June 5. Nuanda himself took charge of lotu this morning.
This morning, Serah came and did wash. I paid her after that, as I didn’t really have much for her this afternoon. And I knew I would be busy in the kitchen so needed the space.
After finishing checking of 2 Timoti 4 this morning, and making sure I had school lesson materials all ready for Monday, I made the bed and did some cleaning before dinner. Made the rest of the rice into rice patties for dinner. After nap, I worked more on school stuff, did the dishes, cleaned the bathroom, and baked sugar cookies for Daddy. Then it was supper time; and, after that, more computer work to do. Translation material had to be printed out for the translators to work on Monday evening. Then I worked more on school lessons. Then we had our Saturday night bath. Ah, that was nice!
"He that loveth not knoweth not God." 1John 4:8
The distinguishing mark of a Christian is his confidence in the love of Christ, and the yielding of his affections to Christ in return. First, faith sets her seal upon the man by enabling the soul to say with the apostle, "Christ loved me and gave Himself for me." Then love gives the countersign, and stamps upon the heart gratitude and love to Jesus in return. "We love Him because He first loved us." In those grand old ages, which are the heroic period of the Christian religion, this double mark was clearly to be seen in all believers in Jesus; they were men who knew the love of Christ, and rested upon it as a man leaneth upon a staff whose trustiness he has tried. The love which they felt towards the Lord was not a quiet emotion which they hid within themselves in the secret chamber of their souls, and which they only spake of in their private assemblies when they met on the first day of the week, and sang hymns in honour of Christ Jesus the crucified, but it was a passion with them of such a vehement and all-consuming energy, that it was visible in all their actions, spoke in their common talk, and looked out of their eyes even in their commonest glances. Love to Jesus was a flame which fed upon the core and heart of their being; and, therefore, from its own force burned its way into the outer man, and shone there. Zeal for the glory of King Jesus was the seal and mark of all genuine Christians. Because of their dependence upon Christ's love they dared much, and because of their love to Christ they did much, and it is the same now. The children of God are ruled in their inmost powers by love—the love of Christ constraineth them; they rejoice that divine love is set upon them, they feel it shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto them, and then by force of gratitude they love the Saviour with a pure heart, fervently. My reader, do you love Him? Ere you sleep give an honest answer to a weighty question! —Morning and Evening
June 6. Praise the Lord for a quieter night last night. I was still sleepy most of the morning. Had a bad headache too so my eyes kept closing during meeting time.
The highlight of the day was our chat with Christy and Connie, even though we got cut off a few times. We are thankful for God’s watch care over them.
Nuanda preached both services today. Nuanda had Ben interpret the first meeting, and he preached mainly in tokples the second meeting which was good.
After nap this afternoon, I washed my hair. Epekio came by to get more yarn for a blanket. Then I had teachers’ meeting. Worked a bit on proofreading Owena Titus. Then got supper, and after that did dishes.
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.” Hebrews 4:14
June 7. Was cloudy off and on today. Looked like we were going to get rain, but we only got a small amount this afternoon. “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:12
June 8. A cool, windy, sunny, dry season day.
Daddy tried to make bookings for our trip to town, but couldn’t get in touch with anyone.
I had Rebecca stay after school, and I let her redo her Bible test. She was grateful and did a much better job. So I gave her the average of the two tests. She answers questions okay during class, but just doesn’t seem to understand how to do the tests.
"There fell down many slain, because the war was of God." 1Chronicles 5:22
Warrior, fighting under the banner of the Lord Jesus, observe this verse with holy joy, for as it was in the days of old so is it now, if the war be of God the victory is sure. The sons of Reuben, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh could barely muster five and forty thousand fighting men, and yet in their war with the Hagarites, they slew "men, an hundred thousand," "for they cried to God in the battle, and He was entreated of them, because they put their trust in Him." The Lord saveth not by many nor by few; it is ours to go forth in Jehovah's name if we be but a handful of men, for the Lord of Hosts is with us for our Captain. They did not neglect buckler, and sword, and bow, neither did they place their trust in these weapons; we must use all fitting means, but our confidence must rest in the Lord alone, for He is the sword and the shield of His people. The great reason of their extraordinary success lay in the fact that "the war was of God." Beloved, in fighting with sin without and within, with error doctrinal or practical, with spiritual wickedness in high places or low places, with devils and the devil's allies, you are waging Jehovah's war, and unless He himself can be worsted, you need not fear defeat. Quail not before superior numbers, shrink not from difficulties or impossibilities, flinch not at wounds or death, smite with the two-edged sword of the Spirit, and the slain shall lie in heaps. The battle is the Lord's and He will deliver His enemies into our hands. With steadfast foot, strong hand, dauntless heart, and flaming zeal, rush to the conflict, and the hosts of evil shall fly like chaff before the gale.
Stand up! stand up for Jesus!
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor's song:
To him that overcometh,
A crown of life shall be;
He with the King of glory
Shall reign eternally. —Morning and Evening
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12
June 9. Nuanda was late for lotu this morning so Daddy got things started. He had people choose songs, and Tomas started most of them. When Nuanda came, we sang one or two more. Then he preached from Ephesians 2:8,9, and then led the prayer time. He made it quite plain that salvation is by faith alone.
Thanks to God, He is greater than our hardships and trials! "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." Psalm 126:3
(This passage from Morning and Evening was very timely.) Some Christians are sadly prone to look on the dark side of everything, and to dwell more upon what they have gone through than upon what God has done for them. Ask for their impression of the Christian life, and they will describe their continual conflicts, their deep afflictions, their sad adversities, and the sinfulness of their hearts, yet with scarcely any allusion to the mercy and help which God has vouchsafed them. But a Christian whose soul is in a healthy state, will come forward joyously, and say, "I will speak, not about myself, but to the honour of my God. He hath brought me up out of an horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings: and He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God. The Lord hath done great things for me, whereof I am glad." Such an abstract of experience as this is the very best that any child of God can present. It is true that we endure trials, but it is just as true that we are delivered out of them. It is true that we have our corruptions, and mournfully do we know this, but it is quite as true that we have an all-sufficient Saviour, who overcomes these corruptions, and delivers us from their dominion. In looking back, it would be wrong to deny that we have been in the Slough of Despond, and have crept along the Valley of Humiliation, but it would be equally wicked to forget that we have been through them safely and profitably; we have not remained in them, thanks to our Almighty Helper and Leader, who has brought us "out into a wealthy place." The deeper our troubles, the louder our thanks to God, who has led us through all, and preserved us until now. Our griefs cannot mar the melody of our praise, we reckon them to be the bass part of our life's song, "He hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad." —Morning and Evening
“And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:17
June 10. The weather has been very dry. Are we going to have a real dry season this year?
“For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36