December 7. Heard a little rain during the night, but no measurable amount. Raining lightly this evening.
Lots of people left this morning for Aivonti to get their bales of rice and other food for their families. Somebody said that nobody has any kaukau, but Daddy saw someone with kaukau this morning. Quite a few people do have potatoes now so at least some have a staple food they can eat when there is not kaukau.
Other than that, it has been pretty quiet around here today. Picked another stem of roses and added it to the jar with the other. This stem had four roses in bloom and one or two buds. How sweet they smell!
"I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some." 1Corinthians 9:22 Paul's great object was not merely to instruct and to improve, but to save. Anything short of this would have disappointed him; he would have men renewed in heart, forgiven, sanctified, in fact, saved. Have our Christian labours been aimed at anything below this great point? Then let us amend our ways, for of what avail will it be at the last great day to have taught and moralized men if they appear before God unsaved? Blood-red will our skirts be if through life we have sought inferior objects, and forgotten that men needed to be saved. Paul knew the ruin of man's natural state, and did not try to educate him, but to save him; he saw men sinking to hell, and did not talk of refining them, but of saving from the wrath to come. To compass their salvation, he gave himself up with untiring zeal to telling abroad the gospel, to warning and beseeching men to be reconciled to God. His prayers were importunate and his labours incessant. To save souls was his consuming passion, his ambition, his calling. He became a servant to all men, toiling for his race, feeling a woe within him if he preached not the gospel. He laid aside his preferences to prevent prejudice; he submitted his will in things indifferent, and if men would but receive the gospel, he raised no questions about forms or ceremonies: the gospel was the one all-important business with him. If he might save some he would be content. This was the crown for which he strove, the sole and sufficient reward of all his labours and self-denials. Dear reader, have you and I lived to win souls at this noble rate? Are we possessed with the same all-absorbing desire? If not, why not? Jesus died for sinners, cannot we live for them? Where is our tenderness? Where our love to Christ, if we seek not His honour in the salvation of men? O that the Lord would saturate us through and through with an undying zeal for the souls of men. —Morning and Evening
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“The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.” Psalm 97:6
December 8. .1” rain last night. A lovely dry day today. The eastern sky was clear and deep blue.
Since I didn’t do laundry this morning, I used the extra time to make some more crackers and also make granola.
Not very many in lotu today since so many went to Aivonti yesterday. They are on their way back now — the first group probably almost here. People have been sitting out in the yard all evening waiting for them.
Daddy read John 1:1-14 in lotu and expounded on that. Will wait until more people are there to continue the teaching on the family.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” Psalm 98:4
December 9. No rain last night. Some rain this afternoon.
People were coming back from Aivonti all day yesterday and today.
Pretty much a quiet day again today.
“There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45
“And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” Joshua 23:14