The boat....

The new-to-us used boat. P got up waterskiing! Lots of fun!

We walk and walk and walk.....

Wonder what he is thinkin'? It's all downhill from here! Where did you say the beach was??????

Spring clean up at the cottage...

There is still ice on the lake. But the crocuses are blooming and the pussy willows too, and the tics are out too. The lake is really low so far this year.

water....snow...

...wash me and I shall be whiter than snow...Psalm 51:7

Oh Happy Day...!

If you know this older lady, at the bottom, it is her birthday this weekend! Give her a call!

Lady Powerscourt

Theodosia Anne Powerscourt, known as Lady Powerscourt, was born in the year 1800. She was the daughter of the Honorable Hugh Howard of Bushy Park, County Wicklow, Ireland. Theodosia Howard was converted to God in 1819, perhaps through Robert Daly, the rector of Powerscourt. Theodosia’s cousin, Frances Powerscourt, wife of Viscount Powerscourt (Richard Wingfield), died in May 1820. Theodosia married Richard Wingfield on June 29, 1822, and thus became Lady Powerscourt; Richard Wingfield died on August 9, 1823, a little over a year after their marriage. In 1826 prophetic meetings were first held in the residence (in Surrey, England,) of Henry Drummond, a banker and member of Parliament. Lady Powerscourt was interested in prophecy and attended these meetings. Impressed by these meetings, she initiated, perhaps in 1829, meetings for the study of prophecy at Powerscourt House. All who were interested were invited to come. After some time, she invited men from all over England, Scotland, and Ireland to her house for meetings. These meetings turned into annual Powerscourt conferences starting in 1831. Without going into the Scriptural truths which were brought out, it is believed that one result of these meetings at Powerscourt Castle was that the “Midnight Cry”—“Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.”—of Matthew 25:6 was proclaimed. After 1833 the conferences were held in a hotel in Dublin, Ireland, due to Lady Powerscourt’s stepson becoming of age and heir to the title, taking up residence at the Castle; since she no longer felt it to be her house she moved to Dublin. (copied off some website...hope it is accurate...hmmm) Lady Powerscourt died in 1836.

The Powerscourt Fountain

There is a fountain filled with blood,

Drawn from Immanuel's veins;

And sinners plunged beneath that flood

Lose all their guilty stains!

I do believe, I will believe,

That Jesus died for me!

That on the cross He shed His blood,

From sin to set me free.

The dying thief rejoiced to see

That fountain in his day;

And there may I, though vile as he,

Wash all my sins away.

Views of the cottage....

This is a view of the cottage from the top of the hill and from the bottom, or lakeside.

Memories of the past...

Last year, the dad and kids found this old, ababandoned homestead near our cottage. I reallly like this picture. Wonder if the people who used to live there enjoyed it in their day.

Red and yellow, black and white....

This is the song that popped into Grandpa's head when he looked at the skidoos!

God speaks to every mother...

"Take this child, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." (Exodus 2:9)

"Take this child, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." (Exodus 2:9)

"Take this child and nurse it for me" - So King Pharaoh's daughter spake To the mother, whose whole being For her little one did ache.

So God speaks to every mother At her helpless infant's birth: "Take this child and nurse it for Me", During all its life on earth.

"Take this child, to thee I trust it; It from thee must learn the way, Through the earthly darkness round it, To the light of heavenly day.

"Take this child - and Mother, ponder! Yonder heaven is pure and fair; Wouldst thou be amidst its number And thy little one not there?

"Oh, then train it, gently, wisely, Of its Saviour's love to feel; And, where sin has cast its shadow, Teach it Christ has power to heal.

"Take this child, this richest blessing Given to the earthly home; Take this child and nurse it for Me, Till to claim Mine own I come."

(R.K. Campbell - The Christian Home)

"Light obeyed increaseth Light. Light refused, but bringeth night. Who shall give us power to choose, If the love of Light we lose?"

"The Lord said unto Joshua . . . ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days. . . . the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times . . . make a long blast with the ram's horn . . . all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat . . ." (Joshua 6:2-5) It may be said, why not simplify the path? Why all these complications? Why go around the city every day, and seven times the seventh day? Why this procession with the ark and trumpets? Faith does not ask why? It does not reason as to the means God chooses to employ; it accepts them, enters into them, and obtains the victory instead of being beaten by the enemy. It was thus at the Passover and at the Red Sea. Do you say: Then faith is without intelligence? Not at all; it first submits and then understands. Faith will tell you the reason of the seven days, the ark, the procession, the trumpets, and the shouts of joy, but it will only tell you after submission to them, otherwise it would be intelligence and not faith. (H.L. Rossier - Meditations on the Book of Joshua)

The Weaver My life is but a weaving, between my God and me, I do not choose the colors, He worketh steadily. Ofttimes he weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride Forget He sees the upper, and I the underside. Not till the loom is silent, and the shuttles cease to fly, Will God unroll the canvas, and explain the reasons why. The dark threads are as needful in the skillful weaver's hand As threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned. He knows, He loves, He cares, Nothing this truth can dim. He gives His very best to those Who leave the choice with Him.

God's Faithful Promises "I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." Joshua 1:3 God be with you: He is strong, He will lead you safe along; He will always meet your need, Give you on Himself to feed. God be with you: He is wise, Knoweth all beneath the skies: Knows your need from day to day, Therefore, Christian, watch and pray. God be with you: He is light, In His presence all is bright; In His light we journey on, Filled with joy and hope and song. God is Love: How well you know, What the cost to save from woe; What the love that freely gave His own Son your soul to save. God is with you all the way, Until night shall pass away; Then to see His blessed face, Saved forever, by His grace. James Clark

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) What a wonderful statement! It is not a question merely of what will be the justification of the believer when manifested before the judgment-seat of Christ, but "now" there is nothing to condemn to those who are in Christ Jesus. If I look at myself in the flesh, it is, "O wretched man that I am!" If I look at what I am in Christ Jesus, there is now no condemnation. Dead to all that I am, as a child of Adam - dead to sin, dead to law, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Thus, being in and to another, to Christ Jesus raised from the dead, it is not only to bring forth fruit unto God, but "there is therefore now no condemnation." Do you get hold of this? Is there any condemnation possible to that risen Christ in the glory of God? Then, if you are in Him, how can there be condemnation to you? (Charles Stanley - Epistle to the Romans - 1885