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posted by Michael on 03/7/10

Although the weather station predicted about three inches of snow on Thursday and Friday followed by partly sunny weather for a few days, the snow didn’t stop and by Saturday morning, thirteen inches had fallen on top of the existing eight inches and more was still expected the next two days! Although very snowy, it has not been exceptionally cold, and the accumulation of slush on our long driveway has made getting in and out very challenging at times. When it warmed up enough to check on our beehives we found a couple of them had died. And as the snow began to melt further, we discovered a baby deer that had starved to death right in our yard. But along with the hard and the sad comes the due share of joy. Jonathan has once again headed up our backyard sugaring operation which is looking like the best year we have ever had. It is a joy to see honeybees flying and deer and turkeys that made it through. We know that soon the  crocuses will come up and the maple trees will bloom. For winters like this, here is a wonderful song we received from a pastor in Taiwan that is very fitting for the season. The title is "How tedious and tasteless the hours", words by John Newton and music arranged by Lewis Edson from Bach’s cantata 212.

How tedious and tasteless the hours
When Jesus no longer I see;
Sweet prospects, sweet birds and sweet flowers,
Have all lost their sweetness to me;
The midsummer sun shines but dim,
The fields strive in vain to look gay,
But when I am happy in Him,
December’s as pleasant as May.

His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music His voice;
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice.
I should, were He always thus nigh,
Have nothing to wish or to fear,
No mortal as happy as I,
My summer would last all the year.

Content with beholding His face,
My all to His pleasure resigned,
No changes of season or place
Would make any change in my mind:
While blessed with a sense of His love,
A palace a toy would appear,
All prisons would palaces prove,
If Jesus would dwell with me there.

Dear Lord, if indeed I am Thine,
If Thou art my sun and my song,
Say, why do I languish and pine?
And why are my winters so long?
O drive these dark clouds from the sky,
Thy soul cheering presence restore;
Or take me to Thee up on high,
Where winter and clouds are no more.

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Donald on 02/24/10

First, define what a Christian nation is: Do you think of a Christian nation as a mere civilized culture? Do you think it might be where a majority of the people in that nation claim Christianity as their religion?

Second compare the present America to that definition. You might be surprised at what you find.

Visit http://www.wallbuilders.com/LIBissuesArticles.asp?id=23909

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Michael on 02/16/10

Along with all the troubles of being without electricity, God also gave us the beauty of the snow and the joy of wintertime fun. Here are just a few of our pictures of this memorable time. As I write this, snow is pouring down outside again, but this time it is so cold that it is not sticking to everything. Please continue to pray for many who are still without power and who got up to four times as much snow as we did. This is victory, when God’s love and truth reign freely in our hearts no matter what.

9 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Esther on 02/14/10

I would like to take this opportunity to say how faithful, gracious and merciful the Lord has been to allow me to have another undeserved year on this earth. I celebrated my birthday with a renewed gratefulness and zeal for life due to this near death experience.

God’s faithfulness was demonstrated in a very big way Sunday night, January 31, 2010. What a feeling to wake up being jerked around in the back seat of a vehicle to the sound of people crying out to their Heavenly Father for safety. The vehicle malfunctioned and we  lost steering as we were driving back from Indianapolis over a bridge. The snow on the road had been plowed to the side creating a ramp up the guard wall. Had it not been that we drove up the ramp at the same spot that there was a lamp post, we would have driven right off the bridge. Instead we veered to the left, skidded down the wall, knocked down another lamp post and came to a stop with our two right wheels hanging over the bridge! God had heard our cry and no one was hurt.

   God’s faithfulness was demonstrated in a small way too. At one point when I was thrown forward, my glasses flew off and one of the lenses popped out. We searched in the dark to no avail but after opening the door to get out, it was found in a pile of glass and ice! What are the chances?! It was definitely God caring for me.

As I stood shivering in the cold, looking over the bridge at the huge river way below I thanked God for life and repurposed to live it for Him. What a comfort to know that nothing can happen to us that is outside of God’s control.

10 Comments » | posted in Family News

posted by Michael on 02/9/10

The power has been out here for over 4 days now, longer than ever before in our family’s experience! On Friday evening, February 5, the rain turned to sleet, and then to a thick snow that stuck to everything and mounted up to twelve inches. The scenery was breathtaking, especially in the forest where even the tree trunks were white and small trees bent over with the weight of the snow. But even more beautiful has been the way neighbors have looked out for one another. There have been hundreds of thousands without power. Unlike our adventure in the snow on Rt. 77 back in December, when we were quite well prepared, this time we were caught off guard. We have been learning to communicate, do without, help each other, and just relax, trusting the Lord. I am able to write this because our good neighbor and Christian “friend in need” has allowed us the use of his generator so that we can run some basic “necessities”. We praise the Lord for the sacrifice of so many who are working day and night in all kinds of weather to restore power to homes across the disaster zone. We also praise the Lord for those who use their preparedness to help others, rather than just enjoying personal comfort. This is as Christ has commanded: “…Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Hope to have some pictures up soon!)

7 Comments » | posted in Family News