THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAME

Our newest little grandchild came with her family for a visit yesterday from LA.  She is not only darling, but, she has a beautiful name--Bella Rose. I have found that the naming of babies is often a time consuming and frustrating task, but, in reality whatever a baby is named, their character will determine how wonderful their name is in the long run.  That is the whole reason we have an aversion to some names and adore others; because we most likely are associating the name with someone's character.

I'm reading an interesting book that contains a collection of Charles Spurgeon's letters to family and friends.  In a letter to one of his sisters he wrote this:  "Everybody's name is pretty, if you are good people.  The Duke of Tuscany has just had a little son;...they named him...Giovanni Nepomerceno, Maria Annunziata Guiseppe Giovanbaptista Ferdinando Baldas-sere Luigi Gonzaga Pietro Allesandro Zanobi AntonMo.  A pretty name to go to bed and get up with; it will be a long time before he will be able to say it all the way through!  If anyone is called by the name of Christian, that is better than all these great words; it is the best name in the world, except the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

WHAT MAKES A HAPPY MARRIAGE?

I have to admit, not many years ago 47 years sounded like a long time to be married.  Last week as we celebrated that milestone in our marriage we were blessed to travel to Crystal Mountain and enjoy lunch at the highest restaurant in Washington state (7000 feet) with an amazing view of Mt. Rainier.  What a great place to take in the beauty of God's overwhelming creation.  The view from the point pictured here was spectacular a full 360 degrees.  The God who spoke all of these mountains, trees, rivers, wildlife, and flowers into existence is also the One who has caused 47 years to seem but a short time for us.  He has blessed us with harmony, peace, and joy--and that makes time fly.  This isn't to say that there haven't been difficult times, but, God has always been with us through those times and given us stability, sacrificial love for each other, and a strong sense of being a team.  I'm very thankful to God for giving me a godly, loving, patient, and wise husband.  Now we are happily beginning our 48th year.

ROCK, OR SAND

"Here is Rock: all else is sand." -J.C. Ryle

This week I came across this thought provoking quote and have actually spent some time mauling it over in my mind.  The whole idea behind it is that Jesus (the Rock) is the only one we should build our lives and futures on:  everything else is sand; everything.  This sums up well a posting by our son Caleb that follows.

Ezra Suko's painting "New Day Dawning."

"The Western Christian is often confused about the word 'good' he thinks a 'good' life is a comfortable, entertaining, and enjoyable life. He's wrong!

A good life is a righteous life, it is founded upon a strong faith in God and directed by principles of truth found in God's Word.

A good life is a life that always does the right thing, a good life is a life that doesn't seek it's own self interest, a good life is a life that serves others, cares for others, and pursues God's... best in all.

And here's the thing, while a good life may not be comfortable, entertaining, or exciting, it will bring joy and peace beyond what words can describe!

So please stop buying the lie that our culture is shoving down the mouth of every consumer. You don't need more things to have a good life, you don't need to watch another movie, earn more money, go on cruise, become famous, or look beautiful.

Find God and you will find real goodness!"