Grow in Grace 2 Peter 3:18

Just thought I would record some of my reading in the past few days.
some of this from Charles Stanley's "In touch" mag.

To grow in grace is opposed to all growth in self-dependance or self effort.....it is to put our growing, as well as everything else, into the hands of the Lord, and leave it with Him.

It is to be satifsfied with our Husbandman, and with his skill and wisdom, that not a question will cross our minds as to His mode of treatment, or His plan of cultivation.

It is to grow as the lilies grow, or as the babies grow, without care and without anxiety, to grow by the power of an inward life principle that cannot help but grow;to grow because He who planted us has planted a growing thing, and has made us on purpose to grow.....

You need make no efforts to grow, therefore; but let your efforts be concentrated on this, that you abide in the Vine. the Divine Husbandman who has the care of the Vine, will care also for you, who are His branches, and will so prune and purge and water and tend you that you will grow and bring forth fruit, and your fruit shall remain, and, like the lily, you shall find yourself arrayed in apparel so glorious, that the apparel of Solomon will be as nothing to it.

It is the great prerogative of our Divine husbandman that He is able to turn any soil, whatever it may be like, into the soil of grace.

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By Trials God is shaping us for higher things - Henry Ward Beecher
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Advancing through Adversity.

...Perhaps you have noticed that life seems 'blatantly unfair'. It pampers some of us and devastates others. Perhaps this is the most disturbing question posed by many. How can we explain such an "apparent injustice"? How can an infinite loving and just God, permit some people to experience lifelong tradgedy while others seem to enjoy every good and perfect gift? And what can we conclude when the "unfortuanate individual" is a child?

" I've indicatedthat we can explore the mind of God only so far, and then inevitably,we run out of brain power. His thoughts are unknown to us .....(Is 55:8-9)

He has never made Himself accountable to man, nor will he ever.

He will not be cross examined or interrogated. Nowhere in the Bible does God speak defensively or seek our approval of His actions.

He simply says "Trust Me"."

Romans 5:3-5

Hope does not disappoint when our hope is Christ, a hope that often results from the perserverance required during times of tribulation.

We know that perserverance produces Character, which is turn, produces hope. When adversity has you gripping nothing else but Christ, remember that is exactly where He wants you.

.....when you persevere.... He will be able to use your life to strengthen other broken people...

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Can we be, like Abraham, willing to trust God to do what ever He has planned, even when it involves something which is so dear to us - as in the case of Abraham - his long awaited and only son.
For God so loved, He gave .......
May that love motivate us today to yield completely to the One who does not fail and who truly is working all to gether for good.
Personally, there are times when I want to DO something - but He wants us to trust to the point that we are willing to let Him be in total control. (stripped of all self effort and reliance)

As the poster in the girls' bedroom used to read "Faith isn't faith, until it is all you have to hold on to!"

1 Cor10:13 -the God who will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability will also not allow us to be Tested beyond our ability - but in all of these - will provide what we need so that we can endure!

I am crucified with Christ, never the less, I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life that I now live, I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Memories of a "good and faithful servant" and sister in law. This could also be entitled "The End of an Era".

It isn’t every missionary wife and mother, that has her sister in law make herself available to be around within 24-36 hours after the delivery of their next child, especially when they are all born on the mission field. However, we were blessed by having Betty drive her little car all the way from Lusaka to Kabompo, to be on hand to look after her nephew or niece and nephew – and even on one occasion to feed a small baby while mother was in hospital. In those days, Betty would turn herself to anything – even to caring for point of lay hens in her bath tub – before she began her trip to Kabompo. I am sure many of you have heard her tell many stories of her trips up here and many others besides as Betty loved to tell stories and entertain. She also loved to read, and would live in the books she was reading, sharing the story as tho she herself was right there and it was happening to her.
I actually met Betty long before I met my husband Don, as my first week in Zambia was spent in Lusaka, and as many will and have testified, Betty was certainly given to hospitality and my friend and I benefited from that hospitality during that first week.
Two to three years later, when Betty realized that her brother Don had a special interest she somehow guessed that it might be me and more or less gave her approval before being asked. Betty became a very valuable part of our family – and most Zambian Christmas’ were spent with Auntie Betty in Zambia. Then, when she was back in Canada – once again, Brooks’ Christmas’s were spent at Auntie Betty’s place at Eagle Lake – even when she was in Russia, Christmas was still at Eagle Lake but somehow, some of the spark was missing – cos Betty wasn’t there. She certainly followed her mother’s example of hospitality. Many emails which have arrived these past few days give testimony to the hospitality she showed to those who needed to come to Lusaka for business or, who, as visitors to Zambia, passed thru Lusaka and appreciated being collected at the airport, given a bed and a meal. Sisters and wives of Elders in Lusaka, will verify that she in turn passed on to her Zambian “children” – the importance of hospitality, loving and disciplining children, teaching of Sunday School etc. Even years later – the sisters in Lusaka, (and the brethren too) still talk, with loving memories, and grateful appreciation, for all that she taught them during her 20 years in that city.
These last few days in Kabompo, at school and here at home, a number have paid tribute to her, mentioning how they enjoyed working with her, talking with her, and a number have mentioned her smile and laugh. She tried to learn some Luvale, but it didn’t come easily, however, she would smile or laugh and they would appreciate that.
How thankful we are that Betty was able to enjoy this past Christmas, at Eagle Lake – we wanted to protect her from the work – but, those of you who know Betty, know that she loved to have things organized ahead of time and she had already, before going for her radiation, bought things which she thought she would use at Christmas, in preparation for that day. She wanted to have that Christmas and while she was tired afterwards, she was so thankful and so were we, that we had been able to celebrate that last Eagle Lake Christmas together. Last, because she sold her home and moved in May this year, and last because, she will be enjoying an Eternal celebration much greater than any down here.
Another special thing about that Eagle Lake Christmas was that my sister and her husband from N. Z. were finally able to see the famous Eagle Lake and meet all the Brooks that they had heard so much about over the years. Not only were we together at Eagle Lake – but also in Port Colborne, where once again, Betty entertained her great nephews with stories from her treasury! And then there was Richard and Katherine’s wedding and the joy of that occasion and also the lovely photos, that we will treasure for years to come. The one of Betty you see on the program and a lovely family photo, which included the whole clan.
This year has certainly marked the end of an era in the Brooks family. We will miss Betty, her laugh, her stories, her love and care and her Eagle Lake home and hospitality. Betty was never one to complain, she took patiently any suffering that came her way. We are so thankful for all who visited and encouraged her and for those who kept us posted on her situation, unclear and all as it was. We are however, most thankful to the Lord that her suffering was not prolonged and that she is now rejoicing with the One she loved and served over many years. (Personally, I am so thankful that Don can be there to share the memories of many years and experiences. )One other thing – Betty was really quick at marking exams – and making up answer keys – I miss her right now for that fact too and recall the many times she would come down, or call up, in the middle of marking to share some howler from an exam – someone’s explanation of a Bible story etc finishing with “ I bet you didn’t know that now, did you?” followed by a good laugh.

"Beyond this darkness, lies the perfect day"

For Betty - that day came, only two days after the email below. July 19th at 05.00 hrs - the Lord called her home, and freed her from her suffering. We learned, only hours before that, the the cancer had spread thru her bones and entered her lung - and it was obvious that time was short. Don immediately began making preparations to travel - while at the same time we were running all of our Christian Religious Education exams. The Lord enabled Don to fly the next day from Kabompo and he reached Toronto on the 22nd. Elva remained "by the stuff" - which consisted mainly of about 2000 essays to mark!.
Visitation is today, Wed 25th and the funeral will be tomorrow. All the rest of our family will be there. Glad that Don is able to be present - and while I would have liked to be there, it just wasn't possible at this stage.

An email. sent out July 17th

Dear All,

From so far away it is difficult to know what to say about Betty, except that she is in the hands of her Loving Heavenly Father and only He knows the whole situation and His plan. As I think you are aware, Betty had a G-tube inserted, someone had said that after that, with proper nutrition, she would "bounce back" - but, the reality of the situation is that after an initial slight improvement - her situation seems to have deteriorated.
She is in severe pain, is on heavy medication for this but even so, the pain is not being relieved, because of this, it is becoming more difficult for her to be propped up for her feeds. We have very little explanation, at this point, as to her real situation. Heavy sedation and a bacterial infection are making it more difficult for her to talk.
We thank you for praying for her and for us.

On this side - we do praise the Lord for answered prayer and for the tremendous help and support the counsellors were in the camps which have just finished. Also, every one of the speakers turned up in good time. We certainly have much to praise and thank the Lord for. Especially, are we thankful, for those whose lives were touched and changed - and we continue to support and pray for them. Thankyou for your great part in the Lord's work here. School exams are just about to start and following that of course, is the wonderful job of marking - being as these are the largest exams of the year!

Assembly wise, Don has many responsibilities, do pray regarding the assembly here - and for Don and the one brother who have been left with a great load. Much spiritual grace and wisdom is needed.

I thought the poem by Henry H. Barry, in the Counsel Magazine was very appropriate -

He Leadeth Me.

In "green pastures"? Not always;
sometimes He, Who knowest best,
in kindness leadeth me
In weary ways, where heavy shadows be,
Out of the sunshine, warm and soft and bright,
Out of the sunshine, into darkest night,
I oft would faint with sorrows and affright,
Only for this: I know He holds my hand;

So, whether led in green or desert land,
I trust, although I may not understand.
Beside "still waters"? No, not always so;
Oftimes the heavy tempests 'round me blow,
And o'er my soul the waves and billows go.
But when the storms beat loudest, and I cry
Aloud for help, the Master standeth by,
and whispers to my soul, "Lo, it is I."
Above the tempest wild I hear Him say:
"beyond this darkness lies the perfect day;
In every path of thine I lead the way.

"So, whether on the hill-tops, high and fair I dwell,
or in the sunless valleys where The shadows lie,
what matter? He is there.
And more than this; where'er the pathway lead,
He gives to me no helpless, broken reed,
But His own hand, sufficient for my need.

In the One who is working out His perfect plan,
thanking you for your great part,

College Camp

We will be off to the College camp Thurs 12th. Thanks for praying. Teachers and student teachers, plus other of ex students and workers hope to be attending. Don and John Langfeld will be sharing the sessions - and their subjects are from the book of Hebrews.

Photos

I have had my first, but unsuccessful attempts, to upload photos on to this page - too late to try any more tonight!!