Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

First, thank you for your prayers, e-mails and calls, especially this week, that help us so much. 

One of my favorite TV comercials is the cowboy who gets knocked off his horse by words.

I was reading this morning and read the following – by Adrian Rogers:

The tongue is the meanest member in the church. The tongue is a fire and a world of iniquity. James says the tongue, though it be very small, is powerful and influential. Therefore the tongue should be handled with care.Your tongue need not be “set on fire of hell” (James 3:6). Like the Apostles at Pentecost, it can be set on fire from heaven! If God lights the fire and controls it, then the tongue can be a mighty tool for the winning of the lost and the building up of the church. The important thing, of course, is the heart; for it is “out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34). If the heart is filled with hatred, Satan will light the fire. But if the heart is filled with love, God will light the fire.

Words can not only tare you down, they can lift you up . Words give you encourgement and enable you to do things you wouldn't think you could do.

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

Sunday's Coming

 

Good Morning,

Thank you for your prayers. LaVon continues to have a lot of pain.  We praise God for the progress she has made in the increased range of motion and we hope and pray her shoulder will soon be healed.

I was reading this morning and read the following -

Do you ever feel like prayer is pointless? If God knows everything already, then why do we need to pray? Prayer is simply communication with God. In order to have a healthy relationship with another person, we must talk to one another. Similarly, we must communicate with the Father to have a thriving relationship with Him. It's way easier than it seems. Just start with thanking Him for life itself and all that you have. Talk to Him about all that is bothering you...etc. Agree with Him through the reading of His promises in His Word.

Why Pray?
by Jeff Schreve
Psalm 116:1-9

I did a little google search on the question, why pray? And one of the things that came up on the first page, why pray, was a blog from an atheist. And this atheist blogger said, ''I think prayer is the most ridiculous, useful less thing a person could ever do.''

Why pray? You know, the Scriptures says in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 and verse 1, ''The first thing,'' Paul told Timothy, ''the first thing I want you to do is pray.'' Why? Why do you want me to do that, Paul? Why is that the first thing? Why pray? Somebody could say, ''Well, you know, why pray? It's because God tells you to pray.'' That's kind of like the answer when you ask your parents, ''Why do you want me to do this?'' ''Just do what I say. It's because I told you so, that's why you do it. Do it because I told you.''

Well, we could say, ''Why pray?'' Well, God told us to. Well, that doesn't really answer the question. I mean, that's an answer, but it's kind of like an answer that just says shut up and do it.

God doesn't give us that kind of an answer. God says, ''This is why you pray,'' and the answer is found in Psalm 116 very clearly it says this: ''I love the LORD because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live...

Thank you for your support through your prayers, calls, e-mails and financial gifts. We continue to make ourselves available to the residents of this RV park and God gives us opportunity almost daily to encourage someone in Him by praying with them and listening to them. Our "Chaplain Baker" shingle is still hanging on the front of our RV and people know we are here.

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

Don

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

Thank you for your prayers. LaVon continues to have a lot of pain. We hope and pray her shoulder will soon be healed.

I was reading this morning and read the following from David Jerimiah which made me aware that every where we go is an opportunity to tell others about our Jesus, whether it be at physical therepy, at the VA or at WalMart, and especially where we live in this RV park.

The Painter Did It

By faith Moses... refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.  Hebrews 11:24-25

During a hotel stay in France, the founder of Greater Europe Mission, Robert Evans, determined to share his faith with the staff he encountered there. He quickly discovered that many of them were familiar with Gospel, and some had already come to faith in Christ. Evans was interested in how they came to know about Christ and found that it was one of the workers -- the hotel painter -- who had shared his faith. "Almost everything here gets constant painting," explained the man. "My work gets me into every department of the building, I know everybody and everybody knows me. Of course, I tell them about my Lord." 

This is a great reminder that our mission field is wherever we are. For Moses, it was the desert. He did his greatest work for the Lord in the hardest locations. Sometimes our situations are difficult and challenging, but having a Moses-like faith can help us see beyond the temporal and into the eternal. Don't be frustrated if you're tending sheep in the desert or painting a wall somewhere. God has a wonderful way of using us to reach people wherever we are. 

"A sage seeks opportunities in difficulties, and a fool finds difficulties in opportunities." We are born to overcome difficulties through the power of the Holy Spirit. 
Christiana Tsai, Chinese heroine

We want to thank you for your support through your prayers, calls, e-mails and finances.
Have a great day, love you, pass it on.
Don

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

We want to thank you for your prayers. LaVon's therapy is ongoing but she is still having a lot of pain. We just keep going, knowing God will HELP. (Update from LaVon after getting muscle relanant yesterday. "That stuff is golden!!") Praise the Lord! Muscles are relaxing enough to make the pain manageable as she stretches and exercises to get back to the normal use of her right arm and shoulder.

The Grace Adventure: What Is Grace About?
(from Fulfilled: The NIV Devotional Bible for the Single Woman)

We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. - Romans 8:37
I heard about a man who had just come through major surgery. When he slowly opened his eyes, his wife was there waiting and smiling. He looked around the room to see his children also smiling at him. After he was more awake, his wife handed him a stack of get-well cards from family and friends. Some were Biblical inspiration, some were kind and sweet and some were humorous and brought a smile to his eyes.
The front of one particular card had a collage of the myriad disasters from the life of Paul the apostle - pain, sickness, suffering, shipwreck, insults, being in the sea for three days and nights, beatings, stonings, and more.
The man was shocked and thought, What sick person sent this to me? How is this going to help me get better?
Then he opened the card, and all it said was,
So, how've you been?
The man broke into laughter. He suddenly recognized that the successful surgery he had undergone, even though quite painful, in no way compared to the repeated and life-threatening sufferings Paul had endured.
It is easy to focus on our own issues and indulge in unhealthy doses of self-pity, isn't it? We can fall into the trap of thinking that we are the only ones with such problems. .

Self-pity is our worst enemy, and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world. - Helen Keller

So, how've you been?
~ Mary Hollingsworth

O Lord, please help me not to feel sorry for myself but to recognize that as difficult as my struggles are, others may be facing even more critical problems. Help me to reach out to them.

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

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

Thank you for your prayers as LaVon continues to heal from her surgery; rehab may take a while. 

I was reading this morning and read the following from The Sower;

HEARING, ENCOURAGING, LISTENING

Years ago, my son ran to where I was sitting in front of a television trying to find an escape from the cares of the day. It had been a difficult twenty-four hours serving as a Navy chaplain in a large hospital. I was trying to escape from the stress and strain of being with sick and dying patients as the “Chaplain on Duty.”
Whatever he said did not register. So he said it again and then asked, “Dad, did you hear me?”
“Of course, Son, I was listening carefully,” was my reply.
Grabbing my face with his two little hands and looking into my eyes, he said, “Dad, I didn’t ask if you were listening. I asked if you heard me.” Then and there, I was taught the difference between listening and hearing.
The Psalmist recognized this difference, too. “You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them and You listen to their cry.”
What a comforting thought! His ear is always open to the cries of His children and He waits attentively to hear their voices in times of need. What a beautiful picture of a loving Father. There is nothing we need to do to get His attention nor is there a magical formula to use when we pray. All we have to do is to cry out to Him.
We cry and He hears. His ear is always open for our particular voice. His eyes are always on us no matter where we may be. And His heart is always sensitive to our personal needs. When we cry, He hears, He listens, He understands and He will respond and meet our needs.

Prayer: Lord, You are above us but not beyond us. You hear us when we cry and respond when the time is right. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 
Psalm 10:17 
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

We want to thank you, with grateful hearts, for your support through your prayers, calls, e-mails and financial gifts.

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

Sunday's Coming

Good morning,

It's been several weeks since I have had access to a laptop to post a devotional. LaVon has had a couple of physical issues that have caused us to be displaced for awhile. We appreciate your continued prayers as she faces shoulder surgery in the near future.

Today's encouragement comes from my archives folder:

Weekly Verse
“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.” —1 Thessalonians 5:15

Weekly Quote“Be thankful for the smallest blessing, and you will deserve to receive greater. Value the least gifts no less than the greatest and simple graces as special favors. If you remember the dignity of the Giver, no gift will seem small or mean, for nothing can be valueless that is given by the Most High God.” —Thomas à Kempis

Weekly Thought

In one of Aesop’s Fables, an ant went to the bank of a river to drink, fell into the stream, and found itself on the brink of drowning. A dove sitting on a tree overhanging the water plucked a leaf and let it fall into the stream close to the drowning ant. The ant climbed onto it and floated in safety to the bank. Shortly afterward, a bird catcher came and stood under the tree and began laying a trap for the dove. The ant, seeing his intent, seized the opportunity to sting him in the foot. In pain the bird catcher threw down the trap, and the noise alerted the dove to fly away.

It is wonderful to be blessed by random acts of kindness. It’s even more wonderful when we can return the favor. Who has helped you get by? Is there a way you can show them your gratitude?

Lord, thank You for the people who have helped me in life. Show me how I can be a blessing to others today. Amen.

[From Simple Truths: Your Destination for Inspiration

We thank you for your support through your prayers, calls, e-mails and gifts.

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

Sunday's Coming

Good Morning,

Thank you for your prayers as we continue to pray for you and this work God has called us to. 
LaVon made her doctors appointment but at this post we still don't know much except that she is still in a lot of pain. Please pray for her. 

GROWING OLD GOD'S WAY
(author unknown)

Two elderly gentlemen named Frank and Jim were sitting on a park bench under a tree.
Frank: "You know, Jim, I'm 85 years old, and I'm just full of aches and pains. You’re about my age. How do you feel?"

Jim: "I feel just like a newborn baby."

Frank: "Really!? Like a new-born baby!?"

Jim: "Yep. No hair, no teeth … and I think I just wet my pants."

Let’s call a spade a spade: Growing old is not for the faint of heart. It is tough work. Our bodies start to fall apart somewhere along the line of the aging process. Things quit working like they once did. Eyesight and hearing start to wane. Muscles start to atrophy. Tasks as simple as bending over to tie your shoes can become monumental endeavors. It is just hard to get old. 

Are you feeling old today? As a Christian, you are one day closer to your great reward. Make every day count until the Lord calls you home. Use the extra time you have on your hands to pray for and encourage others. Push yourself to keep going and keep growing. Embrace technology and use the computer and social media to be a blessing to family and friends. God is not finished with you yet, so don’t quit and don’t stagnate! 

"They will still yield fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and very green, to declare that the LORD is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him." Psalm 92:14-15

We want to thank you for your support through your prayers, calls, e-mails and gifts.

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