Some Rwanda pics

Was looking at some old Rwanda pics.  Here are some of them.

Cousins kayaking on Lake Kivu (at Karora)

Lake Kivu from our house

On the airstrip.  Look how young we all were!

We hiked to Mugonero's water source - a spring some distance up the hill. I guess Dad was fixing something or other.

A burden

I have a burden.  But I think it's a God-given burden. And that is to warn the world of the coming judgment and to somehow (though I am but a very dim reflection) reveal some of God's LOVE for mankind to everyone, or at least point people TO it.  {I'm afraid that as a person I actually distract from that love, though every "Christ"ian is called to be a representative of Christ to the world, -  somehow we must get the message through.} Though God loves each one like he was the only person on earth, He cannot, nay WILL not allow sin to continue forever - for OUR sakes.  There HAS to be a judgment - an end.

We must point the world to Christ - our only hope!!  But the exciting thing is that not only does Christ freely give His blood to pay our death penalty; He also imparts His Righteous Character to us and helps us LIVE it!  If we are willing and committed to it, He will perform it.  All He wants is a broken and contrite heart - a heart that acknowledges our total depravity and inability to save ourselves, and one that acknowledges God ALONE as worthy of our praise and worship.

Why?  He wants our perfect allegiance to Him because He KNOWS He is the only one ABLE to save us and bring us happiness and eternal life.  Not because He is a tyrant and dictator who demands and forces allegiance; or a love-starved egotist who NEEDS our praise. It is because he IS love and is our Creator.  Who else is worthy of our worship and praise?  No-one else and no other being is worthy save this God alone!

A Crochety old Lady

That's what I'm afraid of becoming one day!  Please, Lord, help me not to be one, and to not terrorize the CNA's who come round to change my soiled sheets in the Alzheimer ward.

How difficult it is for me to be sweet and meek...That's one of my goals in life - to be sweet and meek.  When I was 6 months old, I used to be that way....I really don't know what has happened since then.

Disclaimer: This isn't me....but am sure I was just as sweet!

However, since I'm so outspoken, and not very tactful, it's easy to become discouraged at myself.  But, thank the Lord, at just the right times, He sends pertinent, inspired material to uplift and encourage.  Thank you, Jesus!!

Here are some of those quotes from "Steps to Christ"  pp 49-51, by EGW.

"As your conscience has been quickened by the Holy Spirit, you have seen something of the evil of sin, of its power, its guilt, its woe; and you look upon it with abhorrence.  You feel that sin has separated you from God, that you are in bondage to the power of evil.  The more you struggle to escape, the more you realize your helplessness.....It is peace that you need, - Heaven's forgiveness and peace and love in the soul....You can never hope, by your own efforts, to secure it.  But God offers it to you as a gift "without money and without price" Isa 55:1.  It is yours if you will but reach out your hand and grasp it.....

"You have confessed your sins, and in heart put them away.  You have resolved to give yourself to God.  Now go to Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart.  Then believe that He does this because He has promised.....

Do not wait to feel that you are made whole, but say, "I believe it;  it is so, not because I feel it, but because God has promised."

I think this is what living by faith means.  And this happens daily.  After all, if we can't believe that God will do what He says He will do, then we might as well not be Christians.

Not only faith in the work He did on the cross to purchase our pardon, but also victory over sin now in the same power.  Why would we believe in one thing He says, and not believe the other?  In fact, He says both things in one verse in 1 John 1:9:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Instantaneously and for the long haul, I believe.  That's why Christ could say "Be ye perfect, even as I am perfect."  He is saying "Accept the gift I want to give you.  I paid for it and therefore it's free to you!  Have faith in my words and take it!"