comply!

Chris and Kotya have an older empty house that came with the property that they purchased to build their own home on, that is where we slept while out there. We were so comfortable we could have spent the whole summer out there, well at least I could have. :-)

One of the highlights of this trip for me happened on Sunday. Aleknagik has been without a regular pastor for many years but last winter they had the blessing of someone preaching regularly all winter. (Sorry can't remember his name.) He went to Bethel for the summer, perhaps to fish? Anyway, I asked Kotya, "Will there be church tomorrow?" "No, because we don't have a pastor this summer. If there is church, the bell will ring." How cool is that?

Early Sunday morning Doug and I got up and went out to walk up to the airfield, and check out a bit more of the village. As we were walking down to the dock area the church bell began to ring! We stopped, listened, and then walked back up towards the church where we met Joe-Joe for the first time. "Is there going to be church this morning?" "If people show up, I guess we can always worship," Joe-Joe replied. Cool!

We all ended up in church together that morning because after Joe-Joe finished teaching Sunday School to the children, one of them ran to the bell and rang it before he could stop her. "I was not expecting to lead church today, the kid that rang the bell got me into a position I didn't really want to be in." We laughed. There was about thirteen of us there that morning. We sang, heard a special from Kay and heard testimonies. It was all such a blessing to me.

Joe-Joe's testimony of being pulled out of alcoholism when he was saved encouraged my heart. He spoke so well of his love for God. He said that one day he ran out of gas and the Pastor was going by and stopped to help him. His heart was touched by his care for him, which he felt he did not deserve. Shortly after that he repented of the way he had spent his life and made a turn around. He read the Bible and from his talk/testimony I could hear the salt of God's word. "God came and shined a light in the dark place where I was and He saved me." I am so thankful for the fellowship of other Believer's wherever we go.

God redeems those willing to see sin as sin; turning away from sin and daily living life challenged by the life-changing Word of God. When His Word is shined into our dark lives it is filled with Light. There is joy and peace in abundance for those that will see themselves as they are - the lost, the needy, those who Christ lovingly paid the blood price to win back from the bondage of sin. There is no other way to God the Father that God will accept - except for the gift that our True Friend came along side us to give by dying and rising again.

Pray for Joe-Joe and for the believers in Aleknagik, for we have a powerful enemy that skulks around looking for ways to dim the Light that shines, making it of little effect to those still lost in darkness. And wherever you are Believer... shine brightly, for you have been given the Words of Life Eternal! Keep getting together Aleknagik Christian's, and keep encouraging each other to stand firm until He returns.

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. Do no err, my beloved brethren." James 1:14, 15, 16.

Jesus Wells

Treasures in the Rain

Speaking about water, have you ever thought about what it would be like to not have fresh water at a turn of the wrist? I realize that even in the USA some people live with less than desirable water, there are villages in Alaska that the water is not good for consumption, but most of us have good drinking water.

Once Doug and I returned home late at night after being in Anchorage during a winter chinook. (This happened while we still lived in Wasilla.) The ice and snow had been melting and running all day over the frozen ground, down the hill, and finally into our ground well!

Once we got inside the house without slipping on the wet ice everywhere, I turned on the tap water to clean the children so they were ready for bed. The water was brown! I was horrified as I watched it run down the drain! Doug figured out the trouble almost immediately and had the well area cleaned up, the dirty melted water diverted away from our well by chopping a quick channel with a pick. He added Clorox to the well and we waited for the water to run clean again.

It is not good to be without clean water!

I remembered that time while I learned about Gospel for Asia's ministry of Jesus Wells, or putting in wells for towns and peoples that do not have the 'small-when-you-have-it and large-when-you-don't' luxury of fresh water. Some people are refused water because of their position in life, or because they are Christian's - refused from drawing fresh water at the existing water sites in their towns. Donations can be made at the above site if you would like to help get more wells put into those areas.

I am thankful for fresh, clean water, aren't you?

Raking & Watering

I was out in the yard today checking out the trees and shrubs and raking. Looks like the robust and hardy rugosa roses suffered! Not sure if they all will be coming back. I see growth only on one. Could be it's just anxious and the others are still waking up, or not. The rhubarb even looks a bit ... questionable! (Suspicious of Moto!) The Rose Trees of China are doing EXCELLENTLY! Hooray! The mayday tree, raspberries, and two apple trees have woke up. So here we go with our growing season! The swallows, robins, geese, swans, loons, are back and the beaver are back to their wood cutting ways!!!

I got out the water hoses and began watering and watering this afternoon. Funny thing about the dried out ground, when it is really dried out and needs the most water, it won't absorb it and the water will run over the top of it and away from the plants. Time and gentle watering heals the dry ground. Allowing small splashes of water to set on top of the soil will soften it up until it finally begins to absorb water again. If the time is not spent, then most likely the plants will suffer until it rains.

Isn't this the way it is with houseplants too? "But I watered that plant!" - many of us have said at one time or another as we sadly looked at a dried up ol' twig whose soil refused to absorb. *last dead leaf falls to the floor*

Dry soil is not unlike hard hearts. Hard hearts won't accept - forgiveness, love, kindness...until somebody softens them by gently splashing them with the water hose!

Here is a verse from Ezekiel 36. The New King James Bible has the chapter titled: A Blessing On Israel.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

Wow, a heart of stone - removed!

Diggin' Up Bones

My little dog Chewy is a funny little character. I love his company. Shihtzu's are the greatest little indoor dogs. No shedding and they love people, they especially love little people! I have to watch him for he loves to give wet, juicy, kissy, licks to little messy faces! Sometimes Mommy's don't appreciate that. Chewy and I both know that babies love it though!

Chewy listens to noises and when he hears something he may get all excited and anxious or he may growl and gruff because he can't see and does not know what the noises are. This morning he was sitting with me here beside the computer. I have the window open (ahhhhh). He heard tires and assumed it was somebody we both would like to see so he wags his tail and whines and stands looking up at the window. Sometimes on long dark winter days he will sit on the ottoman and stare at the shadowy windows, and grrr.

I've thought to myself - he does just like I do. Sometimes when I only hear bits and pieces of stories my mind fills in the missing parts with maybes and perhaps and whys. Many times I will be diggin' up ol' bones from the past and tucking them into the story too. The reasons for the maybes, perhaps, and whys. Sometimes (!!!!) I will assume that my digging is probably right! I can hear my sister saying, "Heeeeeee!"

My dogs have been diggin' up ol' bones too! I have a big ol' ugly one on the lawn today! This morning they were too quiet and quiet = mischief. They've been encouraging each other to go out of the yard these warm spring days to dig up some fabulous stinky treasures and drag them home.

This morning when I checked on them - sure enough they were gone. I called and called. The first to get back all out of breath was Moto. "OH whew!" I thought, "the dog pound guy didn't catch them!" Trailing along behind was our ol' Chevy dog. I scolded them and told them not to run off. Now they are both clipped up and dreaming of finding more big bones - I know they are because their feet are still running.

Ol' bones should only be treasured by dogs who love stinky things. They attract flies, stink up the air and then we have to find a place to bury them where they won't be dug up again! Just like memories of family and friends there are lots of words said in anger, jealousy, pride... words that just keep being dug up like ol' stinky bones.

I thank God for forgiveness! He not only forgives - He gives us His righteousness, and covers up all those stinky ol' bones with His blood! He replaces my ugliness with love, mercy, long suffering... all His characteristics.

I must resist the urges to dig up those ol' bones. With His power I can. I don't want to keep diggin' them up and draggin' them back home! yuck

I wish my dogs felt the same way!

"since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him," Colossians 3: 9,10. (The Recipe for Happiness: Colossians 3:5-17.)