Post 264


Justus and Jeriah's birthdays!




Out for ice cream with Grandma




Fannie and Matthew Shetler


This a about how Andrew normally looks. Ah, the life of a web developer.



We had a date on Thursday. Come to find out Thursday is Bike Night in Royal Oak. It was pretty noisy. Rumble rumble!



Oakland County 4-H Fair 2014...






I got to work with this fine fellow in the Inside the Box Fair Ministry.


The Brochers!


The Goldsworthys!






Monster Trucks!





As we were leaving the stadium one night I met a boy named Andrew whom I had spoken with in the Child Evangelism tent earlier that week.
After talking for a few minutes, we both knelt down in the middle of the midway at the 4-H fair. Crowds of people walked past us as he prayed to Jesus to save him from his sins! "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13


Child Evangelism Fellowship






This a brother and sister that we talked to quite a bit this week, Cadence and Lily.
On Thursday, Cadence accepted Jesus. Then, he immediately went to bring his sister, and she got saved too!











With Aunt Jemima!






My favorite ride: the swing!


With Josiah and Nehemiah Walker









Momma Biddinger!










Something new at the fair this year was Pirate Island. It's run by a family that travels around putting on a live play, using members of the audience as the actors. Amity and Shiloh had a blast volunteering in the show at least once a day all week long!









At Figure 8 Race




On to other things...

Some thoughts on four different types of peace, and how God wants them for our lives...


Peace


1. Come to Peace with God
Ezekiel 43:27 And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.
Exodus 37:26 Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus brings peace with God!

2. Come to Inner Peace (comes only from God)
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
2 John 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Jesus brings inner peace!

3. Come to Peace with Others
1 Thessalonians 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Jesus brings peace to inter-personal relationships!

4. Be a Peace Maker
Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Bring others to peace with one another!
Bring others to peace with God!

Enemies of peace:
Pride, Covetousness, Expectations, Selfishness

Challenge: Come to peace! Be a peace maker!



Peet's Coffee and Tea was Andrew's hangout for work while staying with us.



Amity making breakfast


Our back yard one morning


I did quite a bit of work repairing furnaces and water heaters after this flood. Everyone's basement got about 6 inches to 3 feet of water in north Metro Detroit. I drove around and took this little video of the area.


Eatin' lime!



Party at Robinsons for Abby's Birthday








Andrew and Susanna

We left Andrew to watch the kids one evening and came home to them all asleep like this...






Did you know we could go through our whole life working hard and not accomplishing anything? No one wants to go through life without making a differance. We all want to have an impact--to be fruitful. Well, according to Jesus, here's how to be fruitful...

Abide Fruitfully

John 15:1-17


Read John 15:1-17...

 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
 12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
 13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
 14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
 15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
 17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.


Application: 

  1. Jesus wants us to be fruitful. (verse 8)
  2. We get there through abiding in Him. (verses 4 and 5) But how do we abide?...
  3. Hold His words dear. Take them to heart! (verses 7 and 10)


Rewards of Abiding:

  1. Love (verses 9-10)
  2. Joy (verse 11)
  3. Fruit (verse 16)

Abide in Jesus, and enjoy being fruitful!



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Brother Bear
1312 New Life
Rochester, MI 48309
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