I love the book Around the Table by Sharon Fleming and highly recommend it. This is a must read for families. (In fact, I bought this book for every family in my local church!)
Sharon relates through stories and practical advice how to raise a godly family. She says she’s addressing one aspect of the Christian family, the time around the table, but really it’s so much more. As you read this book you will see the tremendous value and potential of meal times to enjoy the love of family, to instill Christian values, communication skills, manners and godliness. Sharon will inspire you to set your priorities, start new traditions and have fun as you press forward in raising your family. She deals honestly with struggles and difficulties and offers many ideas to help in those areas. Consider Sharon your personal coach sitting next to you urging you on as you raise your family.
I love this book because much of what I learned about God and life was learned around the table growing up. That specific table was built by my grandfather and could seat four or, after the leaves were added, twelve. It was there I learned the love of family, the love of God, the love of the brethren, the love of the Word, the love of hospitality, the love of fun and more. Today I have that table and use table time for building authentic relationships where love is. I would like to see those traditions continued and generations go on for God. I read this book and was encouraged to press on and be creative. I hope it will do the same for you!
Sharon has an ongoing ministry through her blog: http://www.aroundthetable.flemings.in
You may buy the book from ECS Miinistrie here http://www.ecsministries.org/185833.ihtml
Or Amazon, even on kindle!
In heavenly love abiding,
no change my heart shall fear.
and safe in such confiding,
for nothing changes here.
the storm may roar without me,
my heart may low be laid,
but God is round about me,
and can I be dismayed?
Wherever he may guide me,
no want shall turn me back.
my Shepherd is beside me,
and nothing can I lack.
his wisdom ever waking,
his sight is never dim.
He knows the way He's taking,
and I will walk with Him
Green pastures are before me,
which yet I have not seen.
Bright skies will soon be over me,
where darkest clouds have been.
My hope I cannot measure,
my path to life is free.
My Savior has my treasure,
and he will walk with me.
Here we are at our annual Summit Ridge Christmas party.
Terry was able to enjoy the day with us. We love it that Terry
is so much a part of our team in caring for Mumsy!
Mary Ellen, our neighbor who reads to mom in the afternoons, is a blessing.
Doesn't Mumsy look good?
I was sick on 9/11 and watched the memorials from my sick bed. It got me thinking.
I heard repeatedly why we need to remember this day.
"We have short memories."
"We must never forget."
"It gives us an opportunity to have a lasting tribute, to honor those who died."
How did we remember the day?
We talked all about it from every angle.
We sang.
We listened.
We were quiet, reverant and thoughtful.
Some cried.
Some smiled.
The observations were made about the day:
"It was a somber day." "It was an important day."
"It was an emotional day." "It was a reverant day."
It reminded me of what the Lord Jesus asked us to do regarding His death.
The Lord Jesus took bread and wine and said "Do this is remembrance of me."
He knows we have short memories.
He knows we must never forget.
It is our opportunity to honor Him in a lasting memorial.
How do we remember Him?
We talk all about Him from every angle.
We sing.
We listen.
We are quiet, reverant, and thoughtful.
Some cry.
Some smile.
It's an important day!
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6
"While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son." Romans 5:1
For we did not follow cleverly devised tales
when we made known to you the power
and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
2 Peter 1:16
This verse encouraged me in two ways today.
Last week we drove about 2700 miles! Craig had the privilege of officiating Hope and Jesse Faul's wedding in North Dakota. It was a lovely, happy time! As we were arriving home from the wedding, we received the call that our friend Bonnie Spahn had gone home to glory, and her husband Lyle wanted Craig to have the funeral. In a moment our tears of happiness, became tears of sadness. We spent the next day washing and repacking and left the following day for Nebraska. Our wedding clothes became funeral clothes.
This is the stuff of life, isn't it? Joy and sorrow. Celebration and grief.
The Bible makes a remarkable observation:
"It is better to go to a house of mourning
Than to go to a house of feasting,
Because that is the end of every man,
And the living takes it to heart."
Ecclesiastes 7:2
This isn't the way we naturally think. We'd rather laugh than cry. We'd rather run to the house of feasting than the house of mourning. God, however, wants us to think deeply! Death is the end of each one of us and it's good to come face to face with death and be forced to think about our own departure.
Every thinking person should take into account the fact of death and have a philosophy of life which enables him to face that inevitable appointment with confidence!
Think! If you died today, where would you be? You will die. The good news is that the Lord Jesus died for you, so that you could have life! Eternal Life!
"For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish,
but have eternal life."
John 3:16
Please, be a thinking person because "it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment." Hebrews 9:27
And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
’Tis mystery all: th’Immortal dies:
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
Let angel minds inquire no more.
He left His Father’s throne above
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray—
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Isaiah 35:1,10
And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom like the crocus…and the ransomed of the LORD will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.
Nancy took the current background picture on our website of crocuses blossoming in early spring in Niagara, Ontario. Every time you see a crocus blooming be reminded of the unchanging promises of God. Just as certainly as God gave His Son to die on the cross at His first advent, heaven will open again and a Man who has been pierced will be visible to all the earth, not as a baby again, but crowned with many diadems, as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
This year I did not see any crocuses blooming in Canada in early March, but it is not a question “if the crocus will bloom” but “when will the crocus bloom?”
It is also not a question if the Lord Jesus will return but when will He return?
When He does, are you ready?
This March we visited Scottlea Bible Chapel in St Catharines, Ontario, and Craig taught the children's Bible lessons. Here is a sampler of pictures and music from our week. It was a wonderful time and profitable for eternity!
We enjoyed our weekend with friends in New Hartford, Iowa. I especially enjoyed being with Craig as Carey stayed with mom. Saturday night I got an amazing 10 hours of sleep! That would not have happened at home! We enjoyed our respite with the Behrends. Here they are in their new kitchen. I really took this picture for mom, who loved seeing everyone.
Sunday we enjoyed fellowship in the word.
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