Woolies and Soweto Gospel Choir: Madiba Tribute

Live Life to the Hilt

For praise and thanksgiving

I just read Luke 1 and 2 and especially liked these verses- 

1:68--75 "Blessed be The Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people...to show the mercy promised to our Fathers and to remember His holy covenant,... That we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days."

Our enemies are just as real today, both physical threats of Islam terrorists, people who want to take away our freedoms, and our own spiritually wrong thoughts- leading us to doubt God's word, and be fearful, as well as the Enemy of our souls.  But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph, and has not given us a spirit of fear but of a sound mind!

May you be able to rejoice in His love and power in your days, as you go about serving Him without fear , and boldly showing His love to those who don't know our merciful Savior!

He burned up our invoice of debt

This is the reason we are overwhelmed at the mercies of God, the reason why there can be true JOY at Christmas, and deep peace. This is from Billy Graham's devotional for today.

Years ago King Charles V was loaned a large sum of money by a merchant in Antwerp. The note came due, but the king was bankrupt and unable to pay. The merchant gave a great banquet for the King. When all the guests were seated and before the food was brought in, the merchant had a large platter placed on the table and a fire lighted on it. Then, taking the note out of his pocket, he held it in the flames until it was burned to ashes. The king threw his arms around his benefactor and wept. Just so, we have been mortgaged to God. The debt was due, but we were unable to pay. Two thousand years ago God invited the world to the Gospel feast, and in the agonies of the cross, God held your sins and mine until every last vestige of our guilt was consumed.

May you know His peace and forgiveness today and bask in His love for you. Take time to sit still and listen to His Word each day these coming weeks. He is worth your time!

Lovely harp music!

http://youtu.be/Tiye0BqxJS4

Satisfied in Him

"They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life, in Your light do we see light." Psalm 36:8-9

Amy Carmichael wrote for today's devotion in Edges of His Ways,   "The foundation of our happiness must be invisible, not visible." Because we are told to walk by faith and not by sight, God reminds us continually that our life's joy and strength is found in Him, especially when circumstances are difficult. He is worthy of our trust especially when things don't look wonderful around us! But in Him we will be completely satisfied.

Delighting and Loving

"For in my inner being I delight in God's law."  From Romans 7:22

Many years ago, when I'd been married only about 3 years, I was aware one day of how disappointed I was in my good husband, and it dawned on me that he could never satisfy all the longings of my heart, and that only God could.  I'm sure the Holy Spirit was telling me that all my comforts, joys, and desires would only be completely satisfied by delighting in Him, the source of all Truth, Joy, and Love.  I slowly began to recognize that my husband was not given to me to make me happy, but the Lord was going to teach me to focus on his happiness and not my own.  I did not learn this completely on that day, or in 1 year, or even in 20!  It takes daily little deaths, as my mother used to say, in many chances to die to self, to put the other's happiness first.  I am so thankful that as I would read the Bible in "fits and starts", sometimes eagerly, sometimes as a duty, and often infrequently,  the Lord showed me over and over that His desires for me were for serving, giving, loving, and not taking myself and my wants so seriously-it takes a LIFE time to learn this!  As Paul said "I have not attained, but keep pressing on...."  

It has also amazed me over and over again, how gracious and kind my husband is, even tho' I've been a nagging, mean, trying-to-control-him-wife!  On one day, I will make up my mind that I will say no words of criticism or "management" and within a few hours I've failed.  Where does my eagerness to follow Christ go?  It disappears into the insatiable mist of the hungering SELF! God has shown me His grace and forgiveness time and time again, through His Word, and through my husband's acceptance and meekness when I've put him down again and again.  So, it still takes daily "little" deaths (tho' sometimes they seem huge to this Self) and I'm still learning to be gracious and keep my mouth shut- maybe once a day?!  Oh, that I may love kindness as His Word says, in every minute, hour, and day.

Micah 6:8 says:

"He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[a]
    and to walk humbly with your God?"

"Many persons want to hear what God says just out of curiosity. They want to analyze and dissect it in their own test tubes. To these persons, God may remain the great cosmic silence “out there somewhere.” He communicates to those who are willing to hear and receive Him, and willing to obey Him. Jesus said that we must become humble as little children, and God has most often revealed Himself to the meek and the humble—to a shepherd boy like David, to a rough desert man like John the Baptist, to shepherds watching their flocks, to a girl named Mary. How does God speak? How can a blind man see? How can a deaf man hear? From the beginning God spoke to man. Adam heard the voice of the Lord in the Garden of Eden. Adam had two sons, Cain and Abel, and God spoke to them. Cain spurned that which was revealed to him, but Abel was obedient to the Word of God. Abel’s response showed that a man tainted and handicapped by sin could respond to God’s overtures. Thus, in the beginning, God began by revelation to build a bridge between Himself and people."

-from Billy Graham's devotional on Micah 7:18

The Grahams

I'm eager to hear Billy Graham tonight on Fox TV at 10 PM EST.  Hope you can watch and hear him tonight or the next two nights- see My Hope America.com or Watch Billy Graham.  He is a true saint and we must listen to the aged, as the Bible says their grey heads are a crown.

I was able to meet and visit with Mrs. Graham shortly after I had had my 8th child, Sarah Abigail.  What a treat it was to see this wonderful woman of God.  She honored my mother and me with love and kindness, as we wanted to honor her for her life of godliness.  Her face was full of light and joy and we felt unusually blessed.  I do hope I can live long and honor others with His love and kindness, and be able to speak of His faithfulness.

A short devotional from Billy Graham

"Apart from religious influence, the family is the most important unit of society. It would be good if every home were Christian, but we know that it is not so. The family and the home can never exert their proper influence while ignoring the biblical standard. The Bible calls for discipline and a recognition of authority. If children do not learn this at home, they will go out into society without the proper attitude toward authority and law. There is always the exceptional child, but the average tells us that the child is largely what the home has made him. The only way to provide the right home for your children is to put the Lord above them, and fully instruct them in the ways of the Lord. You are responsible before God for the home you provide for them."

Walt and I made many mistakes. At the beginning, one of them was raising our children to "be good" mainly for the approval of other people, tho' we weren't conscious of it for many years. We wanted to look good to others and my husband greatly feared that his children would turn out like many pastors' kids-"holy terrors." I greatly feared that they would not grow up to be the Christian citizens I was trying to make them, because I so often failed at consistent discipline.  Another great mistake and sin was to not give them our full attention when they needed to tell us something that was important to them. We often neglected to spend quantity and quality time with them-- both are truly important! We didn't always 'put the Lord above them' as we should have, but He has forgiven us and shown us His unconditional love. In the long run (37 years since our wedding) God has shown Himself to be truly gracious and faithful to work in their hearts , and to cover over our mistakes. They are tremendous blessings to us, not the least of which is delighting in their humor, and enjoying them as adults.  God is in the business of sanctifying and convicting and blessing, and we are so humbled by His kindness shown to us by His work in them.  How thankful we are for those Gifts!  If a Christian home can truly be loving and talk about His grace, as His children, often referring to the Bible as our standard, He will do the deeper work in the hearts of those given to erring parents.  I want to  encourage parents to teach them two foundational principles, and they would be to ~Love God and Love others.

Good devotions

From Amy Carmichael's book, Edges of His Ways:

August 14
Ps. 47:4  "He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved."

"Have you ever looked longingly at another life and wished that you had as much as it has to offer?  But He shall choose, and He does not call the inheritance of any Jacob 'poor'.  He calls it the excellency of Jacob.
The marvel is not that we have so little to offer, but that we have anything at all.  There was no worthiness in Jacob.  Whom He loved is the only explanation. 

But - and is not this comforting? - God needs each separate soul, each personality with the inheritance of His choice, for the perfecting of His purpose in the spiritual creation.  And when it is perfected He will be satisfied, and we too shall be satisfied, 'lost in wonder, love and praise' that we ever were allowed the smallest share in it.

August 15
Ps. 18:2 "The Lord is my firm support."

Samuel Rutherford knew God as his firm support.  In 1637 he wrote in one of his letters: 'I know that no man hath a velvet cross, but that the cross is made of that which God will have it.'

Another of his words which can encourage us today is: 'When I lose breath climbing up the mountain, He maketh new breath.'

What a firm support our Lord is, to even the weakest of His children! "

~~( I highly recommend reading any of what this great old saint wrote!)

I am continually amazed at my own need of the daily reading of the Word, and His firm support!

Why do I seem to forget it so easily?  And when I have spent time reading thoughtfully His Word, I am put at peace, and blessed by His presence.  But guess what!  I am easily distracted by other things on my Ipad ( a sweet gift from one of my daughters!) or my phone.  When I start out the morning with great intentions of spending a full hour reading and praying, the "other things" draw me to themselves, and my mind makes excuses of why I need to check something right then. The still small voice of the Holy Spirit does speak, and yet, sadly,  I "put Him off!"  I know it grieves Him and I have to ask forgiveness for the giving in to this world's distractions and attractions.  He is so much more worthy of my time than they are! Oh, that we could fully and wholeheartedly give our attention to HIM alone, and let the other things take 3rd and 4th place in our day, not the first and second place of my day.  May my mind and heart be united in fearing Him, and may my resolution be firm to give HIM the worship, attention, and praise that is due Him.   May I be like Caleb, who wholeheartedly served the Lord all his long life, and be a woman who eagerly gives her first hour to Him alone, who only satisfies. 

My husband Walt's sermon, Aug. 4, 2013

http://christcoastalchurch.org/2013/08/03/july-28-2013-sermon-recording-by-walt-shepard/

Serving Him

"When you know you are a royal and immortal priest of God, destined for eternity in heaven, you can freely serve and give yourself away right now. In fact, selfless service is an unmistakable sign of authentic faith. " --from devotions for a happy healthy church, from Time of Grace.org

One of my favorite truths to live by, is to be able to do something for someone else, for Christ's sake, without having to report it to anyone, because I must learn to love Him, and not myself or people's approval. ....still learning!

My grandson David Martin at the age of 3, and me, in England, 2011

Live Life to the Hilt

Subscribe - Truth For Life--Alistair Begg

Subscribe - Truth For Life

Live Life to the Hilt

From John Piper

What's it all about?

The message of creation is this: there is a great God of glory and power and generosity behind all this awesome universe; you belong to him; he is patient with you in sustaining your rebellious life; turn and bank your hope on him and delight yourself in him, not his handiwork.

I'm so thankful that life IS all about our great God of glory. What misery there is when it's only about us!

My mother's advice

This is an excerpt from my mother's radio program, Gateway to Joy, when she talked about transformed marriages.  It is true, within 36 hrs. Of our wedding, even though we couldn't imagine before the wedding that she was right, we had sinned, and hurt each other.  She gave us wisdom and graciously prepared us, since we had really not experienced each other's sin beforehand! Walt and I are very thankful for her advice....take your hurt to the foot of the Cross, where there is forgiveness, and when one repents, one can get up with His strength and grace and go on, committing again to love and be gracious.

"Not very long before my daughter and her husband got married, they actually sat down in the kitchen and asked me to give them advice. I don't know very many young couples that do that. I was so gratified, I could hardly believe my ears.

A young couple asking me for advice, especially my own daughter and my future son-in-law? "Yes," they said. "Just start talking. Give us advice."

And you know what I said to them? I said, "You're going to hurt each other." And they looked at each other with utter disbelief. Hurt each other?? How could they possibly do that when they love each other with such a passion? I said, "Well, guess what? I'm right. You will hurt each other. Probably not until after the wedding, but you know, it could be within 24 hours or so. I know because God has given me, in His amazing providence, three different husbands. Very different. I've hurt everyone of them. I know I did. And I've had to respond differently to each of them." But what else is new?

Anyway, I said to them. "You will hurt each other. Remember you heard it here first, and when it happens then remember that there is forgiveness. Jesus Christ forgives us when we repent and take the hurt first of all to the foot of the cross, not to the other person. Don't just snap back and get even. That's not going to get you anywhere. Take it to the foot of the cross. Lay it out before the Lord. Repent of your own anger and fear and hurt." But why should I repent of the hurt, somebody might say. Well, not specifically because of the hurt itself perhaps, but what were your reactions exactly? What were your thoughts about the one who had hurt you?"

I now have been married 37 years, and it still amazes me that I can hurt my husband and am insensitive to my his needs, as well as how I could love and encourage him.....God is in the business of sanctifying us, and that is my hope and comfort!  I still have that selfish old "man" that rises up inside of me and wants his way, but I'm so thankful also for Gal. 2:20.  May that encourage you today also.

Muslims and Christ

This article encouraged me as we think of the needs around the world for the light and truth of Jesus Christ.  May it also encourage you to pray for those who do not know His light, His love, and His peace. This is from a newsletter I subscribe to called Joel Ministries International.

India: A murderer encounters Christ (2) In our last edition we introduced Noor, a gangster who knew no mercy. One day his son developed a fatal illness.   As the hours went by, dark thoughts invaded Noor’s mind as he sat next to his failing son’s bed. Must he lose all of his children? Was this a punishment from Allah for all the murders and the torture of others? No, he had been faithful. Allah had granted him power over these infidels. He could regret nothing. His son would not die. He would not allow it. He would kill the whole world if he had to, but Waqar would survive.   When the doctor examined the boy again, he saw that he was failing. He shook his head, and turned to the boy’s father, to tell him it was hopeless. But as he turned, he found Noor’s face six inches from his own, eyes blazing. He held a knife in his hand. “You will save my son’s life, or I will kill you,” he said. The doctor remained calm. “I cannot save your son,” he replied. “It is out of my hands. I am sorry.”   “I can’t do anything for your son, but I know someone who can heal him.”   There was something wrong here. It took a few seconds to register, but then Noor understood what it was. This man was not afraid of him. He had been threatened with a knife, with death, but he had no fear. He looked peaceful. Noor stared at him, not knowing what to do. The power he always felt in harassing his victims was absent here. He had no control over this man. He put the knife back into his pocket, and looked at his son. “Then in whose hands is he? I have prayed to all the gods.” The doctor looked at him with great compassion. “I can’t do anything for your son, but I know someone who can heal him. The Lord Jesus Christ. We can pray to Jesus right now, if you wish.”   Noor Alam nodded. Together, they got down on their knees. Noor did not know this Jesus, but as he listened to the doctor pray, he was overcome with emotion. This man prayed as if he knew his God personally, as if he were alive, right there in the room with them. He prayed for Waqar as if he were his own son, as if he knew and loved him. Noor felt power in this prayer, true power, not the power of a gun, but something much more. When it was over, they rose, and the doctor turned to him. “We have asked for healing. Now we must have faith that the Lord will permit it.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small book. “Read this, my brother, and you will understand.”   Noor took the book and began reading by his son’s bed. The book was a holy book, and told about Jesus. He read for hours, that Jesus was the Son of God, sent by the Father to save all men, all who would believe in him, repent, and follow him. He read that Jesus performed many healings, and Jesus said these people had been healed by their faith. He thought of those he had killed and hurt, and he emptied himself of tears as the guilt and shame overwhelmed him. In the early hours of the morning, trembling, Noor got to his knees once more. It was a simple prayer. “Lord Jesus, I have faith that you will heal my boy. If you will do this, I will follow you with all my heart, and you will be my God. I beg your forgiveness for the terrible things I have done.”   “By mid-2012, Noor had brought hundreds to Christ.” Waqar’s recovery was remarkable. He was back home within a week. Noor Alam immersed himself in the New Testament, then began proclaiming Jesus in his village. The Muslims could not believe what had happened, but Noor’s testimony was irresistible. His son had been brought back from the brink of death, but even more astounding was that this criminal, this murderer, was now preaching that salvation, forgiveness and healing is available through love, the love of Jesus Christ!   Some came to Christ. Then others, some in the next village. Noor Alam preached at the market and brought many to Christ. Some Muslims challenged him, but no one threatened him; his past was known to all. He met a Big Life church planter, who discipled him and showed him how to begin churches. He joined the ministry. They worked together, visiting villages, planting churches. By mid-2012, Noor Alam was known as Pastor Noor. He had brought hundreds to Christ, and had planted churches in many Muslim villages. He was following Christ with all his heart, just as he had promised.   What do you need to repent of today? There is no end to God’s forgiveness, if our repentance is sincere. Today, please pray for Pastor Noor’s ministry, and for all Christian ministries working in Bihar, historically known as ‘the graveyard of missionaries.’   This story is from an upcoming book by Peter Hone, who is involved in Big Life, a non-denominational, rapidly reproducing church planting movement focused on discipling ordinary men and women to reach their own people for Christ. Source: Noor Alam, Peter Hone

My mother, Elisabeth H E Gren

Live Life to the Hilt.    

My mother and Lars are now home in Massachusetts.  They have 1 woman living with them until the end of  May. There is a young woman coming from Portland, Or. To help. Continue to pray for their future care.  

Being at the Martins' in Newcastle, England

It is so wonderful to be  at my daughter Elisabeth's home with our 4 grandchildren, Valerie, David, Jim, and Jennie. We went to a mall today, played at the park, played Simon Says in their "garden" which is the back yard, and fooled around with the camera on my IPad, given to me by my daughter, Evangeline. I've added some pictures....

Live Life to the Hilt: about me

Live Life to the Hilt: about me

Live Life to the Hilt

Tyranny of our ideals

Live Life to the Hilt


"There's nothing wrong with admitting there are aspects of life that disappoint. There's nothing wrong with recognizing the way things ought to go as distinct from the way they do. And there's nothing wrong with the impulse within for something like perfection. In fact, there's a lot right about all of these things. But as always, just because something is right doesn't preclude its getting twisted into something hideous. When we let our yearning for perfection, or the ideal, rob us of our joy and ability to find contentment in what's here and now real, at least when what's real is indeed worthy of our love and appreciation, we're not being wise or philosophical. We're being fools, having abdicated most all the joy of which we're capable in this life."

This quote is from a website called the Morris Institute, which  someone on a plane recommended to me. Christ is missing from it as far as I have read, but the human ideas point to the truth of our resting in God's sovereign reign in our lives.  Nothing gives more peace and contentment than the truth of His dying  in our place and rising from the dead in order to make us new creations in His righteousness. I have been in that thought life of wishing with all my heart that I could be perfect or make my family perfect, and Christ has opened my eyes and heart to accept that HE only is perfect, that He wants to make me contented in His righteousness, and that His Joy over me (Nehemiah 8:10) is now my joy and strength. My ideals had become my idols , and I had been straining to obtain those ideals in my own effort, which only brought grief and frustration. By His Grace, I begin again (every day) learning Galatians 2:20---I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me, that I might live no more for myself, and my idols, but by His strength,  live for Him.   I see my own failures every day, my weakness in living wholeheartedly for Him, and my only hope is in His continuing work in sanctifying me.  Hebrews 10:14 is SO ENCOURAGING!  He will finish the work He has begun.

Offerings in our Brunswick county

Live Life to the Hilt

And they came,  everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him,  and brought the  Lord 's contribution to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the holy garments.  All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the  Lord  had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the  Lord . (Exodus 35:21, 29 ESV)

Freely give because you have received from His abundance of riches!  My heart is stirred and blessed by this story. How often  have I been stingy, because I've come from a base of  " We don't have enough to spread around....it's not like we're wealthy..." From now on, I'm going to share what I have because His riches are my base of operation!

And they came,  everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him,  and brought the  Lord 's contribution.  It all belongs to Him anyway! How can we hold back - is it because we're worried about not having enough? Don't we belong to Him who has all the wealth of the earth in His hands?

Take from among you a contribution to the  Lord .  Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the  Lord 's contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;  And they came,  everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him.

Lord, may Your Spirit MOVE in our hearts! Make us so generous that we can't WAIT to give to You, and we find thrilling Joy in it!

"Take from among you a contribution to the  Lord .  Whoever is of a generous heart.....he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with  skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship..." (Exodus 35:5, 21, 31 ESV)

The X date on Reliv website

http://bcove.me/0dx6bq98     the X date Reliv announcement

"Everyone" has been getting the flu, or bronchitis, or a bad cold.  My husband and I have not had any of it and we are sure that it's the kindness of God, and His allowing us to take Reliv, which has made our immune systems stronger. My daughter, Elisabeth, introduced us to it in 2008 and we've been taking the shakes now for 4 yrs. and 4 months, and have not had more than 2 colds since.   Please watch this on Sat. Jan. 12 at 11 Central time, and you may be surprised.  If anyone is interested in being a customer or a distributor, I'd be happy to tell you more.  Just let me know. The link above is just the announcement to the webcast that will be on tomorrow at 11 Central time on Reliv.com.  You must register first to watch it, so get on the website earlier to make sure you will be able to. It is free.