GOD BLESS OUR SOLDIERS

FAMILY LOSES SECOND SON IN IRAQ

The Hubbard family from Clovis lost a second son in Iraq yesterday. The third son is on his way home from Iraq for his brother's funeral.

Nathan Hubbard was killed in the crash of the Blackhawk helicopter. Nathan joined the army after his brother, Jared, was killed.

We have a family member (Kevin Bond--my sister's grandson) in Iraq. Our prayers are with him and the many others.

I appreciate these young people who are not ashamed or afraid to fight for what they believe. I'm trying to catch myself now when I begin to say... "these young people nowadays..." then some derogatory comment. We have so many good and godly youth.

I also have a second cousin (Robin Norris), who has gone to Albania to help with older orphans who have been put out in the streets. Judy Gail, correct me if I'm wrong on what Robin is doing.

I started out talking about patriotism, but I think the verse to close with would be:

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in lif, in love, in faith, in purity. I Timothy 4:12

So, youth--if you're setting the example, thanks, and keep it up. If not, do what you need to turn your life around. And that could go for us a little older, too.

The picture is one of David and a young Israeli soldier.

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved, And mercy more than life!

America! America! May God thy gold refine,

Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!

America, the Beautiful, Katharine Lee Bates

MT CARMEL

On the summit of Mt. Carmel, Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal.

Can't you see Elijah taunting those prophets whose god was spelled with a small g. Maybe your god didn't hear you. Maybe he's sleeping.

Our God with a capital G neither sleeps nor slumbers. He hears our thoughts. He loves to start our fires.

I sing the mighty power of God, That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad, And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command, And all the stars obey.
I Sing the Mighty Power of God, Isaac Watts

If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. I Kings 18:21B
It's fun to read I Kings 18:20-40 to see how Elijah's God came through.

TGIF

What are you thankful for today?





Here are four from me, then maybe Georgia Lou can think of a couple:


1. That nightmare I had last night was not real.


2. My kids arrived safely in Doha.


3. So many people are helping get the word out about Ebenezer.



4. Our peaceful trip across the Sea of Galilee, which I know is really just a lake. (See photo upper right)

From mother:


1. Marty got an e-mail from her publisher.


(She's probably thinking now I'll get off my bottom and get busy)


2. Southern New Mexico has lots of rain.





The following story isn't directly about Thanksgiving, but it's a fun one for the weekend, hope you enjoy it.





OUR THANKSGIVING MAYPOLE
(This, by the way, is one of the stories in my book, and Mother just informed me I shouldn't put too many--so enjoy)

Smile and give others your sunshine,
Smile as you meet with the throng,
Smile and the world will smile with you,
Greet you with gladness and song.
Smile, B.B. McKinney, 1924


I lay on the cold tile, holding my head up slightly with my hands clenched together behind my neck while David circled around me.
Our new sun porch was gorgeous, but in the middle of the room was an unsightly metal post helping to hold up the house. We didn’t notice it when it was considered outside. But now we needed to camouflage it before Thanksgiving. David decided to wrap it with rope to give the room a nautical look.
We marched to the hardware store with a cross-section of friends. Everyone had a say in the color, texture and thickness of the cord we’d use to cover the pole.
Where did the friends go? My job was to tighten the cord as David wrapped it around. He went a few rungs. I moved in to tighten the job. For several hours, he wrapped, I tightened.
During one of our breaks, David commented, “I wish this pole weren’t here, but it is.”
I wish my front teeth didn’t stick out when I smile, but they do. I wish my nice dark brown hair hadn’t turned gray, but it did. I wish my thin figure weren’t gone, but it is.
My mother recently broke her dental bridge, making her toothless in front until the dentist could fit her in. We were out of town when it happened.
“Tell David all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth.”
It didn’t bother her to go to church this way. She laughed before anyone had a chance to simply smile politely. Then they felt comfortable to laugh with her. The pastor even called her “toothless,” to her delight.
Often God gives us important lessons to support our spiritual house. Maybe other times he gives us a good laugh so we won’t take ourselves too seriously.
We could have just slapped some paint on that cold gray pipe, but we didn’t.

A happy heart makes the face cheerful. Proverbs 15:13A

Now, let me hear from you. What are you thankful for? Remember, I get self-consciuos talking to myself.

By the way, if anyone has friends, relatives (or enemies) in the New England states, let me know. I need all those states except Maine and Delarawe. I'm trying to get a contact in every state.





Have a good weekend.

MEDITERRANEAN

First, I'll answer a question or two:

From my sister-in-law, Connie: Who are the people behind me?

I think they're spies. Although they looked exactly like people from our group, you can't be too careful these days.

Also, from Connie. I had a typo giving my website. You've probably figured it out by now--or have gone on to someone else's website. It's www.martymagee.com

Please pardon the white ugly satchel-looking thing on my front. Though I like the Mediterranean, I didn't want to lose my passport and stay there until Jesus comes--

Though it was tempting. I loved the Mediterranean. I'd like to go back and sit and put my feet in the warm water and feel the sand between my toes. Of course, I'd have to be always watching over my shoulder for those spies. I'm almost willing to take the chance.

Just a parenthetical thought: If I did stay, I'd be that much closer to the New Jerusalem!

Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen. Psalm 77:19

Abide with me. Fast falls the eventide.
The darkness deepens; Lord with me abide.
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me!
Henry F. Lyte, 1847

Wow, Henry was talking about God's abiding with him 100 years before I was born.

Tomorrow is Friday (duh). I think Friday will be thanksgiving day on my blog. That's not an original idea. One of my sister, Jodie's talk radio people does that. So, be thinking up your thankful stuff. I don't want to be talking to myself (anymore than I already do).

G'nite from the beautiful Mediterranean.

TEL AVIV

Here we are in Tel Aviv. By the way, if you'll click on the pictures, they will enlarge.

We'll tie up our camel, eat some falafals, hummus, and a slew of other good Kosher food.

We'll wade in the Mediterranean's warm water, then get a good night's rest. But don't get too comfortable. This is where Jonah ran from God.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word

What a glory he sheds on our way! Let us do his good will;

He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and Obey, John H. Sammis, 1887

A ROUGH START

We're getting off to a rough start, but I think we can still be able to travel:

From Tel Aviv to Tiberius
To Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea of Galilee
From the Golan Heights to the Jordan River
The borders of Syria and Lebanon
From Lower Galilee to Jerusalem
To the Dead Sea
To Jerusalem
And more.

If you can see my face, I was mildly frightened, but think of the view from up there when you get accustomed to it.

If you're having a rough start today, remember God's faithfulness. When Jeremiah wrote, "Yet, Great is Thy Faithfulness," his people were in the depth of despair.

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
From Great is Thy Faithfulness, Thomas O. Chisholm, 1923

FINDING CAMEL

Dear Friends,

When I find my camel, we will get started. Then I hope you will ride with me through Isreal and the hymnal.

I'm sorry to postpone this trip, but my camel has been misplaced somewhere in my shutterfly account. I think my friend Dan can help me find him tonight.

Meanwhile, I hope you'll look at my nearly finished website at www.mrtymagee.com

Each entry, I will try to include a hymn.

For the beginning of our camel trip, I think this one might be approprite:

Lead on, O King Eternal,
We follow, not with fears.
Lead On, O King Eternal
Ernest W. Shurtleff

Look forward to traveling with you.

God's best to you.

Marty