Praise and Prayer

"Here she is!" She is not Miss America, but she is more precious to us than any Miss America could be unless it is Laurie, the latest "future addition" to be added to our family. We are already excited and are exceedingly blessed to have Tim and Kara's wedding coming up. I already look on Tim as my son. I look forward to sharing Tim as a son with his Dad and Mom. Now God is blessing us with a daughter to share with her parents and as Jonathan's future wife! (Go to www.jdblundell.blogspot.com for pictures, video, and Jonathan's commentary.) We spent most of last Saturday celebrating the engagement which took place that morning.

This morning I wrote a few comments to and about Jonathan and Laurie which are copied and edited from my comment post on Jonathan's blog. They follow in italics and in bold print:

20 "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV)

Has it been only four months, Jonathan? It seems we have known Laurie for a much longer time as we have heard so much and so many good things about her. We had no idea she even existed until you mentioned you were communicating with a young lady who said she thought your parents went to the same church as her parents.

She was and is right. We have known her parents for around six years. They are fine folks. Neither we nor they had any idea the other couple had an unmarried and eligible child. We all believe it is God who is bringing you together. Both sets of parents have prayed and watched as God answered our prayers. Praise the wonderful name of Jesus! He has definitely done exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think!

We congratulate you and Laurie, publicly and on- line. We already love Laurie as our daughter. We look forward to Laurie becoming our "daughter-in-law." We are proud of both of you and love you both very much. God bless you all, always, and in all ways. I pray blessings for you both as Paul prayed in Ephesians 3:14-21.

"14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you," Jonathan and Laurie, "according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you," Jonathan and Laurie, "being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you," Jonathan and Laurie, "may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
10:41 AM (end of comment on Jonathan's blog.)

There are several more items in which we request praise and prayer. We praise God for the many ways in which He answered prayers as God saw Laurie, her parents, and Jonathan. Laurie had an angioram and complications the week before the engagement. God answered the prayers of many all over the country for Laurie's recovery. He has given Laurie an awesome spirit of cheerfulness. You should have seen her smile, even while in pain. He also gave strength, wisdom, and courage for Laurie, her medical caregivers, her family and ours. We have an awesome God.

It is time I share a few other things on this blog. Some friends have been checking it and probably wonder why I have not been adding to it. We have been extremely busy since school started. Margie has an oversize school class of 24 second graders this year. I have been trying to help her with domestic things at home so she can keep up with all the grading, filing, and other paperwork for that class after my four days, at ten-hours per day work week.

I have realized the most important relationship I have after Jesus Christ is with my wife and family. Church membership and responsibilities, work, and trying to help others see a "passage to higher ground" come after that. My life is far from balanced, but I praise God that He is still
teaching me and my family is so patient, especially Margie.

I am loved by Christ and others more than I had thought or understood. Kara and Tim have been given several wedding showers along with other preparations for their December 30 wedding. God has, I believe, given me a better understanding 0f Christ's statement about ministry to Him.. Jesus said, "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'" (Matthew 25:40, NKJV).

When someone does something for Margie, Jonathan, Kara, Tim or Laurie, it affects me emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as if they had done it to me! I had not realized it so thoroughly before this time. The carefully planned showers and thoughtful gifts to Tim and Kara have affected me as if the blessings were directly to me.

Please remember Matthew, my great-nephew, whose heart valve had not completely closed at birth. God answered our prayers and his heart started functioning normally before he was seen by the pediatric cardioligist specialist at Medical City of Dallas. Matthew is now suffering from a weak and/or atrophied muscle in his neck or shoulder, as I understand it. This makes it painful and difficult for him to have full motion of his neck and head. This is being treated by therapy. Please pray for Matthew, Delaina and Mark (Matthew's parents), and Matthew's grandparents and therapist as they deal with this. We are trusting God to heal him completely.

God has provided Tim and Kara with an apartment with rent and all utilities, except telephone, paid. They are even eligible for insurance, get a small monthly stipend, and can eat breakfast and/or lunch provided for the tenants and staff. This is in exchange for their alternating with another security couple in answering the phone and tending to minor maintentance or sometimes emergency needs of tenants in a senior citizens retirement apartment complex when the office is closed. They also help serve lunch on their "on-duty" Sunday and are enjoying getting to know the senior tenants.

One of Margie's students came after the school year had already begun. He was to have been retained in first grade but Dorsey Elementary was unaware of it. The principal had him moved to first grade where he is more developmentally capable of learning his work. Another student was a terrible disruption unless he had recieved his medication at home. He was perhaps a foster child and was transferred to another school district out of Dallas by CPS, as I understand it.

Margie's main problem child now is the best reader and perhaps most intelligent student in her class. I'll call him Nathan to protect his name. Nathan tends to be ornery and just plain mean at times. If things do not go his way he may throw a "hissy fit," yelling and/or growling his displeasure and anger. Margie has developed a separate discipline system for him and is trying to encourage him by having him help other students. Nathan has the reputation for being the worst child in school and is only in second grade! Near the end of the day on Friday he had an extreme outburst of anger, shouting disgust with his life, and disappointment in himself after Margie had to discipline him. Margie was able to calm him down and had him sit on her lap as therer were no other seats available for the activity which the rest class was doing. All at once Nathan started hugging her very hard and long.

Please pray Nathan will have a change of heart which only God can accomplish. Pray for his family and "parents," too. Please pray for many of Margie's other students who are also being raised by single mothers, with no father or only a live-in boy friend "step-father," or by a grandmother or grandparents. Please pray for Margie, too. The paperwork and oversize class load are a consistent burden. She is teaching about half of the students at the very basic beginning of second grade reading level. One little girl cannot even read at that level! Thank God for those students who are close to or above the level at which they need to be. Please pray they will continue to learn and excel although Margie cannot seem to spend adequate time with them while trying to raise the level of the others.

I praise God for Margie and 30 years of marriage which we celebrated all day on October 1. We still have some celebrating to do. First, Margie was surprised by a large anniversary Macadamian nut cookie in Sunday school class when I recieved permission to pre-empt the scheduled refreshment provider couple. She shared it with the whole class and there was still some left over. That afternoon a good number of very close friends and our immediate family were able to suprise her again. Kara, Tim, and Kathryn (Amy's lifetime best girl friend) pulled together cake, punch, cookies and ice cream for the afternoon celebration while I took Margie to lunch. God bless each and all of you as you prayed, praised, and/or celebrated with us. We are surrounded by the best friends and family for which we could ask God. We thank God for each of you.

We have a friend and sister in Christ, Jeannie, who needs our prayers. Her son, Andrew, is in the hospital again after being in and out several times in the last month. Please pray for Andrew, Jeannie , and Chris (Andrew's brother.) They have been through numerous trials and tribulations. Please pray they will continue to trust God and see His answers and provisions at this time, too. God bless you as you also pray for these friends.

Finally, please pray for the leaders of our communities and our country. Please pray that God's people will do their part to pray for and to elect good leaders in our country. Please pray for our military service personnel who are so courageously serving our country all over the world as they try to give other nations liberty and democracy. Please pray especially for our brothers and sisters in Christ in our military services. Please pray they will be effective and faithful ambassadors for Christ and our countyr wherever they are and in whatever they do. ambassadors wherever they are.

" 1 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-- 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle--I am telling the truth, I am not lying--and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles. 8 I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing." (I Timothy 2:1-8, NIV).

Thank you for joining this praise and prayer with me.

Please go to http://www.Nigeria2006.blogspot.com to see some of whatGod is doing in the church in Jos, Nigeria with a group
which is mostly from Lakepoint Baptist Church in Rockwall, Texas. Our
son and a very close friend of his are in the group from Texas. God
is definitely working in the lives of the people whom they contact as
well as in the lives of the people in the group.

Please pray for God's will to be done in the lives of the group from
Texas and in the lives of the people they contact in Nigeria and as
they travel home.

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask
the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his
harvest field. (Luke 10:2, NIV)

News from Nigeria

Please go to http://www.Nigeria2006.blogspot.com to see some of what
God is doing in the church in Jos, Nigeria with a group which is mostly from
Lakepoint Baptist Church in Rockwall, Texas. Our son and a very close
friend of his are in the group from Texas. God is definitely working in
the lives of the people whom they contact as well as in the lives of the
people in the group.

Please pray for God's will to be done in the lives of the group from Texas
and in the lives of the people they contact in Nigeria and as they travel home.

He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the
Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.
(Luke 10:2, NIV)

Today's ethics question from my son:

"Today's ethics question" was posted by my son, Jonathan, at http://jdblundell.blogspot.com/2006/09/todays-ethics-question_19.html#comments.

What arguments can you provide that concludes that homosexuality is not wrong or that homosexuality is wrong?
And I'll add a second part to it from previous discussions...
What arguement, other than Scripture or Religious beliefs, have led you to the conclusion that same sex marriage is wrong?
posted by Jonathan Blundell at 10:50 AM on Sep 19 2006

You can read the two original comments on Jonathan's blog, but I have added my own comments to this blog as well as Jonathan's. The following comments are mine.

The question of homosexuality being wrong or not wrong is an interesting question which should be answered. Is it possible to even define wrong without scripture or religious beliefs? There must be absolutes. You may say, "There are no absolutes." That is making an absolute statement and therefore it proves itself false and its antithesis must be true. There are absolutes. Look at the two questions logically as those things for and against them.

What is wrong or bad for me may be right or good for you, depending on our respective perspectives. It may be wrong for me to have more money than you, in your opinion. Therefore, in your opinion, it could be right for you to take my money from me. I may not think it is all right for me to have more money than you, but I definitely would think it wrong for you to take my money from me. That does not mean that right and wrong are relative. It only shows how some people would think of them as relative instead of absolute. Let's look at the question from other perspectives.

Another issue must be considered. Sexual relationships are only the thermometer of the relationship. They are not the air conditioner which relieves the sweat of the day. They are not the heater that warms the chill from the outside world. A temporary port in the storm gives short term relief, but it is nothing compared to the securtiy, relief, comfort, provision, peace and satisfaction of being safe in one's home port. The question then becomes, "Do you want many relationships without depth, or one in which you and your partner are intimately commited to each other in every way for your lifetime?"

Look at the positive benefits of the opposite of homosexual practices. Proponents of "free sex," as they have called it, have actually researched, surveyed, and reported that those men and women in monogamous heterosexual relationships are more satisfied and happy than those people indulging in the "free sex" world of multiple heterosexual or homosexual relationshipos.

Those couples in monogamous heterosexual relationships also report greater satisfaction, greater sexual intimacy, and more frequent sexual intercourse than those engaging in multiple heterosexual relationships. Therefore, multiple heterosexual or homosexual partnerships are not the best or the most enduring sexual relationships.


If wrong is defined as not good for you, then homosexual relationships are just as bad for you as multiple heterosexual relationships. Sexual relations with any one means that you are exposed to the same sexually transmittted diseases (STD's)to which that partner has been exposed. Therefore, it is as dangerous as having sexual relations with all of that partners' sexual partners.

Consider "same sex marriage." Male homosexuals live to an average age of less than 45 years. Their lifespan is shortened by the STD's, other diseases, and injuries brought on by their homosexual practices and the high number of partners with whom they engage in unnatural sexual relationships. The male body is not made for such acts. I do not think I need to explain that statement.

The average life span of lesbians is not known by me--but they definitely live a shorter life and have more STD's than those in monogamous heterosexual relationships. The female body is not made for homosexual relationships. Lesbians suffer from STD's even as their male counterparts.


Same sex unions (I will not equate them with marriage.) are not nearly as good, compared to heterosexual monogamous marriages even if monogamous and for the lifetime of the people so "united."

Have you ever heard of anyone or is there anyone who can point to any same sex union in which both partners have never had sexual relationships with anyone else?
Men and women interact differently than men with men or women with women. VIVA LA DIFFERENCE!

It is far easier (and better) to intimately know and become known by one partner in one's lifetime than to try to even be satisfied or satisfy more than one partner.

You can decide if homosexual relationships are right or wrong. You can decide if you are willing to suffer the consequences of repeated cheap thrills or if you are willing to commit to realizing the ultimate relationship among humans on this earth.

I thank my Lord Jesus Christ that he will enable you to realize the best relationship among humans and with himself if you will trust him and commit your life to him.

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

(The question of right or wrong can best be answered from Scripture because it portrays God as he has revealed himself to us. Would you like that answer?)

Sometime I may try to tell what has been going on the last ten days since I have "journaled" in my blog. I have realized that it takes quite a chunk of time, but it is definitely worth it because it helps me meditate on God's Word and communicate better with God in prayer, through the day and the night, too.

The following is what I wrote in reponse to a question my son posed on his blog, Stranger in a Strange Land.

"If you were stranded on a desert island what book of the Bible would you bring with you and why? I finally chose Psalms. Laurie chose James or Isaiah. Leave your comments below. You can even do it annonymously if you must.
posted by Jonathan Blundell at jdblundell.blogspot.com/2006/08/todays-assignment.html">9:33 PM

"Thirty to thirty-five years ago I heard Billy Graham recommend reading five chapters in Psalms each day and one chapter in Proverbs each day as a minimum Scripture reading plan. (That completes both books once a month.) He said to read the Psalms because they can teach us how to relate to God and the Proverbs because they can teach us how to relate to other people. God has used that plan to greatly bless me and help me know Him better since then. I have read through the Bible a fair number of times and have other favorite books of the Bible. If I was indefinitely limited to one book for an indefinite time, I would choose Psalms.

God has used it as an almost daily inspiration to me through the last 30 to 35 years. The Psalms contain many scriptures related to Christ, ranging from his first coming, his life and death on this earth, the end times, Christ's second coming, the millenium, and eternity with Him in heaven, or apart from him in hell. There are many major themes of theology represented there. I have been thinking of doing a study to annotate how the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith is presented in the Psalms.

I remember Pastor W. A. Criswell preaching that the scarlet thread (of salvation) runs through every book of the Bible. I do not remember all of the specifics in Psalms, but I am confident the doctrine is plainly and completely presented in the Psalms.

The reference, Psalm 34:3, is inscribed on the inside of my wife's and my wedding bands, along with our initials and the date.

"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together."

I will have worn that wedding band thirty years ago on this next October 1. I repeat,

"O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." Hallelujah! Thank you, Father, for my wonderful wife! Praise the name of Jesus! You are my wonderful Lord, my Savior, and my soon-coming King! Amen! Amen!"

Prayers Answered for Matthew and Family

The pediatric cardiologist said that Matthew's heart sounds fine, now. Either he did not have a murmur to begin with or it was while we were praying. Frankly, it sounds very much like God often quickly answers prayer in ways we cannot imagine, as in Jeremiah 33:3, "'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (NIV). He also answers sooner than we think possible. "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24, NIV).

The cardiologist wants a follow-up appointment in six months, but is more concerned about Matthew being so sleepy that he has not been taking much nourishment.

Thank you all for praying and we praise God for answered prayer for Matthew's physical heart as well as for God giving peace to Matthew's immediate family as promised in Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (NLT).

As in the doxology:

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above you heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen. Amen"

God Is Already Answering Prayer for Matthew

God is answering prayer for Matthew. I just talked to his grandmother, Beverly, by phone. Delaina, Matthew's mother and Beverly's daughter, slept better last night than the night before so she is doing better. The pediatrician told Delaina this mnrning that Matthew's heart is sounding more normal. Del, Beverly's husband and Delaina's father, will take Marc, Delaina's husband and Mathhew's father, Delaina, and Matthew to Medical City in Dallas from Sulphur Springs to see a pediatric cardiologist about 2:00 P.M. today. We are praying for their safe journey, an accurate diagnosis of Matthew's heart murmur, and God's comfort and courage for all.

I was reminded how much God cares for us when Beverly was expressed her concern for Matthew, Delaina, and Marc. Our loving heavenly Father put that natural motherly love in women because He loves us even more! He uses our mothers and wives to give us much of the tender, loving, and emotional care which we need. (It is amazing, though, that God chose to express the love relationship between Christ and Christians as the love between a husband and wife, according to the apostle Paul. Paul wrote that we as husbands should be the ultimate and extreme example of love in loving our wives, even as Christ loves us and gave His life for us.)

I told Beverly about our long-time Pastor Charles Diffee. After he had heart by-pass surgery about 20 years ago he reported, as in Psalm 57:7, "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed..." David, the psalmist, continued to say, "I will sing and give praise." (KJV). Beverly said that as her heart is steadfast and fixed on Christ she is comforted and encouraged.

David wrote again, in Psalm 108:1, "O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory." (KJV). An unidentified psalmist wrote in Psalm 112: 6-7 concerning the righteous man--"6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. 7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord." (KJV). I have learned that when God says something once it is important. When God says something twice it is very important. When God says something three times, I can "take it to the bank." "There is no god like our God" whom we can always trust for the best in our lives. Hallelujah.


Father, we pray and trust you that not only Matthew's heart murmur will be fixed, but all the rest of us will fix our eyes and our hearts steadfastly on you, our God who heals us, and trust in you to do your will to your glory. "I will sing and give praise, even with my glory." Amen.

Not is repeated twice in the sentence in the previous post about the amulance not transporting Matthew to the pediatric cardiologist. It should read like this: It is not planned that Matthew is to be transported to the Medical City pediatric cardiologist in an ambulance. I hope you did not have an anxiety attack about the double negative.

Wide Mouth Christians

"I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." (Psalm 81:10)

Tonight this verse is encouraging. We just received the news that our niece's three-day old son, Matthew, has a heart murmur. He is to be seen by a pediatric cardiologist at 2:00 P.M. tomorrow. His family is to take him. It is not planned that he is not going by ambulance. Therefore, his life must not be in great jeopardy, as he is entrusted to the care of his parents instead of trained medical personnel.

Please open your mouth wide with prayer so God's Holy Spirit can fill it with the petitions needed in Matthew's life and/or the answers to those petitions. As Christians we can figuratively look at Egypt as being any burden, enslavement, sin, or even slight care.

God did not withhold his own son from us. Therefore, we can believe he will freely give us all things, according to Romans 8:31-32. All of Romans 8 is encouraging to us as believers in Jesus Christ. Even the sufferings of this present time are nothing when compared to the glory which will be revealed in us, according to verse 18.

Father, thank you for your wonderful gift of Matthew to my niece, her husband, and the whole world. Thank you for what You will do in his life, as You work this problem of the heart murmur for good in his life. Thank you for the wonderful gift of our Savior, in whose name we ask that your will be done in Matthew's life and that he be healed completely. Amen.

God Has a Plan

This morning I was reading two of my favorite verses in Proverbs 16:

3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord works out everything for his own ends-- even the wicked for a day of disaster." (NIV)

I believe another version states verse 3 as: "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

This evening our pastor, Roger Raymer, told of a quote he had read today, "We are always asking God to change our circumstances, but God wants to use our circumstances to change us."

That sounds like Romans 8:28 stated in a way that one could apply it to daily living. " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (NIV)

I was reading Isaiah 46 this evening. God is so uniquely awesome, great, and all knowing that we will never understand Him completely, but we can trust Him completely. Look at these selections:

18"...I am the Lord, and there is no other."

21 "Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

23 "...Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24 They will say of me, 'In the Lord alone are righteousness and strength."

Today and this evening I was wondering and discussing with God some of the last week's events in my life. I do not need to worry or fret. I only need to trust Him moment by moment to carry out His plan in my life in the power of His Holy Spirit living in me, controlling and empowering my life.

This weekend I will try to recount some of the answers to prayer which we have seen. "Our God is an awesome God!" There is power in His name, the name above all names. Wonderful! Wonderful is the grace of Jesus! Hallelujah! What a Savior! Amen. Amen.