The Mark of Wisdom

The Mark of Wisdom

The highest mark of wisdom is not the ability to speak of great and lofty things, or to eloquently tell others the things I know. No, the highest mark of wisdom is humility; it is submissiveness of spirit to God and others, that seeks advice, heeds good counsel and takes to heart reproof.

"Hear instruction and be wise
and do not neglect it."
- Proverbs 8:33 ESV

"The wise of heart will receive commandments..."
-Proverbs 10:8 ESV

"Nothing is trivial for the Lord"

A preacher once found himself advertised to preach in an obscure village, the storm was terrible, and, therefore, though he kept his appointment, he found only one person present in the place of meeting. He preached a sermon to that one hearer with as much earnestness as if the church had been crowded. Years after he found churches all over the district, and he discovered that his audience of one had been converted on that day, and had become the evangelist of the whole region. Had he declined to preach to one, what blessings might have been withheld.

Brethren, never neglect the loosing of the shoe-latchet for Christ, since you do not know what may hang upon it...Never say within yourself, 'This is trivial' - nothing is trivial for the Lord.

- from C.H. Spurgeon's sermon, "Loosing the Shoe Latchet"

He made it.

Yesterday I was listening to one of my favorite radio programs - Revive our Hearts with Nancy Demoss. At the end of the program, Nancy read a poem called "A Little Place". It really encouraged me, so I decided to share it here:

Where should I work today, dear Lord,
and my love flowed warm and free.
He answered and said, “See that little place?
Tend that place for me.”
I answered and I said, “Oh no, not there!
No one would ever see,
No matter how well my work was done.
Not that place for me.”

His voice, when He spoke, was soft and kind.
He answered me tenderly,
“Little one, search thy heart of thine.
Are you working for them or me?
Nazareth was a little place
and so was Galilee.”


Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
- Colossians 3:23-24 ESV

Read the entire transcript of the ROH program here.

"Nothing is more powerful to engage our affections than to find that we are beloved. Expressions of kindness are always pleasing and acceptable unto us, though the person should be otherwise mean and contemptible: but, to have the love of one who is altogether lovely, to know that the glorious Majesty of heaven hath any regard unto us, how must it astonish and delight us, how must it overcome our spirits, and melt our hearts and put our whole soul into a flame!"

- Henry Scougal - from his book The Life of God in the Soul of Man

Farewell Guyana; hello Pennsylvania!

In the first week of January, we left Guyana where we'd ministered for two four-year terms and flew back to the United States. Pictures are worth a thousand words, so here are some!

Everything had to go.

A few last tunes on the piano.
If the picture had sound, you'd hear Daddy and Mother's improvised "The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost" duet.

Goodbye Squirt!

A warm welcome to Pennsylvania. It's been surprisingly - providentially! - warm for January. Not a flake of snow! But it's still cold!



A man from our home church has kindly let us stay in his home until the missionary house is open. This is just one instance of God's faithful provision for us.

Mr. N-'s two German shorthairs,"Jo" and "Rose", waiting for crumbs. They are fun dogs, and having them around helps us not to miss as greatly the dogs we left behind.

Visiting the PA state Farm Show was an interesting experience - an annual tradition we hadn't observed for four years. :o)

Dairy cow competition - best of each breed.

Daddy (John), Christopher and Benjamin - JCB :o)

It's been wonderful to see and be with old friends.

A happy reunion with Katie - I hadn't seen her in four years, but I used to see her almost every day when both our families were in Guyana.

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Though pictures are worth a thousand words, no words or pictures can describe the great faithfulness of our Lord who has led us safe thus far. But as all the details continued to come together and all the miles went by, I thought of these words:

" 'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far,
And Grace will lead me home."

Christmas Pictures

Our older brother Jonathan is here for Christmas and our last weeks here, and even better he brought along his girlfriend Emily! We've enjoyed having them with us for our last Christmas in Guyana! They have helped to brighten the last days of packing and goodbyes. Yet with or without earthly loved ones, we have Emmanuel, God with us, whom we have celebrated. He is with us always. (I posted something about that on my blog Thoughts.)

Here are some pictures we took yesterday, after we got home from the traditional 6:00 am Christmas service!

It's so much fun to have Emily here - almost like having a sister!

Thanks be to God for his many gracious answers to prayer and all his mercies toward us!