"Conscience of benefit received"

All this week I've been thinking about how blessed I am. It's so easy to get carried away with stuff and forget.

Tomorrow is the Memorial service of a dear sister in Christ. Her name is Shauna and she went Home last Saturday and I've been thinking about her family all week. About her sisters, about the family she left behind. I can break down and weep with just the thought of losing one of my sisters; I can't imagine the pain of the actual event. The power of influence is far reaching and I've been influenced by this strong Christian woman and her family. It makes you think. It makes you count your blessings.

Sometimes it's good to write them down, to meditate on them and truly thank God for all you have in your life.

So here is my list:

*Salvation through Christ. The ultimate sacrifice of Jesus giving His perfect life for the world of sinners.

* My family- Both of my parents are living, I have three wonderful brother still living at home, I have my three best sisters sharing a room with me, I have a great oldest brother and sister-in-law and baby on the way! Part B of this is a wonderful relationship with each member of my family. :)

* Since I live in Trinidad, I'm very thankful for modern technology to keep up with people all over the world.

* My friends, extended family and Christian family- all over the world as they are.

* I have a safe place to rest. A snug roof over my head and mosquito netting for my bed. I know people who have neither.

* Good water

* Good food

* Shoes on my feet, clothes in my closet

......you can see how the list goes on. This is just the tip of the ice burg so to speak. I'm blessed beyond measure!

So I encourage you to count your blessing and also pray for the Heck and Morton families. Especially tomorrow.

The Importance of being Ernest

Tonight Dad and Mom had an engagement so we kids had a fun evening together.

It went something like this....

It started out with breakfast for supper. Biscuits, gravy, bacony eggs and peach jam. Simple but very tasty. We all love a good breakfast for supper!

Next, Anna got some music going and we did the dishes. Some might call dishes a chore, but when we're all in the kitchen, working together and singing together...it's fun! You should try it sometime!

Oh and don't forget the part where Naomi plays the annoying part of the Netherfield Ball from Pride and Prejudice...Starting with "My mother bids me bind my hair...." and ending with a brilliant rendition of the Turkish Rondo! How does she manage that?!

"Let's play a game!!" And whist was the choice- yeah, that's a new one we've learned! It takes an even number of people and there are only seven of us. So. We have a problem, Houston! *drum roll please* Nathan to the rescue! *dum ta dum!!* He'll just split his amazing personality and be two people at once! (I helped him with the name) So Anna, Miles, Naomi and Nathan were on one team and Emily, Silas, myself and Ernest were on the second! We all sat at the table and had a blast! Let me just insert that Nathan's team and Ernest's team both won! What's with that?! ;)

(I wish you could have seen him hopping up, trotting to one chair to be Nathan, then running back around to be Ernest!! Hehe...he's cute!)

So then we watched a move and had a nice relaxing evening together. :) I know we're crazy but I love my family and I'm so thankful we can have so much fun and good times together!!

"Bingo!!" "Scrabble!" -You would have had to have been there!!! ;)

A facelift...

I did something new last weekend! I've always been interested in recovering chairs....just never tried it! The chairs that were here when we moved have quite a story...It started back in the 1960's when one of the first missionaries to Trinidad moved here and set up housekeeping, which included a 6 piece dining room set. That same table and chairs passed down through at least three missionary couples and now us. Dad did some shoring up work, inserting pegs and glue- and we girls recovered them. I think that's kinda neat...all that history in a set of chairs...anyway! It was very easy and quite a bit of fun...I love working with my sisters! :)

Here is the original chair....

Just pull out the staples....

Staple on the new!

Tada! Doesn't it look good? Mom found this material...I think it looks real nice.

:)

What are you thinking?!

We went to this tiny little congregation this afternoon that meet in a 10 by 25 foot room next to a automotive store. There were 13 members there plus us 9.....it was a neat experience, very humbling and makes you appreciate so many things. The lesson tonight was especially thought provoking- I want to share my notes with you- and ask you to think about it too.

The title of the lesson was "Checks from the neck up" (if that seems a little different, just think cultural differences.)

The mind is like a well. What goes into it will be drawn up.

"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:5-10

Three check ups for our minds-

I) Set our minds. Colossians 3:1-2- "Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth."

We need to be sure our minds are focused on the right things. II Corinthians10:4-5

II) Renew our minds. -The old one is taken away and you get a new one. Romans 12:2-3

Matthew 15:18- "But the things which proceed out of the mouth come forth out of the heart; and they defile the man. "

Ephesians 4:22-24 - "and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth."

III) Gird our minds. Gird means to put on the right garments.

Luke 12:35

When we gird our minds properly we will understand why we are on the earth: to be servants.- John 13:3-5

Philippians 2:7 and I Peter 1:13-15

As Christians we must know what is right and what is wrong. And do it.

Be holy in all manner of living. I Peter 1:15- "but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living"

What you store up there [the mind] is what you show the brethren.

And the end of the matter is this:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Philippians 4:8

What are you thinking?

I know this is very simple, but upon reflection of the passages we must all be challenged to examine ourselves, and keep our minds pure and on the right track. There is so much out there, Satan is so alive and anxious to entrap us. Let us not grow weary in renewing our minds and living Christ-like lives this week.

Have a great week!