Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

I hope all is well with you. The weather here has been great, its what I assumed it would be when we came here. It has been cold most of the winter, the locals say it's very unseasonable.


Enough about that. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers. I went to the doctor last Friday and he "upped" my blood pressure meds and low and behold I have felt better. Sunday, I felt so good everyone made comments they sure could tell the difference. So, Praise the Lord! May I continue felling good.


The Lord contiues to use us here. What a great feeling when you know you are in His will. I spoke Sunday on heaven and that I really dont know how it will be. Right now I can only imagine, but one day I will know for sure!

Have a great day, love you. pass it on,
Don


A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."


Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."


"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"


The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.


Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough."

Monday, February 25, 2008

Lessons on Life (author unknown)

The following pictures are of the same place but taken in different seasons...
Lessons on Life



There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.



The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.



When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.


The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.


The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.



The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.



The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.



The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.



He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.


If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.



Moral lessons:
Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don't judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come.



God's sanctifying power is a process!

He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the LORD has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory. Isaiah 61:3

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

It is that time of week again and I pray all is well with you.

God continues to show himself mighty and is using us for His glory. We had a great day Sunday and we look forward to this week with great anticipation.

Thank you for thinking of us, praying for us and sending those words of encouragement via email. I also want to thank those that have sent money to help us in our ministry you will never know how grateful we are.

Until next week, see you in church.


Have a great day, love you, pass it on
Don


35 Cents

When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Recommended Reading
Proverbs 22:3-5

The late Adrian Rogers once told a story that humorously shows the serious effects pride can have on a person. He told of a man who walked into a friend's home, bruised and bleeding. When asked what had happened, the injured friend replied, "Well, I was walking down the street and was mugged by two thugs who wanted all of my money. I didn't want to give it to them, so I fought them and fought them and fought them!" His friend then asked how much money he had on him when he was attacked. "Thirty-five cents," he answered. "You fought for 35 cents?" his friend exclaimed. "Yes," the wounded man answered. "I didn't want to reveal my financial situation."

We can laugh at this character's irrational behavior, but how many times have we said or done something in an effort to conceal our true spiritual condition, financial state, or marital health?
The Bible tells us that "A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor" (Proverbs 29:23). A moment of humility will gain more respect than a lifetime of pride. Begin to live a humble life, moment by moment.

"Satan's number one weapon is pride. God's number one defense is humility." Larry Burkett

Friday, February 15, 2008

Reply from Frank & Helen Maguire

Don, LaVon, and Quail Run friends,

We are reaching the end of our stay in Kirkland, WA. On Sunday we begin our train trek across the frigid north-central tundra, eventually on to Indianapolis.

We have enjoyed our stay, though "unhappy" re: the weather here. But we know that Joy, not happiness, is the test.

I am involved in the Dickens matter, still. Arizona Federal Public Defender Dale Baich and I stay in communication. He has sent to me the full trial transcript--Grand Jury, Pre-trials, and Trial--on a cd rom. I am in the process of studying it. It is a bundle, and all of the procedural stuff makes one wonder how we ever make the system work. (Does it work?) I will tell you more when we return to AZ, on the first or second week of March.

Give our love to all, and continue to pray for us. God's grace is sufficient for the day, and, as I look over our national scene, we need a super-abundance of it these days.

God bless,

Frank and Helen

Don Baker wrote:

How are you two doing? LaVon and I think of you two often and pray for you and yours. I have been asked by several in church how you are. Hope we get to spend some time together before we leave. Let me know where you are and what your plans may be.

Have a great day,
Love, Don

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Sunday's Coming

Good morning from Arizona.

I pray all is going great for you. We had the best service Sunday since we have been here. A couple brought their granddaughter. I always give people an opportunity to give their heart to Jesus. Your right, this beautiful little girl prayed and asked Jesus into her heart.

God continues to use us here in a special way. I urge you to keep us in your prayers. I know when you're on the mountain top, you could fall off.

Know that we think of you often and are in our prayers. If you have a specific prayer request, let us know so we can pray with you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have a great day, love you, pass it on,
Don


I've Learned

I've learned that when you're in love, it shows.

I've leaned that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!"makes my day.

I've learned that what we do for only ourselves dies with us, but what we do selflessly for others becomes immortal.

I've learned that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned never to humiliate another person.

I've learned that if you are still talking about what you did yesterday, you haven't done much today.

I've learned that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned that life is tough, but I am tougher.

I've learned that friends are telling you something you should really listen to them even when it's something that you really don't want to hear.

I've learned that no matter how many times you lose someone you love, it still hurts just as bad as if it were the first time.

I've learned to live like you're gonna die tomorrow...

Why worry when you can pray?

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

I would tell you it is cold here but you would just laugh and say, "You should be here." Hope all is well with you and yours.

We want to say "thank you" again for your prayers, emails and especially the phone calls. It seems every time we hear from you something is going on and we are feeling a little down but, afterwards, we are encouraged again.

The work here is rewarding. We are seeing God at work in many ways. So, keep praying, writing and calling. It lifts our spirits so we can continue the work.

Also, keep us in your mind regarding our financial needs and thanks in advance for your support.

Have a great day, love you, pass it on.
Don

TINY FROGS

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....

Honestly: No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as: "Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top."

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher.

The crowd continued to yell, "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up but ONE continued higher and higher and higher, this one wouldn't give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it? A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out that the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is: Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you, the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore: ALWAYS be POSITIVE!

And above all: Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

With thanks to George Mow

To The World You Might Be One Person; But To One Person You Might Bethe World.

If you fall down 10 times, Stand up 11 times.