Arrived or A-Drift?

Teri and I were checking out at Sams when I asked the checker about where she was going to spend eternity. She responded that it would be heaven because of her Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. As we talked it was evident that she was truly saved, and her speech carried with it an excitement and love for the Lord Jesus.

I then asked her a question that I try to ask everyone who professes Jesus as their Savior. I asked her if she read her Bible every day. The conversation then took a turn that surprised Teri and me. She said how she has been in church since she was a child and heard every sermon there was to hear. Without directly saying it, she was saying that she didn’t feel she needed to read the Bible every day.

I encouraged her that just like physical food we need to daily partake of spiritual food. That is why God gave us His Word so that we could daily feed our souls. To our amazement, she became defensive about it even though my words were gentle and non-accusatory. By her response, it was evident she would not receive this form of “encouragement” so I let it drop and wished her a good day since we had finished paying. It is one thing for her to be convinced she would gain nothing from reading her Bible every day, but something entirely different in becoming defensive about it.

We are so blessed living in this country during this time to have the availability of God’s Word. May we never get to a point of thinking we have “arrived” and no longer need a daily time in our prayer closet with the Lord and His Word. It is so easy to be set a-drift following wrong doctrine and all manner of way of life, if we aren’t reading the Bible ourselves.

Each of us is filling our minds daily. The question is, “With what?” If her family is like the vast majority of professing believers, she is finding plenty of time for other things, most of which will not be beneficial for her family’s souls. May we be like the Bereans. “And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few” (Acts 17:10-12).

Update

It’s hard to know where to begin a post after the last one was about our precious little Susannah Joy. We all have been overwhelmed by the love and prayers of so many people. Nathan and Melanie have received many, many cards, and our family has received quite a few as well, not to mention all the e-mails. The Lord has truly been very gracious to our family as we have walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Nathan and Melanie were able to spend a few days away last weekend, which was a blessed time of healing and rest for both of them. Thank you from all of us for your prayers; we have truly felt them.

Over the last few weeks, the house work has continued. It has been amazing to see it take shape. The framers are beginning to put the rafters up. In the meantime, Dad and Mom are busy making house decisions. Dad is also preparing to start working with the boys on plumbing. A few nights ago, some of us children were over at the house, and we went up to the second floor/attic where we sat and talked. With a cool breeze blowing and the sun setting, it was a nice time to just talk.

Last month, Joseph and John purchased a used Bobcat machine. This has worked out to be such a blessing with the house project. The boys plan to begin their own business with it, and they already had their first job.

We’re excited about the extra space for the ministry. We are totally maxed out in this house. Some of us will be working on compiling Managers of Their Chores books soon with the ChorePack Kits, and even now, boxes of Chore books are stacked in the hallway. We have books out in the shed that don’t fit in the basement.

Thank you again for all your prayers. Our Lord is merciful and gracious.

Sarah for the rest

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Joseph working on the house

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John working on the house

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Honey enjoys walking to the edges and looking over :-)! Notice the Families for Jesus trailers?

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We thought this would be a fun photo.