children are a blessing

Jonathan and Susanna are dancing

Here they are posed. Each year when we take out the manger scene it also means we see Grandma Dunlap's wedding Dress ( bescause the manger scence crate is the safest place for the dress). Susanna is trying on the veil here. The veil Grandma, Mama, many of our Aunts woreand hopefully someday us girls will wear at our weddings.

"Remember how the Psalmist described children? He said they were a heritage from the Lord, and happy is the man that has a quiver full of them. And what is a quiver full of but arrows? And what are arrows for but to shoot. So, with strong arms of prayer, draw the bowstring back and let the arrows fly ---all of them sraight at the Enemy's hosts' --Jim Elliot

Psalm 127: 3-5

Sons are a heritage from the Lord

Children a reward from Him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

are sons born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man

whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

when they contend with their

enemies in the gate.

This little thought by Jim Elliot and Psalm 127:3-5 is how I got my idea for a blog title. I want to be one of those arrows shot out with strong arms of prayer for the Glory of the Almighty. I won't worry if the world says I am insane to go where God might call me ( or shot me to). For the safest place on earth is in the center of God's will. And that is were I must be. We die in order to live, a seed falls into the dark earth and dies. Out of its death comes multiplied life. It takes faith to believe this, as it takes faith for a farmer to plant seed. It takes faith to liveby it, act, look, and hope.

This reminds me of what Elizabeth Elliot wrote in Passion and Purity; " Think of the self that God has placed in a Acorn. It is a marvelous little thing, a perfect shape, perfectly functional. Think of the grand glory of an oak tree. His intention for us is '... The measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.'

Many deaths must go into our reaching that measure, many letting goes. When you look at the oak tree, you don't feel taht the "loss" of the acorn is a very great loss. The more you perceive God's purpose in your life, the less terrible will the losses seem."

The lord is GOOd, Indeed