"COME UNTO ME"

Revelation
22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Matthew
11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew
19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
19:15 And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.

Evidently there was something disarming about our Jesus for it says that He was called “a friend of publicans and sinners.” Looking on this man called Jesus it seems that no matter where an individual had come from, how lowly they had been, they were able to find a friend in Jesus. Individuals that had been involved in the worst of sins when they came to Jesus found one willing to give them a second chance. Not only that, but they found a grace and a power in him to succeed in that opportunity. When He forgave, He truly did. There truly was a release from the past. “Old things were passed away and behold all things became new.”

And what was so amazing is that He asked nothing in return. He offered this grace freely. Isaiah says that “He saw that there was no man and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto him: and his righteousness, it sustained him.” In other words, He saw someone wanting to make a change, someone wanting to succeed, and He was just the one to make a way through. It says: “But God commendeth his love towards us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” While we had yet nothing to give in return, he offered us freedom, liberty, and salvation if we would but “come.”

And then we are surprised again at how much He gives. So often when something is advertised as “free” we know there is going to be “a catch.” It probably will not add up to much. But not so in Christ. In the Old Testament there was a widow woman who was destitute. To the prophet she cried of her situation. The only thing she had left in the house was a small pot of oil. He told her to go and borrow of her neighbors all of the empty vessels she could obtain. As she returned back into her home and shut the door behind she was told to begin to pour of the little oil she had. She began to pour into the empty vessels one by one. Filling the first vessel, she reached for another. With that vessel full, again, she reached for another, pouring and pouring until every vessel was full. Every vessel she had faith enough to gather had been filled.

Looking a little further at the extent that Christ will go and the extent that He will give, we find another Old Testament example of Christ called Boaz. Here a little woman, this one a young one named Ruth, has lost her husband, brother-in-law, and father-in-law to death and now is about to lose her dear mother-in-law, Naomi, who is leaving Ruth’s country heading back into her own. Naomi must have been a good example for as she was leaving, Ruth wanted to go also, saying: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.” That is quite a statement. As Ruth followed Naomi she had no promise whatsoever of any real future but that strong decision she made that day would be seen of a loving God up above and pay off wonderfully. As they came into Bethlehem Ruth went to glean corn in a field and the Scripture says it was “her hap to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz.” As Boaz heard of this young maiden’s situation and her decision he welcomed her to glean in his field and protection from the young men. Later he offered her a place at his table at mealtime and a little later even instructed the reapers to “let fall some of the handfuls on purpose.” As Naomi finds out that it is Boaz, a near kinsman, in whose field she is gleaning, she takes it another step forward asking Ruth, “Shall I not seek rest for thee?” In other words “Shall I not find a ‘home’ for thee?” She instructs Ruth just how to show her self “available” to Boaz and Ruth finds Boaz’s feelings mutual. Marriage, children, and grandchildren are all in Ruth’s future – all the result of an initial decision made to go with Naomi and her God. We don’t find it any different today. We make an initial decision to follow God and what an important decision it is. How many times have we heard: “I wish I had done this sooner. Why did you not tell me how good this is? (Even though we had.) The more that we are willing to go with Christ the more we find He is ready to give. She started out gleaning in the field and ended up with the field, the house, and the owner of it all.

This may sound too good to be true but yet it is so. Psalm 16 talks of the Lord being “the portion of mine inheritance” and yet Deuteronomy talks of us being His inheritance saying: “The Lord’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance.” How He could put such importance on us but He does, saying, we are “the apple of his eye.” He promises us a heavenly home, saying, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” John 14 talks of that place describing it as “a mansion” that He is preparing and that He is preparing it for us even right now. Revelation 3 tells us that Jesus is looking at sharing His throne with us saying that He will “grant to sit with me in my throne.” I don’t comprehend the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s sharing His throne but that is what it says! Do you get a picture of Jesus and his loved ones sharing in the glory of the Lord? Revelation 21 goes further yet and says that the overcomer “shall inherit ALL things; and I will his God, and he shall be my son.” I know it sounds too good to be true and yet He has not failed one word of His promises yet! He has come through on every point. What an opportunity! Wouldn’t it be foolish to miss such a grand invitation and fail to “come?” The song says: “Why do you wait dear brother? Why do you tarry so long? Your Saviour is waiting to give you a place in His sanctified throng. Why not? Why not? Why not come to him now?”

Blood Red Moon

The early morning hours of August 28th, 2007 brought us some wonderful views of a lunar eclipse. With the eclipse not to begin until around 2:00 in the morning and not end until close to 5:00, mom and dad had some decisions to make about our sleeping hours. With the children interested in seeing the rare views, the alarm was set for 2 am and then about every half hour afterwards. Some of the children rose for a while, soon to give it up. Others of us rose and fell with the alarm clock. And then there was Tim - come morning, he had never made it to bed. Needless to say, when the normal school hour rolled around not much activity was happening. But the children had some sights to see and all was glad they did. It was neat to see the shadows roll across the moon but neatest of all was to see the red color come upon the moons surface deepening with the time. Hope you got to see it too. School opened after lunch.

Grandma Time

It's always fun when we get "family time." We were so glad when Grandma Reva (or as the kids call her affectionately from their younger days, Grandma Woo Woo) was able to come for a visit. She was able to stay a whole week with us and, as she desired, spent most of our days close to home visiting and playing games. When she brings out the Rummikub game, watch out! It's her and Gene's favorite. While she was here, the children were able to take her along to their piano lessons and she enjoyed hearing their progress. The children had heard of a pizza place called Organ Stop Pizza and insisted that we take her and "see the show." One night we made the small trip across town and the children had a grand time. Music blasted from the giant organ and all of the horns, drums, and cymbals filling the room. The light show caught the attention of all but expecially the younger ones. Any of you who knows Matthew knows that there was no way he could keep still. He was dancing to the music. Thanks, Grandma, for our time together.

Boys Night Out

The boys took a little trip out, tromping through the wild. As night settled in and we trecked through the brush, rocks, and streams we came across many forms of wildlife. Here in Arizona it is not unusual to come across deer, elk, the smaller critters - skunk, squirrels, chipmunks, as well as even the occasional mountain lion. Before this night was over we had crossed them all. To our surprise though this was not all. As we rounded one corner many African animals were to be found. Before our eyes loomed a large elephant looking straight at us. To the left was a rhinocerus coming at full speed. To the right was sighted a lion standing over a downed zebra. Never did we realize we would be so close to such variety of wildlife in a single night. How could all this be?!!! WELL, to tell you the truth, the women were scrapbooking and the boys were bored. What else could we do but head to "Cabella's" and get a little time out of the house. Sure glad we made it safely home.

A Little Prayer

That I may not in blindness grope,
But that I may with vision clear
Know when to speak a word of hope
Or add a little wholesome cheer.

That tempered winds may softly blow
Where little children, thinly clad,
Sit dreaming, when the flame is low,
Of comforts they have never had.

That through the year which lies ahead
No heart shall ache, no cheek be wet,
For any word that I have said
Or profit I have tried to get.

- By Samuel Ellsworth Kiser

All Things Bright and Beautiful

All things bright and beautiful,All creatures great and small,All things wise and wonderful,The Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens,Each little bird that sings,He made their glowing colors,He made their tiny wings.
The purple-headed mountain,The river running by,The sunset and the morning,That brightens up the sky.


The cold wind in the winter,The pleasant summer sun,The ripe fruits in the garden,He made them every one.
The tall trees in the greenwood,The meadows where we play,The rushes by the water,We gather every day.
He gave us eyes to see them,And lips that we might tell,How great is God Almighty,Who has made all things well.

- By Cecil Francis Alexander

The Things that Haven't Been Done Before

The things that haven’t been done before,

Those are the things to try;

Columbus dreamed of an unknown shore

At the rim of the far-flung sky,

And his heart was bold and his faith was strong

As he ventured in dangers new,

And he paid no heed to the jeering throng

Or the fears of the doubting crew.

The many will follow the beaten track

With guideposts on the way,

They live and have lived for ages back

With a chart for every day.

Someone has told them it’s safe to go

On the road he has traveled o’er,

And all that they ever strive to know

Are the things that were known before.

A few strike out, without map or chart,

Where never a man has been,

From the beaten paths they draw apart

To see what no man has seen.

There are deeds they hunger alone to do;

Though battered and bruised and sore,

They blaze the path for the many, who

Do nothing not done before.

The things that haven’t been done before

Are the tasks worth while to-day;

Are you one of the flock that follows, or

Are you one that shall lead the way?

Are you one of the timid souls that quail

At the jeers of a doubting crew,

Or dare you, whether you win or fail,

Strike out for a goal that’s new?

– By Edgar A. Guest

Statistically . . .

Here are some statistics that you may find of interest . . .

..............................................................................

Doctors:
(A) The number of Doctors in the U.S. is 700,000
(B) Accidental deaths caused by physicians per year are 120,000
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 17.14%
Statistics courtesy of the U.S. Dept. Of Health & Human Services

Guns:
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000 (yes that's 80 million)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is 1,500
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is 0.001875%
Statistics courtesy of the FBI

So statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
Remember, guns don't kill people, doctors do.

FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN, BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR

Please alert your friends to this alarming threat.

We must ban doctors before this get completely out of hand!!!

Out of concern for the public at large, I have withheld statistics on lawyers for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention.

Posted by: Dan Williams . . . Sorry Johnny?! ;)

Our Cats

Here are two of the most wonderful cats. They are soo special to this family. Most cats try to get lazor lights But our Cat Fluffy runs away from them. She is very unusual. since they are outside cats they are always trying to sneak into the house. They Seem to like being petted. Fluffy is Very jumpy. They are the Best cats we could Ever ask for. Posted by: Ashley

Acres of Diamonds

"There once lived a Persian man named Ali Hafed. He had a lovely family and a prosperous farm. The farm contained orchards, grain fields, and a garden. Ali had money and seemed content. Then one day an ancient Buddhist priest passed through and met Ali. The priest explained many things of far away places. He told Ali of stones that could be found in the earth that glistened like the sun. Ali immediately decided to go search for them. So eager was he to search for better things Ali sold his prosperous farm for almost pennies and left his family.

One day while working in the field the man who had bought Ali's farm stumbled upon a shiny stone-like object. He picked it up and took it home as he had never seen anything so shiny. Several days later the same ancient Buddhist priest passed by the new owner's house and saw the shiny object. He asked, “Has Ali returned home?”

“No, why do you ask?” The priest replied, “Because I see that you have a large diamond on your mantel piece.”

The farmer was startled to hear that he had discovered a diamond in his backyard. He quickly replied, “There are more-many more like this out there.” Soon the farmer became one of the wealthiest men in his part of the world. He had discovered acres of diamonds in his own backyard.

Had Ali Hafed remained at home and dug in his own cellar or underneath his own wheat fields or in his own garden instead of seeking and wandering aimlessly searching for wealth, he would have discovered the “acres of diamonds” himself. Instead he threw everything away and suffered wretchedness, starvation, and eventually died by suicide alone in a strange land. Had he stayed at home and cultivated his own backyard, he would have had “acres of diamonds."

How often do individuals strive after so many things in life never to obtain what they went after. Too late they realize the important things in life were right at their hands - and they missed them. Salvation - nothing so important - and yet it is only when life is almost gone do they finally give it a thought. Children - God's greatest gifts - yet it is only when they are almost grown do we realize that we cannot have their young years back again. Our little holiness churches ever dwindling in size - yet if you were to ask the children that have grown and left they will tell you that they believe in the "old fashioned way" that was set before them. Family & friends, freedom to live and worship, prayer - all of such great importance and yet so often taken for granted and neglected. Lord, open our hearts to love and our eyes to see . . . the treasures in our own backyard. Posted by: Dad

"As For Our House"

"For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord" - 1 Samuel 1:27,28

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto Me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven" - Matthew 19:14

"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me" - Matthew 18:4,5

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it" - Proverbs 22:6

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is he that desireth life, And loveth many days, that he may see good? Keep they tongue from evil, And they lips from speaking fuile. Depart from evil, and do good; Seek peace, and pursue it" - Psalm 34:11-14

"I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophecy" - Joel 2:28

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" - Joshua 24:15 Posted by: Dad

Our Youngest Son, Matthew

This is our youngest son, Matthew. What an action-packed ball of energy! You never know what's gonna happen next with this little guy. Better be on your toes. Matthew loves cars, climbing about anything and playing cowboy shoot 'em up. He loves Mommy to read to him, but not Daddy (he thinks that means naptime). His best friends are Trae, Dylan and Natalie, although one might think they are sometimes enemies instead. He is anxious to "do school" like the big kids. What a joy. His "butterfly" kisses and "bear" hugs always a boost to Mommy's day.

Our Youngest Daughter, Angela

This is our daughter, Angela. She is a very sweet and beautiful girl. She is quiet, shy and sensitive by nature. She is a blessing to be around. Her sweet smile and loving hugs always brighten the dark corners of the day. She loves to play with her girl friends and read books (about any subject). She seems determined to know a little bit about many things. We have been amazed with how quickly and beautifully her piano playing has progressed of late. We are very proud of her and her accomplishments, but most of all are grateful for the tenderness of her heart toward God. We look forward to seeing this beautiful flower unfold as God directs her life.

Our Oldest Son, Timothy

This is our son, Timothy. He's a riot to have around. Never know what he's gonna do next. He loves to be in the cool of things with his friend, Clinton. He is turning into a fine young man of character. Timmy has really been working hard at developing his abilities on the piano. He plays with so much feeling. He also enjoys reading mysteries and has a great talent for making things with his hands. We are so proud of him. We are looking forward to seeing what God will do with him.

Our Daughter Ashley

This is our lovely daughter, Ashley. She's a beautiful girl both inside and out. She is fun-loving but also has a serious side. (Don't ever cross her) Watch out if you play board games with her. She's very competitive! She loves to be with her girl friends, e-mail on the computer, and read mystery books. She is a pleasure to be around. She has a lot of talent and is becoming a beautiful piano player. We are very proud of her and all her accomplishments. We trust that she will let the Lord direct her path and that she will succeed in all that she does for His glory.

Our Family

This is our family (Minus dad who was working. We will add him separately.) We are made up of Dad - Dan, Mom - Tammy, and 4 kids - Timothy, Ashley, Angela, and Matthew. We've created this blog to let you in on a little piece of our lives. Anyone of us may take a turn at writing. We welcome our friends comments.