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~ ~ ♥♥ ~ ~ Lady Sara's Web ~ ~ ♥♥ ~ ~~♥♥~ "Scatter joy wherever you go & take time to live, laugh & love!!" ~♥♥~ |
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~ Two Horses ~Two Horses
There is a field, with two horses in it.
From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him .
This alone is amazing.If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to the horse's halter is a small bell.. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.
As you stand and watch these two horses, you'll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray. When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way....Good f riends are like that... you may not always see them, but you know they are always there. Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours. And remember . . . be kinder than necessary - everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly and Leave the rest to God! ~ Happy Birthday America ~
~ YUMMY ~Drool ~ Drool ~ Drool
Fresh from the farm to our table!
There is nothing, and I mean nothing
like Lynden strawberries!!
They were kissed by the sun and were
as sweet as sugar!!
Ahhhhhhh, God's bountiful harvest!!
and . . . for enquiring minds . . .
photos were taken by:
"Brown Eyed Girl Designs"
a.k.a. Saralee
Hugs~ Saralee ~ Thank You For Being A Friend ~"Thank You For Being A Friend"
( click arrow to hear the music )
I've been given the wonderful gift of reconecting with old friends.
We've been friends for 45 years and because of changes in all our lives,
drifted apart. Why do we let that happen? True friends are such a gift from God
and I thank God for both of YOU! So glad we have reconnected! I know I can make
new friends, but I cannot make old friends and old friends are keepers! So glad
I have both of you in my life! Many people will walk in and out of our lives,
but only true friends leave footprints on our hearts! You have both left your print
on my heart! Thank you both for being my friend!
Friendship is a Golden Chain, The links are friends so dear, And like a rare and precious jewel It's treasured more each year... It's clasped together firmly
With a love that's deep and true, And it's rich with happy memories and fond recollections, too... Time can't destroy its beauty
For, as long as memory lives, Years can't erase the pleasure That the joy of friendship gives... For friendship is a priceless gift
That can't be bought or sold, But to have an understanding friend Is worth far more than gold... And the Golden Chain of Friendship
Is a strong and blessed tie Binding kindred hearts together As the years go passing by. Author: Kristen M Saccardi
Cheryl ~ Marlene ~ Saralee
~ He Knows My Name~(To listen to the music, click either arrow)
I have a Maker
He formed my heart Before even time began My life was in his hands He knows my name He knows my every thought He sees each tear that falls and He hears me when I call I have a Father He calls me His own He'll never leave me No matter where I go He knows my name He knows my every thought He sees each tear that falls and He hears me when I call How precious also are Your thoughts to me,
Oh God! . . . If I should count them,
they would be more in number than the sand.
Psalm 139: 17,18
"Happy Birthday Dad"I am so blessed! My Dad turns 95 on the 18th of January. Not only is he my Dad but he is my best friend! Congratulations Dad on your BIG day! You are an amazing man! Who would have known that the man who had a massive heart attack in 1968 with a diagnoses that he would never preach again, would live to be 95? 95 and still preaching and still walking 2 miles a day. Those doctors sure didn't know the power of your Heavenly Father! You proved them so wrong! We serve an amazing God!Dad, you are the sunshine in my day! It is fun to spend time with you every day having coffee and talking, talking, talking! How blessed I am!! I look forward to spending many more coffee hours with you. Not only are you a blessing to me but you are a blessing to all you come in contact with! You are a loved man! Below are the 2 articles that were in our local paper, "The Lynden Tribune" on January 16, 2008. Cornelius Rientjes 95th birthdaySubmitted by the Tribune on January 16, 2008 - 9:51am. Milestones
Cornelius (Cornie) Rientjes will celebrate his 95th birthday with a family brunch on Jan. 26. He was born on Jan. 18, 1913, in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, to immigrant parents. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Oak Harbor, where he met and married the love of his life, Joan Vanden Hoek. They were married for 70 years. Cornie and his late wife, Joan, spent over 50 years in the ministry, pastoring various churches in Washington, including the Lynden Assembly of God (now Word of Life). They were also missionaries to Alaska. His children are Eleanor and Ellis Campfield of Maple Valley, Saralee and Jack Lathrop of Lynden and daughter Joyce, deceased. He has seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Cornie attributes his longevity to his deep and sincere faith in his Heavenly Father, the love of his family and always having a song in his heart. Congratulations can be sent to Cornie at 301 Homestead Blvd., Lynden, WA 98264.
~ There Was A Man ~
At Christmas time there was a man,
who looked so out of place. As people rushed about him, at a hurried sort of pace. He stared at all the Christmas lights,
the tinsel everywhere. The shopping centre Santa Claus, with children gathered near. The mall was packed with shoppers,
who were going to and fro. Some with smiles, some with frowns, and some too tired to go. They rested on benches,
or they hurried on their way. To fight the crowds for purchases, to carry home that day. The music from the stereo,
was playing loud and clear. Of Santa Claus and snowmen, and funny nosed reindeer. He heard the people talk about,
the good times on the way. Of parties, fun and food galore, and gift exchange that day. I'd like to know what's going on,
the man was heard to say. There seems to be some sort, of celebration on the way. And would you tell me who this is,
all dressed in red and white. And why are children asking "him" about a special night. The answer came in disbelief,
I can't believe my ear. I can't believe you do not know, that Christmas time is here. The time when Santa comes around,
with gifts for girls and boys. When they are asleep on Christmas Eve, he leaves them books and toys. The man you see in red and white,
is Santa Claus so sly. The children love his joyful laugh, and twinkle in his eye. His gift packed sleigh is pulled along,
by very small reindeer. As he flies quickly through the air, while darting here and there. The children learn of Santa Claus,
while they are still quite small. When Christmas comes "he" is the most, "important" one of all. The stranger hung His head in shame,
He closed a nail pierced hand. His body shook in disbelief, He did not understand. A shadow crossed His stricken face,
His voice was low but clear. "After all these years they still don't know." And JESUS shed a tear. ~ Amazing Grace ~
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Amazing grace
How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind, but now I see 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed Chorus:
My chains are gone I've been set free My God, my Savior has ransomed me And like a flood His mercy reigns Unending love, Amazing grace The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine But God, Who called me here below Will be forever mine Will be forever mine You are forever mine My Thoughts My chains are gone I've been set free, my God my Savior has ransomed me and like a flood his mercy reigns, unending love amazing grace! God's love is so undeserved, for us He paid a debt that He did not owe and because of Him we've been set free. Yes, there is no other name for Grace, but AMAZING! God Bless Chris Tomblin for this amazing version of "Amazing Grace."
If my video isn't playing
Please click here to watch and listen to this amazing song
~*~ I'm Back ~*~
Yep!! I'm still alive!! I have been so busy with life and living I just haven't been able to blog in a long time! It's funny how life happens while you are making plans!
One of my most fun forms of busyness has been my precious little "Gabby!" This is my "just because I love you" present from Jack! Took me 10 years to talk him into it! This little sweetheart has wrapped her little paws around both our hearts! She goes everywhere with us! She makes us both smile!
I have also become a taxi service for the awesome man I call "DAD!" My Dad is 94 and has given up driving and sold his car. I spend a couple hours each day with him and take him to all the places he needs to go. I thank God each day for allowing me the privilege of serving this great man of God!
I've also been taking some digital graphics classes. A little sample is the picture of Gabby above. Every time I'm at the computer I want to play! Love doing this! More fun than blogging!! LOL
Lots of exciting things have been happening in our family ~ babies, weddings and the not so exciting ~ funerals! But, as we all know . . . "Life Goes On!"
Hopefully I won't stay away so long this time! I do miss all of you and have enjoyed all your visits and comments. Just know, I haven't forgotten any of you!
And now I leave you all with this wish . . .
His love in your heart . . .
His peace in your soul . . .
And His joy in your life . . .
ALWAYS!
Hugs~ Saralee ~ This Awesome Man I Call Dad! ~
I am so proud to call this man ~ DAD! This article was published this week in our daily paper.
Photo by ~ NIKI DESAUTELS THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
Pastor Cornelius Rientjes, 93, studies his Bible in his apartment at the Meadow Greens retirement community in Lynden, where he has lived for the past six years. Ordained as a pastor in 1946, Rientjes served his last five years as a pastor at the Assembly of God church. Rientjes now ministers on the first Sunday every month at the Christian Health Care Center where he also holds a monthly Bible Study. Lynden man’s ministry spans 60 years
LINDA KENDALL SCOTT FOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD Cornelius Rientjes and his late wife, Joan, had been married several years and had two small daughters when they decided to become ministers.
They went to Northwest Bible Institute (now Northwest University) and were ordained in 1946. Their ministry took them to posts in Alaska, Washington and, for a short time, to the East Coast. Their final posting was to his childhood church in Oak Harbor.
They moved to Lynden in 2000 after discovering that Joan Rientjes had Alzheimer’s disease. In time, she moved to Christian Health Care Center, where she died in 2005.
Rientjes, who will be 94 next week, continued to minister as a volunteer several times a month at the center. A bad fall has kept him home for the last few months, but he says he’s on the mend and plans to return to his ministry soon.
Question: How much of your childhood did you live in Oak Harbor?
Answer: My parents emigrated from Holland to Alberta, Canada, and Dad took up a homestead way back in 1902. The drought drove him out. We moved to Oak Harbor when I was about 7, and I grew up there. I met my wife in 1934 and we really fell in love. I was 22 and she was 20. It was during the Depression. Those were tough years. My wife was a precious woman, an RN (registered nurse). I did all kinds of jobs. In 1940 we moved to Seattle and I went to work for an oil company. Then the war came.
Q: How did you get into ministry?
A: We’d always been Christian, had belonged to the (First) Reformed Church in Oak Harbor. But there was no Reformed Church in Seattle, so we went to Bethel Temple to visit. We made our dedications there to serve the Lord. Northwest Bible Institute was close to where we lived. I had a good job, worked the swing shift and was home by 12 (a.m.). The girls’ school was just a matter of blocks from where we lived. So we’d all get up in the morning and go to school. In 1946, we went as missionaries to Alaska. We had experiences you couldn’t imagine.
Q: Such as?
A: Alaska was a territory then, a rough place. Our girls were just little, and we had a church and a children’s home association. The police just brought the children and dropped them off. It was a sad thing. It wasn’t too long before we had 22 children in the place. When I was pastoring, you operated by faith (without a salary). When you have 21 or 22 children in your home, what do you do?
Q: What did you do?
A: My wife was a real believer. She had a favorite saying from the story when the ravens fed Elijah. She’d say, “Corny, the ravens’ll take care of us.” One day we only had three frozen potatoes. I said, “What are we going to do?” She said, “I’m going to boil these potatoes.” I said, “That’s not much food for all these kids,” and she said, “But that’s all we’ve got.” I went down to the Post Office, and there was a letter from some old friends in Oak Harbor, and in the letter was a $25 check. The storekeeper offered us credit, but I told him that without a salary, I couldn’t take credit. A box of groceries showed up on our porch every week, and I know he left it, but he never would say.
Q: Where were some of your other postings?
A: We were called to a church in Bellevue when it was still a one-street town. To supplement income, I drove a school bus. We had a wonderful time there, a wonderful ministry! We adopted a third daughter. She’s married now and lives in Lynden. We were called to the Yakima Valley and built a new church. We went back to Alaska a second time, and then to Arlington, to Lynden for about nine years, and to Ferndale. We had a wonderful ministry everywhere.
Q: Why do you continue to minister at Christian Health Care Center?
A: My wife lived at the center for about four years. She was the best little woman in the whole world. I never heard her complain in all our years together. The nurses in the rest center loved her; she was always happy and appreciated everything. She’d say, “Aren’t those lights beautiful!” She always wanted to know where Corny was. I went to visit her every day. We were married 70 years. In fact, she passed away on the night of our anniversary, right to the hour. I was holding her hand when she left me at 7:30 in the evening.
Preaching at the Christian Health Care Center
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