Blessed Homeland

Gliding o'er life's fitful waters, 
Heavy surges sometimes roll; 
And we sigh for yonder haven, 
For the homeland of the soul.

Blessed homeland, ever fair! 
Sin can never enter there; 
But the soul, to life awaking, 
Everlasting bloom shall wear.

Oft we catch a faint reflection, 
Of its bright and vernal hills; 
And, though distant, how we hail it! 
How each heart with rapture thrills!

To our Father, and our Savior, 
To the Spirit, Three in One, 
We shall sing glad songs of triumph 
When our harvest work is done.
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'Tis the weary pilgrim's homeland, 
Where each throbbing care shall cease, 
And our longings and our yearnings, 
Like a wave, be hushed to peace.
—Fanny Crosby ​

Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 
1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 
1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 
1Co 15:21  For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 
1Co 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 
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                    CHRIST’S RESURRECTION ASSURES OURS

The argument here goes to show, first, that our resurrection is intimately connected with Christ’s. There must be such a thing, because he, as the representative of humanity, arose from the dead, in a human body which, though more ethereal in its texture, was easily recognizable by those who had known Him previously. Mary was recalled by the well-known intonations of her Master’s voice. Thomas was compelled to believe, in spite of his protestations to the contrary. In fact, all of our Lord’s friends were convinced against themselves. They credited the tidings of the risen Lord as idle tales. Therefore, says the Apostle, it is far easier to admit that man will rise than to face the difficulties of a still buried Christ, a vain faith, a vain gospel, and a false testimony from so many accredited witnesses.
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What a burst of music breaks forth in 1Co_15:20-28! The first fruit sheaf is the forerunner and specimen of all the harvest. In Christ the whole Church was presented to God, and we may judge of the whole by Him. Note the divine order in 1Co_15:23 : first, Christ; then, His own; lastly, the end, when death itself shall be destroyed, all enemies conquered, and the kingdom of an emancipated universe finally handed back by the Mediator to the Father. (F.B. Meyer comm)

If you have given your life to Christ, asked his forgiveness and meant it, the assurance of heaven is yours, and mine. If we fall, if we sin, we have an advocate in heaven, and:
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

I make a point of studying and reading testimonies of heaven. I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord has prepared for me. This earth is only a shadow of the glory that awaits. Reading of Jesus' talking with the disciples after he rose from the dead, and the comfort of His words makes this life and all it's troubles bearable. If He overcame, I can also, with the help of the Holy Spirit. But, there's times when I find myself homesick, and looking over the horizon, hoping for a glimpse of the other side.

As problems continue to rise in the realm of caring for the aged in America, there is a new angle approaching that's not spoken of much yet, but I believe it will be addressed more, and become a form of solution for the increased senior population as the "babyboomer"  generation continues to age. But, with these technologies are worked on and approved for use on people, it will open the doors for abuse. 

No one likes to acknowledge this side of it, because it seems like a workable solution. The use of robots to care for humans can be a solution; but it's only as good as the people who program them. The sad fact is, evil exists, that's why there's such a problem with elder abuse. Programming a robot to care for humans can go very wrong when these machines are created with the capabilities to make their own decisions; as we saw an example of in this video.

This topic is going to be one I follow and watch as it unfolds. 

An excerpt from the Youtube video:

"Robots have become part of daily life in Japan and now they look to be the solution to a national problem. Armies of these metal creatures are being developed to provide care for the elderly.

​In the past, three generations of a Japanese family would live together. Yet as this lifestyle becomes more rare, fewer people are left supporting Japan’s elders. So scientists are developing Ri-Man, the “newest prototype of the care robot.” Ri-Man can see, hear and assess a person’s health, but he still needs tweaking. Currently he is “unable to express any emotion”, but things are set to change."

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

From looking at the state of this site, and advice I've gotten from some people, it would look like the thing to do is delete this. But every time I go to God and ask Him what He wants me to do, I get "Leave it here, and keep it going." In the natural it doesn't make sense. But, I've been in these situations before, and heard the Lord speak things to me that was the complete opposite from what people where telling me to do. He's proved more than once that His ways are not always mans ways. In the most difficult times of my life, I've learned the guidance and still small voice of the Holy Spirit, and learned the importance of being willing to dare to follow His leading, when it didn't match what people were saying. Here are a couple of examples.

Very shortly after the day I was saved, things began to change between Lynn and I and eventually ended with him giving me an ultimatum; either give up on Jesus, or I would have to leave. I was 25, my daughter seven. I was weary from a life lived without God up till a few months ago, I'd hoped to be able to live out a life now raising my daughter and hoped for other children with Lynn. Now, it seemed this was not to be. I had to make a choice, and one I never thought I'd face; either renounce my faith in Christ or leave and depend on this new faith to sustain me no matter what I had to go through. I thought about it a couple of days saying nothing, but about three days after he first spoke this to me, he came again and repeated the choices, and I knew he wanted an answer right then.

I'd been looking at the ground when he was talking to me, but when he finished I looked up and said "You've given me no choice, I won't deny my faith in Christ for you, or anything in this world now. I will leave as soon as I can get myself and Carrie together, and will be gone." Within a few hours I had several packed suit cases in my car, and we left.

For the next 2 and a half yrs., we lived a life of uncertainty, moved several times to different apartments, then to New York to my family. I clung to God, read his word every day, went to church, and spent a great deal of time trying to find work that would support us, working jobs anywhere I could to get enough to make ends meet. Everyone told me I should never go back to Lynn, and forget him. But, when I took this to God in prayer, I always got the same answer deep in my spirit-"keep praying for your marriage to be restored." Against everyone's advice, and against all the odds, I did keep praying, but also kept working and planning as if I'd always be on my own. I didn't just sit and wait for a miracle and do nothing, I kept moving forward, and supporting myself and my daughter while I waited to see what would happen.

Shortly before Christmas of 1981, Lynn started getting in touch with my mother, and told her he knew he'd made a mistake, and wanted me to come back and remarry him. My mother approached me about this and went back to Lynn a couple of times on the phone, and toward the end of November, he came to see me, wanting to talk. Before he arrived, I asked God to help me make the right decision. When he came through the door he looked into my eyes and said "I need to talk to you", we went to a back room and sat together and I let him do the talking. He repeated to me what he said to my mother, and asked me if I'd marry him again. Right then, I felt the heavy presence of God upon us both. I knew that whatever I chose, it would be for keeps. If I said no, I would never see Lynn again, I knew this. But, I also knew he was still not saved. Several pastors had advised me to not return to him because of this, and the drinking. The day I'd gotten saved, the Lord had delivered me from alcoholism, and was now free. I held no condemnation toward Lynn, because I'd been the same as him. When he saw the changes in me and what Jesus had done, this is what caused him to reject me. Returning to him and remarrying him still unsaved was going to require a great deal of steadfast faith, and a chance that he may never come to salvation. But, in my mind I reasoned that if God had brought Lynn to this point, I could believe him to open Lynn's heart and bring him to salvation as he did me. With all this going through my mind as I sat there and listened to him; he stopped and looked at me for my answer, I said "Yes, we will start again." The look in his eyes was the confirmation I needed, I knew he truly loved me.

We remarried January 2, 1982, that began a journey of many trials, joys, hardships, physical suffering and wondering at times if I'd made a mistake. Seven months after our remarriage, we were full of hope of being able to have more children, he was taking tests at the VA hospital to check his sperm count and fertility, I was also taking tests to see if there was any problems. We wanted more children so much. But, on a hot muggy July night he came home not feeling well from work, and progressively worsened through the night. Finally we knew something was very wrong, I took him to the local clinic, and there they called an ambulance because the doctor knew he was having a heart attack. He survived, but it ended any chance of having more children, and the next 22 yrs. were difficult for him, and had to be on medications the rest of his life along with regular doctor care.

But, the praise to God in all of this is the fact of God's strength, guidance, and his relentless pursuit of Lynn's soul. This is the most important issue in this whole story. Gods love for a man who admitted himself that he had no desire to know who God was, or acknowledge him in his daily life. There were many times I'd ask the Lord why he had me return to him, because of the rebellion, and at times outright hatred I could see in Lynn toward any mention of God. But, I had made the choice to return, and with the same determination in getting remarried; I pounded on heavens gates in prayer for Lynn's soul, and that he would get saved before he died; that the devil wouldn't be able to kill him before he did. Oh yes, I rebuked the devil, prayed for God to mightily save Lynn and use him, make a preacher out of him, or a servant of some sort. I pleaded for a mighty deliverance, fasted many many times. But, I've also learned that God has to work with peoples wills, and will not force anyone to come to him. It has to be the persons free choice. God's perfect will isn't always accomplished in someone's life; a sad reality. Many times I watched knowing God was dealing with Lynn in a situation very heavily and saw the refusal, and rebellion take over, and watched him purposely do things to ruin his health, make wrong decisions and regret them, business deals that I knew were wrong; and he'd pay the price for it in many ways. The enemies schemes to destroy a person are relentless, intercession is effective warfare, when you stay connected with God and stand your ground. But, many give up, and believe the devils lies when he whispers in your ear that nothing will ever change. For me, it was a life or death battle, and there was no turning back.

On October 2, 2003 while in a hospital waiting room sitting with Lynn as he waited to be taken in for another heart cauterization, I felt a very heavy presence of God on us both again, and in my mind knew I needed to talk to him about his soul. I looked down at him and said "Lynn, do you know where you will go when you die? Have you talked to the Lord, and asked him to forgive you of your sins?" Lynn looked at me and said "Yes." My heart was about to explode, I asked him again "Have you truly asked the Lord into your heart?" Again he said "Yes, I have." As soon as he spoke this the nurse came to the door and said "We need to take you in now." My mind and heart were racing, after all the years of standing and believing for his salvation; here in this waiting room, I see the answer to those prayers. In silence I prayed "Please God, don't take him yet, please help him get through this and raise him up to serve you and heal him." He did get through the procedure that day, and I was able to get him back home, but he only lived nine more months. God had proven his patience, love and determination to get Lynn to finally let him into his heart, but though I believe in the power of God to heal; it is God who makes the decisions on when we breath our last breath, and when it's our time to go. The good news, and the best part of this is knowing Lynn's gone ahead of me, and I'll see him again in heaven, and the satisfaction of knowing the devil lost a man he thought was his. 

One more brief example. After Lynn's death, I knew I would sell our farm. It was a difficult decision, but I knew it was God's will to do this. I put it on the market for a fixed sum, and the realtor brought quite a few people to it, all of them said they liked it, but tried to get me to lower the price. I had received a price from the Lord, and stayed with it. I declined lower offers, the realtor was not happy with me for doing this. The farm didn't sell in the time agreed with the realtor, so I took it off the market, gave the situation to God, and waited. Shortly after this, during haying season, a woman called me and asked if I was still interested in selling the house, I said yes, but was not willing to take less than the price I had offered it for before. She said that was fine, could she come and talk to me about it. I said sure, in a short time; within an hour she was at my door. I invited her in, showed her the inside, then the rest of the farm and the barn. She said she was willing to purchase the farm for the price I wanted and would be happy to pay the full price at the time of closing whenever I was interested in selling. Within a month the farm was sold for the full price I asked for it. I have all the receipts and paperwork for this transaction to prove this testimony. I could tell many more stories and experiences of God's guidance and learning to listen to His voice, but this makes the point.

So, this website will stay up, and I'll keep maintaining it, until God shows me otherwise. I didn't care when I started it whether it was ever popular or not. I started this because He asked me to, and that's the only reason I'm doing it. In the years I've kept it going, I've shown I'm not interested in money or people's approval. There's not enough money in the world to get me to do this; if I had my way, I'd be a hermit. But, there's also nothing in this world that will keep me from doing what I believe God has asked me to do, simply because He has asked me to. I'll go as far as I can with the resources, strength, and ability I have. I know there's a lot of people who come here that these numbers do not show; they are meaningless really. God's using this for His purposes, that's all that matters. It's also a witness against the principalities and powers of darkness, and I get satisfaction in knowing this. It's a weapon of spiritual warfare.

This website, and the new site I've started, The NightWatchman, are full of flaws and imperfections, I think it's God's sense of humor to choose a widow from the back woods of Vermont to simply be a witness for Jesus Christ, and see how far an old woman can go, just to serve Him. To show His power to save, heal, restore, forgive...even to the uttermost, and those in deep sin. And, when he saves them, he keeps working with them, and renewing them day by day. He doesn't give up on you when you fail, falter, and get sorely attacked from demonic oppression. He stays right there, waiting for you to just turn back around and say "Lord, help me, save me, heal me, forgive me." As He says in His word:

Joh 10:27  My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 
Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 
Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. 

Who could not love a God like this. Come to Jesus, won't you?
Lorna Couillard

In a world of turmoil, there's verses I go to often, and remind myself of the comfort, and peace they give. 

                  Do Not Be Anxious
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Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 
Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 
Mat 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 
Mat 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 
Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 
Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 
Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 
Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 
Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 
Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

As Jesus was teaching on the Mount of Olives he speaks to the people about what is important to seek, the kingdom of God and his righeousness, and all these things shall be added to them. Our daily necessities, what to eat, drink, and all that we hold valuable to obtain.

We are reminded that though the lilies of the field, and the birds of the air do not toil, but God takes care of them, makes sure they are provided for. They do not spend needless time worrying where their next meal is coming from or if the sun will shine on the lilies blossoms, provision is there for its's existence to live out it's allotted time. 

Mark Twain made the statement, "I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened." Many people live this way. I've done it, and realized I had to stop and apply his words to my life. Worrying and being anxious won't change any problems we're going through, except bring even more stress on ourselves and possibly cause our health to break down.

An Adam Clarke commentary on Matthew ch. 6:34 gives some good insight.

Take therefore no thought - That is, Be not therefore anxiously careful.
The eighth and last reason, against this preposterous conduct, is - that carking care is not only useless in itself, but renders us miserable beforehand. The future falls under the cognizance of God alone: we encroach, therefore, upon his rights, when we would fain foresee all that may happen to us, and secure ourselves from it by our cares. How much good is omitted, how many evils caused, how many duties neglected, how many innocent persons deserted, how many good works destroyed, how many truths suppressed, and how many acts of injustice authorized by those timorous forecasts of what may happen; and those faithless apprehensions concerning the future! Let us do now what God requires of us, and trust the consequences to him. The future time which God would have us foresee and provide for is that of judgment and eternity: and it is about this alone that we are careless!
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Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof - Αρκετον τη ἡμερα ἡ κακια αυτης, Sufficient for each day is its own calamity. Each day has its peculiar trials: we should meet them with confidence in God. As we should live but a day at a time, so we should take care to suffer no more evils in one day than are necessarily attached to it. He who neglects the present for the future is acting opposite to the order of God, his own interest, and to every dictate of sound wisdom. Let us live for eternity, and we shall secure all that is valuable in time.

Now, backing up to seeking the kingdom of God- what is it exactly, and how do we apply this verse to our lives? The B.W. Johnson commentary expounds on this and gives clarity.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God. The promise is made that if we seek it first, and its righteousness, all earthly wants will be supplied. The condition demands, 

1. That we seek the kingdom first in point of time. Some propose to secure a competence, and after they have gained it, they will serve God. 
2. We must make it first in importance. Everything else must give way before its demands. 
3. It must be first in our affections, have our whole hearts. We must "love the Lord our God with the whole heart" (Mat 22:37).

His righteousness. The righteousness that God bestows upon those who are in the Kingdom, Christ's righteousness, the forgiveness of sins in his name.

If you are a child of God, these promises are for you. A good father provides for his children. Our Father in heaven has made every provision for us, if we walk in His ways. We have no need to worry, or be anxious; we can rest in this assurance.

Yes, as Jesus did, we will go through troubles and tribulations, but Jesus went before us. He made it through, He overcame, we can overcome also. He promised us His peace, in every situation. 
Joh 14:27  Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Joh 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

Whatever may happen in days to come, the promises given to those who follow Christ are the meat, and the substance of our faith. If you own a bible, I hope you find the time to study it, pray, and get to know the God who created you, to feed your soul and gain the strength in your spirit. It is our faith that will overcome in this world.

1Jn 5:4  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 
1Jn 5:5  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 
Lorna Couillard