Cherith and Jesse Go To School!!!

by daddy in God's Glory, School

The way has been opened for Cherith and Jesse to go to Brashier Middle College Charter High School. This is so much a relief to all of us. Cherith and Jesse will have the challenge of not only to keep up with daily classes, but to maintain at least an 80% in every class. This is a relief to them since there will be no interruption of schedule for anything that may come up. This is a relief to Lois because of trying to know what to do about school. This is a relief to me because I don’t have to hear about ‘what do we do about school?’ from any of them.

Anyway, this is a great opportunity for all of us to interact with more people from our surrounding communities. Pray for each of us as we enter this new exciting time of our lives.

When is the best time to have your ‘devotions’?

by daddy in God's Glory

Devotions. ‘God and I time’. Daily Bible reading and prayer. There are other names for this time to be sure. But this is only a fraction of ‘devotion’ time. The only time in Scripture that ‘devotion’ is used is in Acts 17. The Athenians had devotions “UNTO THE UNKNOWN GOD”. While the focus of their devotions is not ours, none the less, they, the unconverted people of Athens had some form of devotions.

As I was reading God’s words today I came across one thought that triggered other thoughts that caused me to consider seeking other thoughts. Only this time they were all on the same subject, the verses at hand.

Psalm 113:3 “From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised.” (How long did you say to have ‘devotions’ and when?)

Psalm 119:97 “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.”

Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

(Oh. That was Old Testament? How about this.)
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Psalm 119:164 “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of they righteous judgments.”

Daniel 6:10 “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Now these words of God do not in the least say, Do this and live. Only the New Testament gives the command to pray without ceasing. No the Old Testament Scriptures only tell what a man after God’s own heart would do. It tells what men who were seeking God with their whole heart would do. These were busy men in government positions who evidence is sufficient that demonstrates this was their desire from their youth (1 Samuel 17:12-15, 26,32-37 for David’s youth, and Daniel 1:3-8 has Daniel referred to as a child (v4) whereas in Daniel 6 he was on his at least third king and about 60 years old or older).

What will you do?

Just a quick note

by daddy in Uncategorized

I believe I have posted this before. One of the young ladies Lois and I had in our 5th grade SS Class a couple years back, Meredith Hines, is battling cancer. The medical treatments are tough, but I have yet to see her without a smile on her face (I know the times are there and maybe quite often, but when she can come to church - quite regularly for her.) I just wanted to put another encouragement for those who would pray for Meredith to do so. Here is a link for updates on her progress. I believe you may find CaringBridge a good site to recommend others to in their special health needs. Caring Bridge for Meredith Hines.

Where have we been? or how about, Where are we now?

by daddy in Family Fun, God's Glory, News, Occasions, Wisconsin

Wow! I haven’t posted on here a major post since April 24th (this year). Two thoughts may have just gone through your brain. One: Where in the world have you been? Two: Oh no! This will be another long post.

To answer the first and to ignore the second (did I say that?) let me summarize.

Summary of the first four months
January - Cameron spends time with us from Wisconsin, Andrea and Cameron return to Wisconsin - Andrea to her last semester of college
January - February - Ricky and Karlyn go on a missions trip to Trinidad
March - Ricky proposes to Karlyn in Watertown, WI
March - Eunice and her roommate Joanna Engross in a discussion about the Sovereignty of God have a blow out of a tire and after the car rolls ends up in the emergency room for the night - the worst being a cut on Eunice’s hand from cutting her hair that was trapped under the roof of the car through the broken out window

Now, what has happened since May 1st. (I know I missed some wedding anniversaries in here, maybe a birthday or two. Let me know and I will add them in.)
May 5th - Angie Blaha’s birthday (Rick’s brother’s wife)
May 7th - Lois, Cherith, and Jesse helped Rose move out of her apartment.
May 8th - Eunice’s birthday, Rose, Lois, and I go to the airport in Charlotte, NC. Lois and I fly to Milwaukee, WI (YES!!!)
May 9th - Lois and I travel to Northland Baptist Bible College.
May 10th - Andrea graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College, It was also my birthday, after graduation we went to Plainfield, WI (where we believe God is preparing us to go)
May 11th - Spent the day with the Gaudet family and the family of the First Baptist Church in Plainfield.
May 12th - Back to Milwaukee, Charlotte, and Simpsonville, SC.
May 13th - Keith Blair’s birthday (Rick’s nephew)
May 15th - Andrea’s birthday
May 16th - Ruth Blair’s birthday (Rick’s sister)
May 17th - Stephanie Homontowski’s graduation from Athens Christian School
May 19th - Len & Angie’s Anniversary (Rick’s brother & sister-in-law)
May 24th - Hannah Blaha’s birthday (Rick’s niece)
May 25th - Karla Blaha’s birthday (Rick’s sister), Cameron Gaudet proposes to Andrea in Crivitz, WI
May 31st - Andrea home from college - for good; Elizabeth Homontowski’s wedding
June 6th - Andrea’s college graduation reception
June 16th - Rick has his 11th year anniversary at his work
June 24th - Cherith’s birthday
June 29th - Ricky’s birthday
June 30th - Jesse leaves for camp at Southland in Louisiana
July 1st - Lois leaves for North Dakota (her sister’s husband’s 60th birthday party)
July 4th - United States of America Independence Day
July 5th - Jesse home from camp
July 8th - Lois home from North Dakota
July 10th - Jesse gets his driving permit.
July 11th - Eunice and Jesse leave for Texas with a Mission Work Team from Grace Bible.
July 21st - Eunice and Jesse return from Texas (for those of you with Facebook check out the group ‘Texas Work Team’).
July 23rd - Lois’ birthday, Keturah Lake’s birthday (Rick’s niece)
July 24th - Hannah Gfeller hosts a Pampered Chef party for Andrea
July 30th - Rick & Lois’ 31st Anniversary
July 31st - Dan & Claudia’s 32nd Anniversary
August 5th - Dad Blaha’s birthday, Rick Blair’s birthday (Rick’s sister’s husband)
August 12th - Dad & Mom Blaha’s 58th Wedding Anniversary
August 14th - Rick & Ruth Blair, Karla Blaha, and Naomi Blaha leave for Mexico on a Missions Trip
August 15th - Lois & Jesse leave for Georgia to help out Bruce and Deirdra Homontowski for a week (praise the Lord Deirdra is doing much better)
August 18th - 20th - Rick is at home alone for 2-1/2 days (instead of bigfamilyinasmallhouse it has felt like onepersoninabighouse); Jesse starts school
August 23rd - Lois & Jesse return from Georgia (I hope)
August 25th - Rick & Ruth Blair, Karla Blaha, and Naomi Blaha return from Mexico from their Missions Trip
August 26th - Cherith and Jesse start school at Brashier Middle College Charter High School.

Future (currently planned)
October 4th - Josh Blaha and Hannah Gfeller united in marriage
October 18th - Ricky Blaha and Karlyn Tipmore united in marriage
November 28th - Cameron Gaudet and Andrea Blaha united in marriage

That is what has been going on and tentative in the future.

See, not too long… But wait there’s more!!!! Where are we now? See the previous post.

Where are we now? or, Where are you? (Quoted from God to Adam)

by daddy in God's Glory

In my time of reading God’s words I saw Psalm 91:9, “Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation.” The context of this Psalm was one who has made their refuge in the most High encouraging another that God can and will do all He says when you make the most High your refuge, your Lord.

As I thought and considered I asked myself, Have I made the Lord, the most High, my habitation? What does it mean to make the most High my habitation? As I have often told my children, look it up in the dictionary. So that is what I did. Habitation (definition) 1) act of inhabiting, 2) a dwelling place. Inhabit (definition) 1) to occupy as a place of settled residence. OK. Back from the dictionary in a plain statement, What did I learn? I learned that my habitation is where I am at. The dwelling or residence may be compared to a habitat of a plant or an animal - the site or type of site where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives and grows. So I rephrase my question: Have I made the Lord, the most High, my dwelling place, my residence, the place where I normally live and grow? Is it a place where I appear to be natural and not out of place?

I think of how Cain, who was a tiller of the field, when he refused to correct though confession to God and repentance from what was in his heart and instead killed his brother Abel whose his blood cried up to God from the ground, that Cain’s curse from God was that the ground would not grow anything for him. It wasn’t a problem with the ground, but a plight that moved with Cain wherever he went. That presence was his habitation.

In considering making the Lord, the most High, my habitation where I would normally dwell I asked, What would it be like? The first thought that came to mind was ‘holiness’. I did the next thing that came to my mind. I took my Franklin Bookman electronic Holy Bible and searched for ‘holiness’. I realized soon enough I would need my Strong’s Concordance to better see and categorize the references as several entries had similar contexts. (Dictionary time again - holiness (definition) 1) the quality or state of being holy.) One of the first statements familiar to me is found in 1 Chronicles 16:29 and Psalms 29:2 and 96:9 - “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” In reference to making my habitation that of the most High I see a dwelling place, namely, in the beauty of holiness, in the beauty of the state of being holy. In both the Old and New Testament we are given God’s command - “Be you being holy for I am being holy” (Leviticus 11:44,45 and 1 Peter 1:15, 16). This habitation fully in holiness (but only a beginning of describing the most High being my habitation) calls for praising the beauty of holiness (2 Chronicles 20:21), sanctifying or setting apart yourself in holiness ( 2 Chronicles 31:18), and a place of singing when remembering God’s holiness (Psalm 30:4). I asked, Where does the most High go that I would also go when I make Him my habitation? He sits upon the throne of his holiness (Psalm 47:8). God is to be praised in the mountain of his holiness ( Psalm 48:1). God speaks in his holiness (Psalm 60:6, 108:7) and even swears or takes an oath by his holiness (Psalm 89:35, Amos 4:2). Less there be any doubt Isaiah 63:15, 16 clearly specifies the habitation of the most High. “Look down from the heaven, and behold the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained? Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O Lord, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.”

Lest as a Gentile we think the Old Testament only contains the call to holiness the Gentile New Testament churches to who the apostle Paul wrote (he being called by God unto the Gentiles) we are called to be servants to righteousness unto holiness (Romans 6:19), have fruit unto holiness (Romans 6:22), to continue on to perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1), to be renewed in the spirit of our minds in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesian 4;24), to be in behaviour that becometh ( or is a perfect example of) holiness (Titus 2:3 addressed to the older women, but effective to all of us). All that the preceding describes or, at best, summarizes the relation of making the Lord, the most High, my dwelling place.

In relation to holiness being a primary characteristic of this habitation one would ask what might the end result be? (Well, at least I did). The writer of Hebrews in the beginning of chapter 12 has just finished the partial list of what God did for those who participated in the substance ( or assurance ) of things hoped for and the evidence ( or proving ) of things not seen. After challenging the reader to run with patience the race set before them looking unto Jesus, Immanuel, God with us, the Word that became flesh, the Author and Finisher of our faith, we have the continuing challenge of discipline, diligence, and deportment. Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, and despised the shame; his joy - that for Him and for us - He is set down on the right hand of the throne of God. The purpose of His chastening and disciplining our lives that we may be being holy as He is being holy, is that we might be partakers of HIS holiness. WHAT A BLESSING AND BLESSED OUTCOME!!! I must make now the Lord, the most High, my habitation described as holiness that I might be partaker of His holiness. He wants His holiness to be ours. It is then no wonder Adam and Eve covered and hid themselves when Adam sinned. That perfect man made in God’s image knew that expanse of difference between holiness he had known and what its presence now meant to him who had missed the mark of the glory of God. To dwell in this earthen vessel and also the habitation of the Lord, the most High, calls for me to be being holy for my dwelling, my normal place of residence, that normal place for me to live and grow is in holiness if I make the Lord, the most High my habitation.

Traffic!

by josh in Uncategorized

I find it humorous and humbling that this family blog gets more traffc than my blog does…and no one ever gets on here…not to mention the old design that is in a dire need of a remodeling…(of course, mine does too). hmmm

Another Birthday

by josh in Family Fun, Occasions

Happy birthday Frick!

Happy Padre’s Day, Daddy

by josh in Occasions, Parents

Happy Father’s Day, Daddy!

Today, all of the Rick Blaha kids were able to make it home to the parents home for lunch. It was enjoyable and fun. Pictures to follow.

Love you dad! Thanks for being a great example and pointing us to God.

Josh

Congrats!!!!! (Part deux, dos, li, zwei, two)!

by daddy in Family Fun, God's Glory

HEAR IT FOR YOURSELF!!
Yes, Andrea graduated from Northland Baptist Bible College on May 10, 2008. But you can hear it for yourself.

Graduation Reception for Andrea

  • Calvary Baptist Church
  • The Chapel
  • On Davenport Road just off Grandview Drive
  • Simpsonville, SC
  • Friday June 6, 2008
  • 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Congrats Ya-Ya!!!

by josh in Children, News, Occasions

I am not sure if Andrea is going to say anything about this or not, but she got engaged! Way to go Cameron! Way to say yes, Andrea!

(My payments are coming in the mail, Cameron.)

Fun Times,

Josh