INTROVERT - EXTROVERT

This blog subject was sparked from my blog friend Cheryl's post this morning.  

I definitely fall into the EXTROVERT category. I have taken several of the different personality type tests, including the Briggs-Myers several times and definitely am an "E".

That "E" would explain why I:
1 - Co-facilitate a Small Group class every Sunday morning at our     church called Real Christianity. (5-16-12)
2 - Host a WOW Woman (Women of the Word) Home Bible Study every       Tuesday night.(1-18-11)
3 - Began blogging here as Penless Writer (1-21-07)
4 - Finally gave in and joined fb (12-24-09)
5 - Began a private prayer group blog - Hearts in "1" Accord (4-     8-08) 
6 - Tranferred Hearts to an private fb group (11-5-11)
7 - Participate, with my husband Mickey, at The King's Kitchen       (2-9-10)
8 - Socialize with close friends and church family every time we     get a chance. 
9 - Attended friend Sandra's Bible Study until she disbanded it 
    (3-10-09 to 6-7-11)
10 -Attended friend Judy's Bible Study (1-12-09 until earlier         this year when I truly had too much on my plate!)

Yes, I am definitely an "E" on the ESFJ Briggs Myer scale.  



Even though I am an EXTROVERT I also have to HAVE my daily quiet "ME" time. When I was a young wife, and working mother with 4 children, I would stay up late at night, after everyone else was in bed and asleep.  The "ME" time was definitely a bigger need to me than 8 hours of sleep. 

After the children were raised Mickey's job required his rising early and leaving the house by 5 a.m.  I always got up with him to fix breakfast and then my "ME" time would begin at 5 when he left for work.  Since our retirement I still rise early.  This morning for instance I was up at 4 a.m.  It's now just become habit and I require very little sleep, operating on about 6 hours a night. 

This quiet time, alone with God in prayer and study of His Word, is the main tool God is using as He molds and makes me.  The other is the love He has given me to read Christian books that feed and stretch my walk and my thinking.

So which are you?  Introvert or Extrovert?  Would love to hear your views.  Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

   

Dake's Annotated Reference Bible

About 4 years ago I was made aware of the Dake's Annotated Reference Bible and desired to have one.  We priced them, on several occasions, and found them to be outside our price range.  BUT my God who said: Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LOES; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." did just that!!!

 What is this ????  This is the solid, plain back cover of the Dake's Bible I was given by a very dear friend.  Several months after our beloved friend, Jack Edwards,  passed away on August 14th last year several of us got together, including Jack's wife, Mary, for pizza.  After our outing Mary asked us to come by her house because she wanted to give me something.  When we got there she proceeded to say, "I know how much you've wanted to have a Dake's Bible and I want you to have this one that belonged to Jack.  I know Jack would want you to have it."

  

I scanned through this lovely gift but, as you can see, the print is very, very tiny, and I decided I didn't think we could use it on a daily basis.  In March of this year I pulled it out and used it to do some research on the topic of The Kingdom of God for my WOW Woman's Tuesday night Bible Study. 

Mickey & I just finished reading through The Scoffield Bible again yesterday.  He was given that Scoffield on March 27, 1959 by our Pastor when he was saved. 

I told Mickey when we finished Revelation 22 yesterday and sat the Scoffield back on the book shelf that we were going to begin reading through the Dake's

So this morning, June 6, 2013, with magnifying glass, red pen and table in hand we began!!!  I told Mickey we may never finish this reading before Jesus takes us home, but we'll go as far as we can.

So, this morning we got through this much : a. Preface - b. Summary of Genesis -c. The  First Book of Moses, Called Genesis - d. Chapter 1 - e. The Creative Ages (Gen. 1:1-2:25). f. I. Original creation made perfect and inhabited (Isa. 45:1-8). "The world that then was" (2Pet.3:5-8) - g. vs 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. - h. II. Earth made chaos: end of earth's first perfect state and first sinful career because of Lucifer's rebellion.  Overthrow of "the world that then was" (2 Pet.3:5-8; Jer. 4:23-26) -  i. vs 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.- AND k. 18 proofs of a pre-Adamic world - l. 20 Contrats between the 2 floods comparing Lucifer's and Noah's 

(No way could I copy here all that the preface(a) the summary (b), k & l said so just gave the headings.)

WHEEEEEE - this is going to be so great.   We made it through Genesis 1:1 & 2.

I am happy, excited, eager & ready for this in-depth reading and study. 

a 2 z - D = DAILY

DAILY we must make a choice to stay in the wonderful, gentle, caring hands of God or try and do it all by ourselves.  I choose to stay safely in His hands.

DAILY - Mickey and I many years ago, while we were both still working and had to get up very early each morning to do so, began a DAILY routine that we do unto this day, and will do as long as God gives us. 

 We begin our day by first reading 2 devotionals:  My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers (a birthday/Christmas gift to me 12-25-97) and recently adding The Word For You Today (a 3 month devotional given to us by our church). We continuously read through a different version of The Bible.  We are currently reading The Scofield  Reference Bible that was given to Mickey on March 27, 1959, at the time of his salvation, by Pastor Charles H. Yates.  This morning we read Amos 2&3.  We then add a Chapter of a current book we are reading or studying.  This morning it was the final chapter of The 10 Second Rule by Clare De Graaf, which we are finishing up this Sunday in our small group Real Christianity. Then we sit side by side, on the couch, hold hands and pray.  Mickey prays first and then I pray.  

I give praise & glory to God, and God alone, for helping us establish this DAILY start to our day.  It has not only helped each of us to grow steadily in The Lord but it has built the very strong marriage that Mickey & I share and enjoy.  Believe me, you cannot be in His Word and in Prayer DAILY and be at odds with each other for very long.  

DAILY - This book of the law shall not depart out of they mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Joshua 1:8

DAILY (actually moment by moment) Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  Psalms 119:105 

I would love for you to share your DAILY routine in your comments.  If you don't have one please begin to start each day in The Word and Prayer. 

CHRIST - Throughout the Bible

There are those who have gone through the Bible and traced the story of Jesus.

Genesis - Seed of the woman

Exodus - Passover Lamb

Leviticus - Atoning Sacrifice

Numbers - Smitten Rock

Deuteronomy - Greatest Prophet

Joshua - Caption of the Lord's Host

Judges - Deliverer

Kings - Promised King

Nehemiah - Restorer of the Nation

Ester - Advocate

Job - Redeemer

Psalms - Shepherd

Proverbs - Pattern

Eccleslastes - Goal

Song of Solomon - Satisfier

Books of the Prophets - Coming Prince of Peace

Gospels - One who came to seek and to save

Acts - Risen Lord

Epistles - Representative at the Father's right hand

Revelation - Returning Lord

HE IS MY LORD & SAVIOR

Still 8 days to get your name in the pot for my giveaway to celebrate my 5th Bloggoversary.

Go here to check it out!

CLINGING TO THE WORD

Many months ago I saw this picture and just loved it.  It spoke volumes to me of clinging to God's Word throughout our entire life. 

 I saved it on purpose to someday take a similar shot of my hands on my beloved Bible.

My hands aren't quite as aged as the one's above, but certainly getting there.

I have spoken many times on this blog about my precious, treasured Bible that Mickey gave me on our first anniversary and many of you have requested pictures.  It is a small, leather bound Bible measuring just 4 1/2" by 7 3/4".  It is the Bible I use every Sunday at Church and in small group.

Many of the pages are paper thin and it is marked with many notes and markings.  It has served me well, all these years, and is my most treasured possession.  I have told my family I want it to go to the person in my family who is living closest to God when I am gone.

My hope and trust is built on nothing less!!!!!!

SHOW & TELL #25 - David's Bible

Here we are again....Friday and Show & Tell time at Kelli's. Write your post and go here for Mr. Linky. Then join the fun and read ALL the other Show & Tell posts.

Many happy days and occurrences going on in our lives.

This is a great big one.

Monday morning David said he'd like to go purchase himself a brand new bible.

He was using a King James Version that had belonged to his Grandmother Errett

that I had given him several years ago and he brought with him from California.

David and I went to the Christian book store and I told him to take his time selecting his new bible.

This is the New International Version he selected. It has a soft leather cover in black with the edges of the pages silver. He selected block letters in silver for his name..

Believe me, this picture does not do it justice.

It is truly a beautiful bible.

Mickey & I purchased it for him as a gift.

We had already planned to do so for him at Christmas.

Another wonderful piece in the mosaic of his returning to His God.

David pointed out to me that the picture on my header for Penless Writer was one he had taken in 1980, at the age of 16.

YES, OUR PRODIGAL HAS INDEED RETURNED!!!!

Continue to rejoice with us

THE WORD - WORDS

I have always loved words. Either speaking them (I am a talker) or reading them. I loved talking and discussing things with my father and mother. Being raised, basically as an oly child, books were very much my friends from a very early age. As a young girl I think I read every Nancy Drew book. Many a night I would be reading in the middle of the night and my mother would awaken and see the light on in my room and hollwe, "Susan, shut out that light and go to sleep".

I remember, as a young girl, having discussions with my father about libraries. Being born in 1885 he was well aware what a privilege it was when Public Libraries began to be opened and established. We today just take for granted that we can get almost any book, at any time. All we have to do is go to a book store, or a library or even on line and find them. It did not use to be so and books were very scarce and precious.

The first public library was claimed to be established in Boston, Massachusetts in 1636. The Boston Library still operates today. Benjamin Franklin and a group of his friends founded The Library Company of Philadelphia in 1731 as a means to settle arguments. The subscription library was born. A subscription library allowed individuals to buy "shares". The money raised from the sale of shares went into buying more books. A member, or shareholder, then had rights to use the library. The Library Company, which may have been the first truly public library (members could actually borrow books), is still in existence as a nonprofit, independent research library.

The Library of Congress was established by an act of Congress in 1800 under President John Adams. With an appropriation of $5,000 the original library was housed in the new Capitol until August, 1814, when invading British troops set fire to the Capitol Building, burning and pillagint the contents of the small library.

Within a month retired President Thomas Jefferson offered his personal library as a replacement. Jefferson had spent 50 years accumulating books, "putting by everything which related to America, and indeed whatever was rare and valuable in every science"; his library was considered to be one of the finest in the U.S. In January 1815, Congress accepted his offer, and appropriated $23,950 for his 6,487 books. As an aside, The Library of Congress is the most beautiful building I have ever had the privilege of seeing.

Andres Carnegie was the person who made it possible for many communities to have a library. Between the years 1883 and 1929 he funded 2,509 libraries in English speaking countries. 1,689 were built in the U.S. Very few towns that requested a grant and agreed to his terms were refused. When the last grant was made in 1919, there were 3,500 libraries in the U.S. of which nearly half were paid for by Carnegie.

It was in 1935 when the first mass produced paper back books became available. The reduced cost of these books was a further step in making the written word available to a large number of people.

It is truly amazing when we take time to stop and think about words. Almost all communication is done with words. We speak and communicate to one another in words. We are so excited when a baby says that first word. The ability to form ideas in our mind and relate our thoughts to others is in words, either spoken or written. Even the third verse in our Bible begins "And God said...."

I am thankful for words, for the ability to speak, for the ability to read, for the ability to purchase and own the books of my choice, for the ability to check out a book from my library or borrow a book from a friend, for the ability to read the various posts on the blogs I choose and find interesting, informative or funny.

Most of all I am thankful that God inspired men, by the Holy Spirit, to write the 66 books that form our Bible.

I am thankful the New Testament is CONTAINED in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is EXPLAINED in the New Testament.

I am thankful the New Testament is CONCEALED in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is REVEALED in the New Testament.

I am thankful the New Testament AUTHENTICATES the Old Testament and the Old Testament ANTICIPATES the New Testament.

I am thankful the New Testament LIES HIDDEN in the Old Testament and the Old Testament LIES OPEN in the New Testament.

I am thankful the Old Testament PREDICTS a Person and the New Testament PRESENTS that Person.

I AM THANKFUL FOR GOD'S WRITTEN WORD

THE ABILITY TO READ AND SPEAK IT

THE PRIVILEGE OF LIVING IN A FREE COUNTRY

THAT ALLOWS ME FREEDOM TO READ, TO SPEAK AND TO WRITE

Most of the historial information in this post is from Wikipedia, the free enclopedia.

Old & New Testament comments from

Food for Thoughts by Roy Gustafson

WOMEN TO WOMEN #3

Well it's time to do the monthly Woman to Woman topic hosted by Morning Glory, here.

And co-hosted by My Many Colored Days, here.

Go to either of these web sites to find out more about it and to sign up with Mr. Linky.

The topic this month is Share an important quote and what it means to you. I knew I had to get in on this one when I heard the topic because I love words.

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work

in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Phillippians 1:6

I cannot remember when the above verse (or Biblical quote) became my life verse. I think it was in 1966 when I first began my first bible memory course. You can go here to read about it. So for the past 40 years I have studied about, meditated on and given much thought to what this verse means to me.

#1 - I AM CONFIDENT - first I am totally confident in God being THE supreme being. Yes, there are many "gods" in this world but I am confident in THE One True God. I am confident that Jesus the Christ is the Son of God. I am confident that I have put my faith and trust in Jesus, and Jesus alone as not only my Savior (a lot of people have him there kind of like a "fire escape") but my LORD. I am confident that the Bible is the Living Word of God. Not just a dead book written years ago, as some believe, but a book that is alive and speaks to us individually, as well as collectively. A book that even though I've read through it time and time again, and studied it deeply, will suddenly speak to me about a verse with a new depth or insight that I'd never seen before. I am confident that this verse, as all the verses, is speaking to me and giving me this promise.

#2 - HE HAS BEGUN THE WORK - He began this work in me on September 24, 1956 when I first believed that the atoning work of Jesus the Christ was a finished work. He put a new heart in me that very moment at that little altar in a church. He raised me up from that altar a new creation. Oh yes, I was just as much an infant in the Spirit on that day as I was an infant in the flesh on December 25, 1937. I was just as much a baby in Christ, then an adolescent in Christ, then a young adult in Christ. It was and is a progression. Sanctification.

#3 - HE WILL COMPLETE IT - He will never leave me or forsake me. His Word tells me this. Though I stumble and fall (and oh I do) He will pick me up time and time again, as long as I confess my sin to Him and ask forgiveness. He is the sure rock, the firm foundation and when I die, or when I meet Him in the sky, I will live with Him forever. He will complete what He has begun. He will perform it.

This is what this quote means to me.

When I fully grasped that it was His finished work and His continuing work and He was faithful and would perform all that He has said He would and He would perform it ALL what a freedom and joy it brought to my life. Joy unspeakable and full of glory!!!

PRAISE GOD, FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST

ONE GOD

AT HIS NAME EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

AND EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS

THAT JESUS IS LORD

SHOW & TELL #3 - Tiny Childhood Bible

This picture was taken the same Christmas as the Bible below was given to me. I am the blond on the second row, behind the girl in the tam with leggings on. It's the same blue velvet dress with pink star buttons my mother made for me and I loved so.

Kelli, at There Is No Place Like Home, Hosts Show & Tell every Friday. It is so much fun to see & read what others post and to post a show & tell. Go check it out. Here is mine for this week.











This little Bible is 2 1/4" long
& 1 3/4" wide

It has 124 pages and contains the following information:

Chapter I - The First Christmas

Chapter II - Jesus is Baptised

Chapter III - Jesus Blesses the Children

Chapter IV - Jesus at Bethany

Chapter V - The Last Supper

Chapter VI - Jesus Prays

Chapter VII-Jesus is Arrester

Chapter VIII - Jesus before Pilot

Chapter IZ - Jesus is Crucified

Chapter X - Jesus Rises from the Dead

It has 6 full page pictures depicting Christ

3 - Morning Prayers

5 - Blessing for meals Prayerrs

6 - Day time Prayers

6 - Evening Prayers

The 10 Commandments


It is missing the black front cover.
The inscription reads:
"To Susan - from your teacher-
Mrs. Maxwell - Christmas - 1942"

The reason this is so special and important to me, besides being given to me 65 years ago, is because it is The Bible. It's wonderful to me to realize what an important part the beloved Word of God has been in my life. I love The Word of God.

Feeling Randomized???

Susan at Learning for Lifetime offered a challenge and Leigh Ann, Carrie, Melli, Jill, Tammy and I all stepped forward. Actually Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee posed 5 questions to Susan and others. Susan in turn was to make up 5 questions and Randomize others. Here are the 5 questions she made for the 6 of us..........

1. What's your worst pet peeve? Someone who does not tell the truth. One of the sayings on my blog header is "A lie is ANYTHING contrary to the naked truth". I try to keep that it mind all the time and live by it.

2. (For Susan (me) who thought I should extend my Thursday Thirteen to others.)
What are five things you would do if "money were no object"? 1) I would pay off our current church building debt of approximately $850,000 and buy the 2 lots for sale next to our church property and pay to have a building built to house a place to help woman in need. This is one of the things we are currently working toward and praying for. We have started with a 3 bedroom house and a ministry called Freedom House to house the home mission woman and two ladies. 2) I would take my husband and I, and anyone else that desired to go with us on a trip to Israel. I have always dreamed of walking where Jesus walked and visiting all the various places in the Bible, especially I would like to see Massada. 3) I would rent the entire Chateau on the Lake Hotel in Branson, MO and organize a convention for my blogger friends from all over to come for a week. All expenses paid. Can you imagine what a blast that would be?!!! 4) I would always have several thousand dollars on me to be able to help, on the spot, anyone the Spirit of God directed me to help. 5) I would support various missionary work around the world. Again, as God by the Holy Spirit would lead.


3. If you could be an inanimate object, what would you be and why? A Bible. Because I can't imagine anything better than to be the source of containing every jot and tittle, every promise God has left us, and God's covenant to us His body, in written words.


4. OK, fess up, some people have eaten crayons or tasted glue. What's the strangest thing you've ever taste-tested? Where were you and why did you do it? I'm afraid you've stumped me on this one. I'm not all that adventureous about even eatting strange foods much less tasting something that wasn't edible. Sorry!

5. And because I LOVE music and Linda used music: If you were standing before all your friends and family and they asked you to summarize yourself in one to two songs, what would you sing and why? Life is Big, Rich and Wonderful..In the presence of failure, In the presence of weakness , God prepares a table before me. In the face of confusion, In the presence of fear, God prepares a table before me. In the presence of turmoil, in the home, on the job, And all that the senses may being. God prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Life is big, rich and it's wonderful, with my hand in the hand of God. My heart has found its haven, with Jesus on its throne. With my mind fixed on my Father, and our words in one accord, Life is big, rich and wonderful, with my hand in the hand of God. (words and music by David Ingles) Farther Along. When we see Jesus coming in glory, When He comes from His home in the sky. Then we shall meet Him in that bright mansion, We'll understand it all by and by. Further along we'll know all about it. Farther along we'll understand why; Cheer up, my brother, live in the sunshine, We'll understand it all by and by. (old hymn by Rev. W. B. Stevens) The first one because life for me is big, rich and wonderful and God does all those things for me that song says. The second one because I, like all of us, have faced things and been through things that I've wondered why. I know further along I'll understand why.

Boy, Susan, this was HARD!!!! Okay, now that I've said that, do any of you want to play along and meet this challenge? If so tell me in your comment and I'll come up with 5 unique questions of my own to "Randomize" you. Happy playing!!!!!playing!!!!!

WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED!!!

Quoting from My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

"Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane,

and saith unto his disciples.....tarry ye here, and watch with me".

Matthew 26:36&38

"We can NEVER fathom the agony of Gethsemane, but at least we need not misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin. We know nothing about Gethsemane in personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary, stand for something unique; they are the gateway into Life for us."

PRAISE-PRAISE TO OUR GOD

FATHER - SON - HOLY GHOST

WE HAVE BEEN REDEEMED!!!

Angels #2

I

I decided today to show some of my most treasured possessions with some of my angels..

My Bibles.

Not all these books reside on this table all the time. They have been placed here for the picture! What resides on this table are the current ones we are studying out of,

The King James and The Message, plus two devotional books and our prayer journal.

The angel on the back corner lives on this table with our daily devotionals, Bibles and books.

She is holding in front of her the letters L O V E with "my family"

written on the heart that forms the O. I bought her at a garage sale.

Since she is made of fabric I decided to include my two other fabric angels.

The one sitting on the left corner was given to me by our dear friends, Jack & Mary.

The little one sitting on the big Family Bible usually sits on the blue Fostoria bowll

on the lamp table behind. I purchased her but I don't really remember where.

These are the only fabric angels I have.

Sitting in front of my Message Bible is an angel made of tin. I know she is hard to see.

She has a blue robe with red trim on the bottom, sleeves and neck. She is holding a candle.

Her hair is yellow and her wing is dark pink. She is a Christmas ornament

that I bought in New Mexico. She lives in the corner of a picture frame.

The other two, sitting on The New American Standard Bible, are matching napkin ringsmadefor meby our good friends, Don and Barbara.

Now for the other books and Bibles on the table.

In the far left corner is our daily devotional book My Utmost For His Highest

by Oswald Chambers. While visiting my forever friend in Albuquerque

in October, 1997 she had one of these and I really liked it.

For Christmas of 1996 it was part of my Christmas gifts from Mickey.

We began it on 1-1-98 and are now in our 10th year of reading it daily.

To the right of the Large Family Bible is one of my many favorite books.

It is Andrew Murray on PRAYER. I received a gift certificate

for a local Christian Book Store from some girls I worked with,

just before we left on one of our long journeys to the

Eastern United States and Eastern Canada.

When I went to select books before we left this is one I purchased.

We began reading it in July 2000 and have since re-read it 4 other times.

This is a book that changed our lives in the area of prayer.

To the far right is The J.B. Phillips New Testament in Modern English.

I have had this New Testament for many years..

To the far left front is our LARGE Print AMPLIFIED Bible.

Sitting on top of that is my newest addition...it is a

Franklin Electronic KJV Bible.

This was my Christmas gift from my dear husband, Mickey this past year.

I love it!!

To the right of the Electronic Bible is our Prayer Journal..

This journal was a gift from my dauthter-in-love from a business trip she made

to Bangladesh in 2006. It is all handmade paper and very beautiful.

SOME TIMES YOU SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST,

The Bible in the far right corner is my King James Version of the Bible.

It reads Presented to.....

"My Wonderful & Lovely Wife - Susan"

From

"A devoted husband - Mickey"

"on our first anniversary - October 4, 1959"

It is my most treasured possession.

When asked the question, "If you could only save one thing what would it be?".

I never have to wonder or think twice. It would be this BIBLE.

After 17 1/2 yeqars the pages are paper thin,

We had it rebound in May, 1978 because it was falling apart.

I love THE WORD of GOD.

We also have a Living Bible.

The Marked Reference Bible by Vondervan

and a Spanish New Testament.

No Hay Amor Mas Grande

Mickey has a The Scofield Reference Bible. It was given to him by the Pastor when he was saaved on March 27, 1959.

In addition to the various Bibles.

we also value our reference books: W.E. Vine's An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word; Vine's Complete Expositor Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words:

Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary On The Whole Bible;

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible.

One of the MANY things I have always been thankful for is being born at a time

in history where we have so much knowledge at our fingertips in books.

Never, did I fathom the knowledge that is now available to us at our fingertips

clicking away on a keyboard and accessing all knowledge known to man.

WE ARE SO BLESSED!!