Whats Your Name ?

Thinking some more about Peter.

His birth name was Simon.  

A common first century Palestinian name. 

When Jesus first met him, he named him Cephas, 

which is Aramaic for 'rock'.

Peter is the Greek equivalent to Cephas.
"... you are Peter and on this rock I will build my church..."
Matthew 18:16

Throughout the New Testament, 

Peter was sometimes called Simon,

when referring to his mother in law (Luke 4:38)
 or his business (Luke 5:3,10)

But he was also called Simon to mark key failures in his life......

those times when he acted like his 'old' unregenerate self.
Like when Jesus was grieved at Peter's inability to stay awake
while He was praying in the Garden (Mark 14:37).
Or when Peter was proud and overconfident in Luke 22
and Jesus said to him,
"Simon, Simon, satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat."
The last time (John 21:15-17) Jesus called him Simon
is when the disciples fished all night and caught nothing....
back on the beach Jesus asked him,
"Simon, son of John, do you love Me.?"
Three times Peter affirmed his love for the LORD.
But from that point on......Peter, the rock, lived up to his name.
He was a leader amongst the disciples, he preached the gospel fearlessly,
he boldly confronted Jewish authorities
and did not hesitate to judge sin in the churches.
Through Peter's ministry the NT church was opened to the Gentiles.

Sometimes I wonder what the LORD's name is for me....
It is written down in the Lamb's Book of Life.
"And if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life,
he was thrown into the lake of fire." Rev. 20:15

My parents named me Kathryn, which means"pure".
In high school I was mocked/teased and called "Polly Pure Body"
But I don't always live my life in a pure way.

Everybody calls me Kathy......but perhaps......
Perhaps some days the LORD would look at me
 and see me acting like my old regenerate self....
 and I would more appropriately be called
Greedy, or Selfish, or Critical.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - FIRST BORN

Thirty four years ago today yesterday !

God allowed me to

 became a mother to a living, breathing son.

He is my firstborn.

He has become many things in life:

a student, a piano player, a trumpet player, a music writer,

a home schooled student, a high school graduate,

a college student/graduate, a husband, a father,

a student of the Word, a lover of the Truth,

a business owner, a home owner and many, many more.

BUT

the greatest and most lasting mark he has made is that he is

a man of God.

Not perfect, not without fault, 

but one who is striving daily to be

holy, sanctified, set apart for his Master's use.

And for that, I thank my LORD,

and pray that his life will continue to be 

"to the praise and glory of the One who ransomed him."

Happy Birthday Jeremy ....... my love and prayers.

Lois & Jeremy
Chloe, Samuel & Lydia

ps.  Jeremy has a blog if you want to check it out.
and for that matter he has two blogs!

Pondering on Peter

I have been thinking about Peter.  

Some call him "impetuous Peter." Meaning that he responded quickly to situations, 

often without thinking about his actions.  Hmmmm..... sometimes I do that!

When Jesus chose his disciples, he chose men who were just like you and me.  

Not perfect men.  Not men who had arrived in their 'holiness'.  

But men with flaws.  Men with personality quirks.  

Men who needed to be transformed into the image of Christ.  

Men who needed to be continually sanctified or set apart for their Master's use. 

 Jesus found Peter tending to his "fishing business" near the Sea of Galilee. 

"He said to them (Peter &  his brother Andrew),

Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. 

Immediately they left their nets and followed Him."

That's amazing  because these two fishermen 

made their living by catching fish.

Peter had a family & a home to support.

Yet, at the call of Jesus.....

a Man whom they likely didn't know too much about,

because Jesus' ministry was just geting started,

they left their livelihood, 

all that they knew as 'normal' 

and followed Him. 

This morning I was reading in Genesis 12, 

about another man who obeyed His God. 

"Now the LORD said to Abram,

 'Go from your country and your kindred 

and your father's house to the land that I will show you....."

And in verse 4 it says, "So Abram went...".

It is beautiful to have examples like Peter & Abram,

 and many others, who obeyed the Word of God.

Not knowing what lay ahead. 

Not knowing how they would be provided for.

Not know so many things......yet they obeyed their God.

This challenges me to be aware of my obedience to Him. 

In small things.  In big things.

Know what the Word of God says.  Obey what the Word of God says.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart!

Try me and know my thoughts!

And see if there be any grievous way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting!"

Psalm 139:23-24

BRIANN TURNS 9 ! ! !

Last Tuesday we celebrated Briann's 9th birthday.  Family and friends were there for a good supper.  It included Jalon's now famous 'salsa'.  Complete with avocados in it.   

Briann is a very special young lady!! She loves life....and loves having fun.  She's a great soccer player and sings in a choir.  AND she always has

hugs and kisses for me.....

I use to get to sew on her AWANA patches......but now the level she is in does not give patches.  

I pray she will always be

hiding God's Word in her heart!!

She had these VERY YUMMY brownies

with homemade ice cream for her birthday dessert.

She excitedly and politely opened all her birthday gifts and then declared

"I got EVERYTHING I wanted."

Some of the cousins played "Uno Attack" and had fun.  When I was taking their picture they begged......can we take a funny one Gramma???

So here they are.......... not sure where they learned that ! ! !

My prayer for you, Briann, is that you would know the LORD God 

and love Him with all your heart. 

And that your desire would always be to please and honor Him.....

I  LOVE  YOU  BRIANN  MARIE  !  !

Yesterday, on our way to CA, we viewed the marvels of God's creation from above the clouds. We commented on how neat it was to see the tops of the mountains poking thru the clouds. Well...because of dense fog at the Sale Lake airport and not enough fuel to circle for awhile....we diverted to Twin Falls Idaho, a VERY SMALL airport.   Meanwhile our flight crew "timed out" which means in their words....NO ONE IS GOING ANYWHERE!! Didn't matter where you were headed or how angry you got or what you were going to miss or even if you were a grown man and cried!!

Leaving out lots of funny details.....two hours later two huge coach busses arrived to take us to Salt Lake City airport.  SO.....we got to see Gods marvelous creation, again, this time close up.  And it was still truly beautiful and amazing.

The pilot said.  at first, that it was a two maybe 2.5 hr trip.  The bus driver said 4 hrs and he was right. The bus kept overheating going up those passes.  But we made it safe and are thankful.

We occupied ourselves by listening to the Gettys and finding out if you have the free version of Scrabble you can only play if you have I internet.

Eddy Turns THREE

Since Myron and I will be out of town when Eddy has his birthday party we went early to party with him.  On the drive out there I was reminded of the day of his birth and the LORD's protection over Jared, Jill and their kiddos.

Jill was on her way in for her scheduled C section, with the three girls all strapped safely in their car seats, when she hit a patch of ice and ended up in a pretty deep ditch.....thankfully to the LORD.....the ditch was very full of snow. Everyone was ok.  It was a scary time but another instance of God's sovereign care in our lives.  

Here is a picture of Jared, attempting to light three little birthday candles with a TORCH!!  Jill soon found some matches.

Eddy was fascinated by the candles as they kept coming back on and on and on and on.  After many laughs and lots of spit we finally put them out with water.

Eddy is our very special 10th grandchild. (And every one of them is VERY special!)

Thanks for the fun time and the memories!  

We love you Eddy!!