~ BEING Shot DOWN ??? ~

EPHESIANS 6:16-20

"In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 AND also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."

(ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION)

~ REST EASY ~

"The darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day." - Psalm 139:12

FOR 18 years the routine is the same. Each night you make sure each child is asleep before turning out the lights and locking the door. YOU can rest easy only when you know that the family is safe.

THEN that day comes when your oldest child leaves home. PERHAPS to college as our oldest daughter did. MAYBE to a hitch in the military. OR just across town to an apartment.

As much as you prepared for the day when it would happen, those first nights are the most difficult. NOW when you lock the doors and turn out the lights, you no longer have the security of knowing where each child is. YOU no longer can rest quite as well - unless you trust God.

IN PSALM 139, David provided some comforting words that can help all of us who have to say goodbye to our children as they go out on their own. We cannot escape God's presence. He is with us, and with our children, wherever we go. As a dad whose daughter is 300 miles away at college, I'm encouraged that when God turns out the lights at night, He is checking on my daughter.

Psalm 33:13 says, "The LORD looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men." That helps me rest easy - even when one of the children is out of the house. JDB

BENEATH His watchful eye
HIS saints securely dwell;
That hand which bears all nature up
Shall guard His children well. D

WE CAN PUT OUR MINDS AT EASE BECAUSE GOD'S MIND IS ON US

~ When Children Leave ~

THEY left one by one over the years until only our twin sons remained at home. EACH parting wrenched my heart, not because I wanted to keep the children with me but because they all took their gifts and interests with them and left in the nest an emptiness that was replaced only by happy memories.

THEN the time came for the last two to say goodbye. As we began our trip back to the completely empty nest, my mood matched the weather - sad, dark clouds dripped their tears on us.

THOUGH I was sad in the knowledge that this part of my life was over, I felt joy in knowing that each child had trusted Christ as his or her Savior and had yielded to His call to service.

As I mused, my thoughts focused on Mary, the mother of Jesus. Like her, I had chosen to do God's will. Her words, "I am the Lord's servant . . . May it be to me as you have said" (Luke 1:38), often found an echo in my heart.

NOW as I thought of Mary, I remembered that after Jesus' return to heaven, she went with the disciples to the Upper Room. Her home empty, she was now actively pursuing a deeper life than before. SHE was not bemoaning her lot but rather was moving toward new challenges.

My first new challenge came a few nights later when the doorbell rang. A brokenhearted woman had come to my empty nest to receive counsel, prayer and comfort. I thanked the Lord for showing me that He could bring hurting ones to my empty nest and make it a place to show forth His glory.

M. McGarvey

"BUT one thing I do: . . . straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize (PHILIPPIANS 3:13-14)."

~ FEAR God ~

ECCLESIASTES - fear God and obey His Commandments.

"EASY-made" SOURDOUGH Bread - BIG batch (6 loaves) !

2 quarts of Sourdough base

6 1/2 cups of Rye flour

6 1/2 cups of Spelt flour

2 1/2 tablespoons Sea salt

1 1/2 quarts of water

MIX together and put into bread pans.

LET it sit for 7 hours.

BAKE at 350deg.F. for one hour !

* Why not pass-on the gift of a freshly-made loaf of Sourdough bread to a friend ? (Wrap in Cellophane when Sourdough bread has cooled from the Oven and then tie with a matching coloured Ribbon OR wrap in brown paper and tie with old-fashioned rope-string - Voila !)

~ "MELT-IN-YOUR-MOUTH" SOUR Dough BISCUITS ! ~

The sourdough starter adds a tang and some leavening to these homey biscuits. They're one of the recipe favorites for "Amish-Country Cookbook," which Das Dutchman Essenhaus restaurant in Middlebury, Indiana compiled.

1 cup Sourdough Starter (recipe follows)

1/4 cup cooking oil

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Melted butter (optional)

Dillseed OR dried herb (optional)

IN a mixing bowl, combine the Sourdough Starter and cooking oil.

ADD the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. On a lightly floured surface, knead dough gently for 10 to 12 strokes. Roll or pat to 1/2-inch thickness. CUT with a 2-1/2 - inch biscuit cutter, flouring the cutter after each biscuit.

TRANSFER biscuits to a baking sheet.

BAKE in a 425-degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes OR until golden brown. * IF you like, brush with melted butter and sprinkle lightly with dillseed OR dried herb. SERVE warm. MAKES 12 biscuits.

( * Compliments from Das Dutchman Essenhaus Restaurant in Middlebury, INDIANA. )

~ * ERASE Old Tapes ! ~

SHE was a really close friend, an older woman whom I greatly admired and respected, yet her words hurt me deeply. To make this trip to visit her and her family, I had ridden in the back seat of our car, cringing as every jolt sent pain to my injured neck.

As we traveled homeward, my pain was emotional as well as physical. The "tapes" of my mind kept repeating her words, "My, you've gotten fat !" Lord, how can I get victory ? I prayed.

"Pray for her," the Lord seemed to say. And pray I did. Waking in the night with neck pain and heartache I prayed, "Lord, restore our relationship. Let it please You again." Each time the "tape" replayed, I short-circuited it by praying for her. In time the heartache was gone, replaced by God's peace.

A few months later my older friend wrote to me about a severed relationship with one of her close friends. "How could she say those things about me ? How can I get victory again ?" she wrote. I shared what the Lord had taught me through my own problem, never revealing, however, that my problem had been with her.

Later she wrote, "I hope your friend and you have as good a relationship now as my friend and I do. Your suggestion works !"

Are you plagued by mental "tapes" that replay hurtful words ? Pray for the one who hurt you. Ask the Lord to bless that one. He can turn bitterness to peace and restore relationships.

S. KENDALL

"Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (LUKE 6:28)."

~ Making SHADOW Puppets !! ~

You will need:

Pencil

Scissors

Thin black card

Split pins

Wooden kebab sticks

Sticky (adhesive) tape

A large sheet

An anglepoise lamp

1. DRAW the head, body, legs and arms of your character separately on to black card.

2. CUT out each piece carefully and lay them all out on the table. Now cut the arms and legs in half where elbows and knees would be.

3. FASTEN all the pieces together by overlapping them and pushing the split pins through the card, folding them back on the other side. Now your puppet has moving joints !

4. TAPE the wooden kebab sticks to the back of your puppet - one along its back, one on each hand and one on each foot.

You won't be able to move all of them at once, but it's good to have as much movement as possible.

5. YOUR puppets can be as simple or as complicated as you like. You could make a simple tree shape, or a spider with eight (8) moving legs.

6. HANG your sheet up somewhere and shine the lamp directly at it from behind. Hold your puppets up between the lamp and the sheet and your audience will see the shadows of the puppets moving. TRY to keep out of the way of the light yourself though, or they will see yours too !

( * compliments from classic Milly-Molly-Mandy Book. )

~ Pine-cone Bird Feeder ~

Pine cones make for great bird feeders. Here's how to do it.

You will need:

A pine cone

Ribbon or string

Vegetable suet or lard

Bird seed

1. Tie the ribbon or string around the pine cone,

then mix lots of bird seed into the suet or lard.

2. Spread the seed mixture all over the pine cone, stuffing it firmly into the gaps.

3. Hang outside for the birds to enjoy.

~ * AUSSIE Dad jokes ! ~

Q. What kind of boots do koalas wear ?

A. Gum boots.

Q. What do you get when you cross a kangaroo with a sheep ?

A. A woolly jumper.

Q. What do you get when you pour boiling water down a rabbit hole ?

A. Hot cross bunnies.

Q. What kind of rabbit can jump higher than a house ?

A. Any kind of rabbit because houses can't jump.

Q. What do you call a rabbit with fleas ?

A. Bugs bunny.

Q. What's white with long ears, whiskers and sixteen wheels ?

A. Two white rabbits on roller skates.

... enough of the rabbits, already !

Q. Why did the golfer take two pairs of trousers to the golf course ?

A. In case he got a hole in one.

Q. Why did the pig run away from the sty ?

A. Because he thought all the other pigs were taking him for grunted.

Q. What is a Lapplander ?

A. A clumsy man on a bus (clever).

Q. What did the Olympic sneezing champion win ?

A. A cold medal.

Q. What goes tick, tock, woof ?

A. A watch dog.

Q. What do you get when you cross a cocker spaniel with a rooster ?

A. A cockerpoodledoo.

Q. What do you get when you cross a cat with a pillow ?

A. A caterpillar.

Q. What kind of furniture can you eat ?

A. Lounge sweets.

Q. Did you hear about the peanut in the pub ?

A. It was a salted (assaulted).

~ Our glory ... ~

Our glory is fleeting (pause and think of that) !

~ * Lasting NOURISHMENT * ~

Do you remember what your pastor spoke about 8 weeks ago? Probably Not. After all, it's been a while. But does that mean it wasn't a valuable message or that it was a waste of your time to hear God's Word being preached?

Absolutely not! Especially if we see God's Word and its teaching as a source of keeping us alive spiritually. Pro baseball player Shawn Boskie learned this truth while talking with a fellow Christian, Mark Dewey. "Mark asked me if I remembered what I had for lunch the 13th of last month, and I told him I couldn't remember. He said, 'But did it nourish you?' I said, 'Yes, I guess it did.' "

Boskie got Dewey's point. "I think that's the way God's Word is," Shawn concluded. "It nourishes us even though we may not be able to remember exactly what it was we read."

The Word of God is indeed nourishment, and it comes to us from various sources: preaching, music that glorifies and praises God, and Bible-based literature, to list a few (*including regular personal quiet times; reading and meditating on God's Word and prayer). NEVER stop praying! We need to continually feed our souls - not so we can remember facts, but so we can grow stronger.

You may not recall all the details of each spiritual meal, but one thing is sure: It's lasting nourishment. - JDB

God's Word provides the nourishment

That every Christian needs to grow,

Supplying strength from day to day

By teaching what we need to know. - S

"Teach me, O LORD,

the way of Your statutes . . .Revive

me in Your way."

Psalm 119:33, 37.

ONE MARK OF A WELL-FED SOUL IS A WELL-READ BIBLE.

~ BE TRUE TO YOUR WORD ~

Let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No." For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. - Matthew 5:37

Shortly before his death, the Duke of Burgundy was presiding over the Cabinet Council of France. A proposal was made that would violate an existing treaty but would secure important advantages for the country. Many "good" reasons were offered to justify this action. The Duke listened in silence. When all had spoken, he said with firmness in his voice, "Gentlemen, we have a treaty!"

It's a strong temptation these days to abandon our word in favor of personal advantage or financial gain. As believers in Christ, however, our responsibility is to remain true to our word so that our Lord is glorified.

So, when you give your word, keep it! "Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No' " (Mt. 5:37). If you make a commitment, honor it! If you take on an obligation, fulfill it! Your honesty and reliability should be so evident that you can be trusted for any contract you make. If non-Christians can trust you in business matters, they will be more likely to believe you when you speak about the gospel.

When we're tempted to break a promise, let's think again of these words: "Gentleman, we have a treaty!" - RWD

Lord, by Your Spirit grant to me

A deep desire for honesty,

That when I simply give my word

No one will doubt what they have heard. - DJD

WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR WORD, KEEP IT.

~ HOOKED by a FISH ~

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him (PSALM 34:8).

One fringe benefit of being an MK teacher in Zamboanga was the city's seaside site. I went swimming often, yet it was 15 years before I discovered the beautiful underwater world.

One day I was urged to look through an underwater mask. Standing on a large piece of coral rock I peered into the vestibule of a whole new world. Subsequently, I went out and bought myself a snorkel and mask which have netted me countless hours of pleasure as I study God's amazing creation beneath the surface of the water.

In coral crannies I have often spied the gently waving, long, sharp spines of the sea urchin. From experience, I know that if the sharp points get stuck in my flesh they are quite painful. But I notice that the urchins do not pursue me; they only protect themselves. So one day, as I calmly floated above a cluster, I was able to observe the beautiful jewels amid the spines.

The sharp spines and tentacles of terrorism, kidnapping and political uncertainty in Zamboanga City also framed lovely, shining jewels: a small child holding my hand and declaring, "You are my best friend," because that day she found God's unspeakable gift of salvation. Another, about to leave permanently, declaring, "I'll see you again," for here she first heard and believed that heaven is real.

We are instructed to "taste and see that the Lord is good." So many times, however, we live on the surface, oblivious to the beauty that is ours for the seeking. Snorkeling has become my favorite sport, finding God's hidden gems, a life-long pursuit.

E. SNYDER

~ ONLY Believe ! ~

So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed (MARK 5:20).

Consider what the Bible says about how God deals with His children. Where could you find anything more exciting? The world might understandably say, "I've never heard of such a thing!"

Think of Noah building a boat, something never before heard of - and on dry land! Imagine him preaching to the people of his day that the rain of God's judgment was coming and that unless they came into the ark, they would all drown. Noah, how ridiculous! Though a safe refuge was provided, only a handful were saved.

Think of baby Moses being placed in a basket and left by the side of the river in hope that he might escape Pharaoh's fatal decree. Foolish! Yet the princess saw him and took pity on him. Moses survived to lead thousands of his people out of Egypt.

Then there was Abraham, who left his country and clan in obedience to God's instructions. Because he obeyed, God used his faith to bless believers through the ages.

Three Jewish young men, believing they should obey God rather than the decree from the king of Babylon, found themselves in a burning, red hot furnace. Imagine the surprise of the onlookers when they saw a fourth man in there walking around!

Judgment is coming on our land. If rain begins and pelts our little vessel, we are safe inside because He has control. Does our furnace grow hotter? As the world observes, may they see the "fourth man" and recognize Him as the Son of God who works in our lives.

D. TAYLOR

~ BLACKBERRY Buns ! ~

THESE delicious little buns are easy to make and gorgeous for picnics or even a lunchbox. OTHER fruits may be used too such as Sultana and Cinnamon or Apple and Spice !

You will need:

100g blackberries

300g self-raising flour

100g brown sugar (and a bit extra to sprinkle on top)

125g butter (melted)

1 egg beaten lightly

300ml milk

( * MAKES 24 )

1. PREheat your oven to 180 degrees C.

2. GREASE the compartments of two (2) bun trays with butter. MIX together the flour, the fruit and the sugar in a LARGE bowl.

3. STIR in the milk, melted butter and egg. DON'T over-stir - you want the mixture to be coarse and slightly lumpy.

4. SPOON the mixture into the bun tray compartments ! SPRINKLE each bun with a pinch of brown sugar. BAKE for about fifteen (15) minutes until the buns are browned on top.

( * compliments from classic Milly-Molly-Mandy Book. )

~ TITANIC ~

HAVE returned from viewing TITANIC 3D. One critic has stated that viewing the Titanic 2D version is like "looking at the Movie through an unused Handkerchief" ! Well ... I can't stop crying (needless to say, I don't live far from the Cinema) ! Crying because of pride. Pride - isn't that the cause of all misery ??? It leads to humankind being disappointed, having doubt, possessing greed, et cetera, et cetera.

PRIDE is unnecessary - unnecessary, that is, in Christ Jesus.

I can't stop crying ... also, because JESUS died for me which was necessary !! Necessary in the step for me to be redeemed. I can ONLY be redeemed in (by and through) Him. I continue on the path that He chooses for me; KNOWING it's the BEST path individually. I also aim to be teachable by Him. That's important - no matter how difficult the journey may be. It can be difficult but I'm experiencing life in the way that I wouldn't have been, had I not sincerely, personally asked Him (Jesus) to come into my heart. He began REAL life in me twenty-two (22) years ago and I'm glad for that. I'm wondering if that makes me twenty-two (22) years old ?

Yes, two (2) TRUE stories ! One story caused by pride the other story caused by humility.

"Thank you, LORD Jesus for willingly dying on the Cross, freely allowing me a new beginning with the ultimate step of me TRULY believing in YOU (and, Your resurrection) and even though I'm often challenged in many ways, I'm still going strong for you - or, should I say, believably, still growing strong IN you !"