Behold the youthful Joseph when temptation raised its head;
He lingered not but locked his mind above and quickly fled.
And not the threat of prison could persuade him to deny
His God in Whom he trusted every weakness to supply.
Let’s dwell in light, denying self, by Jesus’ arm sustained,
Unmoved by censure or applause: of Christ we’re not ashamed!
Behold the steadfast trio, told by Babylon’s king to bow
To Dura’s golden image: they stood firmly to their vow.
They feared the God of Heaven more than torture’s fiery jaw,
And, seeing Him as King of kings, obeyed His holy Law.
Let’s dwell in light, denying self, by Jesus’ arm sustained,
Unmoved by censure or applause: of Christ we’re not ashamed!
Behold the transformed Peter not ashamed to bear the cross,
But, boldly bearing witness, counted earthly life but loss.
For, filled with love for Jesus, he could not forbear to speak
Of how the King of Heaven spilled His blood to set us free.
Let’s dwell in light, denying self, by Jesus’ arm sustained,
Unmoved by censure or applause: of Christ we’re not ashamed!
(This poem is the result of a study I did on GYC's next theme: unASHAMED. I finished the poem last night. I pray it will be a blessing.)
Monday, March 23, 2009
What an opportunity...
Something struck me this morning… We each have an opportunity – every day – to have an experience like Daniel when he was in the den of lions. This earth really is like a den of lions… Temptations surround us and our “adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” So many people around us are looking for something solid that they can always depend on… They are watching us, and the cry of their heart is “is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” It is up to us how that is answered. We can either dishonor God, not accepting his strength and protection to overcome sin, or we can say with Daniel, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me…” This incredible victory was made possible because Daniel “believed in his God.” When we really take God at His word, those around us will see that our Father “is the living God, and steadfast forever...He delivereth and rescueth…”
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Spanish and Spring
[written by Mom - excerpts from a letter]
February 24 – March 6th Lisa, Rachel & I took a two-week Spanish class. It was intense, fascinating, challenging, amazing, hectic, scary, and fun all at the same time! Imagine cramming 3-4 years of toddlerhood into two weeks, with no English words used to teach you about the world around you. For ten – eleven hours a day, with the use of pictures & everyday objects, and with our teacher acting things out, we learned vocabulary & how to put sentences together. Each evening we were literally brain-weary, often with a headache. But by the second week, it was amazing how much we had learned! We took the class with the Waters, Nebbletts, and Caroline & Paul Dysinger.
On our first day of class we were given a listening comprehension test, and exactly one week later we took the same test again. The difference was dramatic! Our beginning class average was about 26%, and we ended at 80%. Our teacher said that this same test is given to students just completing third or fourth year of college Spanish, and they don’t have the grasp of grammar that students in his classes do. Amazing!
We are by no means fluent in conversation yet, but we have CDs & graphics to review & practice, so we should get it! By the way, the reason we’re doing this is because of the great need to reach out to the large Hispanic populations in our country now. We are expecting more work in those groups, so are preparing for that.
Our weather was below 0ºF last week, but we were happy for the corresponding deep blue skies! Our flower bulbs don’t seem to be intimidated by the low temps, as they’re popping up now. So, although we still have snow on the ground, we’re happy to know Spring is just around the corner now. The four of us are certainly anticipating the lengthening days here in the far north!
Speaking of spring, we are so excited that our new magazine (Forever a Family) is in the mail now! We are beginning to get positive feed-back already, which is so rewarding. We hope it will be a blessing to many people.
February 24 – March 6th Lisa, Rachel & I took a two-week Spanish class. It was intense, fascinating, challenging, amazing, hectic, scary, and fun all at the same time! Imagine cramming 3-4 years of toddlerhood into two weeks, with no English words used to teach you about the world around you. For ten – eleven hours a day, with the use of pictures & everyday objects, and with our teacher acting things out, we learned vocabulary & how to put sentences together. Each evening we were literally brain-weary, often with a headache. But by the second week, it was amazing how much we had learned! We took the class with the Waters, Nebbletts, and Caroline & Paul Dysinger.
On our first day of class we were given a listening comprehension test, and exactly one week later we took the same test again. The difference was dramatic! Our beginning class average was about 26%, and we ended at 80%. Our teacher said that this same test is given to students just completing third or fourth year of college Spanish, and they don’t have the grasp of grammar that students in his classes do. Amazing!
We are by no means fluent in conversation yet, but we have CDs & graphics to review & practice, so we should get it! By the way, the reason we’re doing this is because of the great need to reach out to the large Hispanic populations in our country now. We are expecting more work in those groups, so are preparing for that.
Our weather was below 0ºF last week, but we were happy for the corresponding deep blue skies! Our flower bulbs don’t seem to be intimidated by the low temps, as they’re popping up now. So, although we still have snow on the ground, we’re happy to know Spring is just around the corner now. The four of us are certainly anticipating the lengthening days here in the far north!
Speaking of spring, we are so excited that our new magazine (Forever a Family) is in the mail now! We are beginning to get positive feed-back already, which is so rewarding. We hope it will be a blessing to many people.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Pictures from Summer 08
Here are some pictures from last Summer. Pictures really don't do justice to the beautiful scenery... but it's a step! Enjoy! ~Lisa
Last summer we backpacked about five miles to an old lookout cabin on the top of a mountain. To get water, we had to hike 1.5 miles, losing 1,000 feet in elevation. It was a very memorable experience! Visit the album below to see pictures of the spectacular scenery we enjoyed on this trip...
We also enjoyed a visit from Uncle Roger & Aunt Amy and their little ones while they were on furlough last summer. Nathan and Alyssa are the same age now as Rachel and I were when we moved to the mission field. While they were here, we visited a wilderness area near our home and Glacier National Park; see album below.
When Grandpa & Grandma Krum were here in August, we visited Banff Provincial Park in BC for the first time. Banff is about four hours from our house. It was beautiful, despite the cloudy weather.
Last summer we backpacked about five miles to an old lookout cabin on the top of a mountain. To get water, we had to hike 1.5 miles, losing 1,000 feet in elevation. It was a very memorable experience! Visit the album below to see pictures of the spectacular scenery we enjoyed on this trip...
 |
| Mount Wam Backpacking Trip |
We also enjoyed a visit from Uncle Roger & Aunt Amy and their little ones while they were on furlough last summer. Nathan and Alyssa are the same age now as Rachel and I were when we moved to the mission field. While they were here, we visited a wilderness area near our home and Glacier National Park; see album below.
 |
| Roger & Amy's visit |
When Grandpa & Grandma Krum were here in August, we visited Banff Provincial Park in BC for the first time. Banff is about four hours from our house. It was beautiful, despite the cloudy weather.
 |
| Trip to Banff with Grandpa & Grandma |
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
This morning's musings...
Have you ever thought of what this world would be without giving? Worse yet - what would life be like if heaven ceased to give, as they have every reason to do?
Nearly everything in the entire universe lives with an object of giving all that it is possible to give with no thought of how great or small its position may be... The tiny flower pours out its fragrance with as much enthusiasm and dedication as does the sun.
If only that word "nearly" didn't have to be there... The only dissonant note in this symphony of joyful, unthinking giving is the unconverted heart of man. The way the world looks at it, the only way to be happy is to live for self. What a broken cistern! In seeking for happiness, man is turning his back on the only source of true, lasting happiness and trading it for a fleeting joy that will leave him feeling more empty than before. If only all could see that the only joy worthy of the name comes from giving all...
Imagine a world without giving…
So dreadful, nothing would be living.
No light from the sun would gladden our course...
Ripples surge inwards, and streams to their source.
But of everything dreadful, the worst thought of all –
A heav’n without giving! E’en the thought does appall.
No tender compassion from the Son of our life,
No strength from our Father to overcome strife.
But thanks be to God, we can turn from this sight!
Heavn’s giving and giving with all of its might
To wrest wretched sinners from terrible doom,
Gently easing our burdens and lifting the gloom.
So don’t be like spirals that disappear in,
Give of yourself – you’ll find such joy within!
As a spiral flowing outward forever extends,
The rich joy of giving is a joy without end!
~RK, March 09
Nearly everything in the entire universe lives with an object of giving all that it is possible to give with no thought of how great or small its position may be... The tiny flower pours out its fragrance with as much enthusiasm and dedication as does the sun.
If only that word "nearly" didn't have to be there... The only dissonant note in this symphony of joyful, unthinking giving is the unconverted heart of man. The way the world looks at it, the only way to be happy is to live for self. What a broken cistern! In seeking for happiness, man is turning his back on the only source of true, lasting happiness and trading it for a fleeting joy that will leave him feeling more empty than before. If only all could see that the only joy worthy of the name comes from giving all...
Imagine a world without giving…
So dreadful, nothing would be living.
No light from the sun would gladden our course...
Ripples surge inwards, and streams to their source.
But of everything dreadful, the worst thought of all –
A heav’n without giving! E’en the thought does appall.
No tender compassion from the Son of our life,
No strength from our Father to overcome strife.
But thanks be to God, we can turn from this sight!
Heavn’s giving and giving with all of its might
To wrest wretched sinners from terrible doom,
Gently easing our burdens and lifting the gloom.
So don’t be like spirals that disappear in,
Give of yourself – you’ll find such joy within!
As a spiral flowing outward forever extends,
The rich joy of giving is a joy without end!
~RK, March 09
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