According to the Lord's Word

According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.— 1 Thessalonians 4:13

My coworkers surprised me with cake, a fruit tart, flowers, and cards yesterday in celebration of my birthday.

Kirk prepared a delicious dinner for us and our friends brought some amazing wines to celebrate.

Today our church choir sang "Happy Birthday" to me before our service.

I received lots of birthday texts and wishes.

God has blessed me.

Jesus Died and Rose Again

We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. — 1 Thessalonians 4:14

Jesus is our Savior.

He died and rose again for us.

So we believe that God will bring us with Jesus.

And God will bring with Jesus those who have died in Him.

One day we will live in heaven with our Savior.

In the meantime, we will tell others about Him so they, too, can join us there.

 

Mind Your Own Business

You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody, — 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

It's hard to mind our own business when things around us seem to be in disarray.

At the same time, God calls us to mind our own business.

He asks us to work with our hands.

So that our daily life may win the respect of others.

And so we will not dependent on anybody.

Instead, we will work hard and mind our own business.

Here we are at the top of Pyles Peak in October - our 6 mile hike.

Thanks to Kellie for arranging this hike for us.

 

Love All of God's Family

And in fact, you do love all of God’s family. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. — 1 Thessalonians 4:10

We are part of God's family.

He urges us to love all people everywhere.

And to do so more and more.

To make it our ambition to lead a quiet life.

How can I do that when I want the attention and the focus to be on me?

Here's our hiking group celebrating Anne's birthday with cake pops at the top of Pyles Peak.

God asks me to focus on Him instead.

Help me, Lord, to obey You.

Love Each Other

Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. — 1 Thessalonians 4:9

Halloween night we put candy on our courtyard table so children could help themselves.

Kirk lit a fire in the firepit and propped open our gate to welcome them.

Abby and Kirk watched from the living room as the children entered our courtyard.

Then they wished them "Happy Halloween" and the children called back, "Happy Halloween."

One girl told her little brother, "The sign says to take 2 so just two!"

Lots of parents came dressed up, too.

We had about 25 children, which was a lot for our neighborhood. 

I got home from church in time to see the last few.

They were very kind and loving to each other and very happy to have candy!

Live a Holy Life

God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. — 1 Thessalonians 4:7

How hard is that?

God calls us to live a holy life.

Not to be impure.

But we naturally are sinful and impure.

It is already November.

Where did the year go?

 

Live to Please God

Brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. — 1 Thessalonians 4:1

Today is All Saints Day, when we remember those loved ones who have gone before us.

My mom, Joyce Morong Turner,

My dad, Jet Elton Turner,

Kirk's mom, Rita Kindlespire Rogers

Kirk's dad, Gary John Rogers,

My Aunt Barbara Hawkins

My Aunt Diedree Morong

Kirk's cousin LeAnn Selzer,

Kirk's uncle Dale Rogers

and our grandparents:

Jesse and Lillian Turner

Carroll Oscar and Marion Morong

Sil and Mildred Kindlespire

Lucille Klein

My great-aunt, Lucinda Mattinson

Her dad, my great-grandpa Pappy, William Mattinson, and many others. 

We are thankful for their lives and their faith.