Waiting

Personally, I don't like waiting. I like things to happen soon, the sooner the better. The apostle James says that "Trial of your faith worketh patience." I had always considered trial to mean something big, hard, and out of the ordinary. Something along the lines of illness, death of a loved one, persecution... It was suggested to me that my trial is whatever is trying to me. Which, if I were to choose an overarching enemy of mine, it would be waiting. So if trials brings patience, which is in this case a cure for my bane, it makes it much easier to thank God for the gift of trials. To thank God for the wait!
Also, when we are waiting for something to come to pass, we are waiting on God's timing. He is in absolute control of our world, and that includes the timing of things. So, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD". Psalm 27:14

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

So hang in there, my friend. God's ways are not our ways, and His timing is not ours, but it is good. It is better than what we would claim for ourselves, given the chance. His plan, method, and timing is what is best for us. The wait is a gift, whatever, the end result may be.

Identity

There are many that claim that God is not, simply because they do not see Him. I say that He is because He has left ample evidence as to the existence of His person.

Could someone claim that I had no father simply because you cannot see him? That would be absurd, complete outside of reason, because by seeing me, you see the necessity of my father's existence. You can even find His identity in my DNA. Even so, you can find God in His creation. Things to not cannot come from nothing, springing up of themselves. An animal or even a plant that has design, order, and function is no random object. There must have been a maker. You can even find His identity in His creation; for His children are made in His image.

Planned

Just think... you're here not by chance, but by God's choosing. His hand formed you and made you the person you are. He compares you to no one else-- You are one of a kind. You lack nothing that His grace can't give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.  ~Roy Lessin

God has a purpose for you, don't hang back, balking at the trials that you will face. He will prepare you for whatever lies ahead. It will not take Him by surprise. Go forth in His name and following His banner and you cannot fail. Success may not be what you envisioned, but His plan is better that ours.

Wigtown Martyrs

   On this day, in 1685, a testimony was given that would stand through centuries. Not by the edict of kings, bending the will of nations to cower under their high hand, but by the bending of the devout hearts of two humble women to the everlasting King of kings. These faithful daughters, one in her twilight years, the other in the flower of her youth, were given a document to sign, known as the Oath of Abjuration. This test was given to suspected upholders of the covenant and sympathizers of those who attempted to stay the persecution that was flooding Scotland. With all constancy, they refused, joining their souls with "the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held."

    Here is the womens' end related in The History of the Sufferings of the Church of Scotland by Robert Wodrow, who dubbed the bloody suppression of the Covenanter movement in the 1680′s “The Killing Time”:

The two women were brought from Wigton, with a numerous crowd of spectators to so extraordinary an execution. Major Windram with some soldiers guarded them to the place of execution. The old woman’s stake was a good way in beyond the other, and she was first despatched, in order to terrify the other to a compliance with such oaths and conditions as they required. But in vain, for she adhered to her principles with an unshaken steadfastness. When the water was overflowing her fellow-martyr, some about Margaret Wilson asked her, what she thought of the other now struggling with the pangs of death. She answered, what do I see but Christ (in one of his members) wrestling there. Think you that we are the sufferers? No, it is Christ in us, for he sends none a warfare upon their own charges. When Margaret Wilson was at the stake, she sang the 25th Psalm from verse 7th, downward a good way, and read the 8th chapter to the Romans with a great deal of cheerfulness, and then prayed. While at prayer, the water covered her: but before she was quite dead, they pulled her up, and held her out of the water till she was recovered, and able to speak; and then by major Windram’s orders, she was asked, if she would pray for the king. She answered, ‘She wished the salvation of all men, and the damnation of none.’ One deeply affected with the death of the other and her case, said, ‘Dear Margaret, say God save the king, say God save the king.’ She answered in the greatest steadiness and composure, ‘God save him, if he will, for it is his salvation I desire.’ Whereupon some of her relations near by, desirous to have her life spared, if possible, called out to major Windram, ‘Sir, she hath said it, she hath said it.’ Whereupon the major came near, and offered her the abjuration, charging her instantly to swear it, otherwise return to the water. Most deliberately she refused, and said, ‘ I will not, I am one of Christ’s children, let me go.’ Upon which she was thrust down again into the water, where she finished her course with joy.”



Martyrs stake monument, Wigtown Scotland



The Twa Margaret's

Auld Merrick views o’er Bladnoch burn

That weaves as silk tae Solway’s shore;

Thru fertile lands it twists an’ turns -

It’s flowin’ burden, aft and fore.

Meg Wilson frae Glenvernoch came,

The highest Covenant tae swear;

A virgin blesst in Jesus’ name:

Her will strong, like her flaxen hair.

And Meg McLaughlin’s aged years -

Knew love’s proud veneration;

She faced oppressors without fears,
Refused the Oath of Abjuration!

Come wind doon frae the highest bough;
O come surf frae waves o’ the sea:
Carry them up tae Heaven now;

And in peace, lay their souls tae be.

At Grierson’s hand their fate did fall -

Bound tightly on a lowtide stake:

Both bold an’ true tae their call -

As waves o’er them, did rise an’ break.

Ashes to ashes; dust to dust;

When Truth is Treason Freedom dies;

Immortal wings tae a’ things just:

We remember.... when the wind sighs.

Here westlin’ winds, o’er Wigtown blaw

Here spirits haunt the morning mist;

And when Maytime rains do fa’,

They are seen, where the shore is kisst.

Patrick Scott Hogg 

    I love the line "When truth is treason freedom dies." Freedom is not strong when it stands on it's own; it is tall and beautiful but without deep roots, the blustery storms of tyranny will blow it to the ground, where men, drunk with power, trample it underfoot. How do we protect our freedom? We protect the truth, even as these and other faithful martyrs have.

In case you are interested, The Abjuration Oath ran thus:

 I A,B. doe hereby abhorr, renunce and disoune, in presence of the Almighty God, the pretendit Declaratione of Warr lately affixed at severall paroch churches in so far as it declares a warr against his sacred Majestie and asserts that it is laufull to kill such as serve his Majestie in church, state, army or countrey, or such as act against the authors of the said pretended declarations now shewne to me. And I doe hereby utterly renunce and disoune the villanous authors thereof who did (as they call it) statut and ordaine the same, and what is therein mentioned, and I swear I shall never assist the authors of the said pretended declarations or ther emissaries or adherents in any poynts of punishing, killing and makeing of warr any manner of way as I shall answear to God.



Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me;

The changes that are sure to come, I do not fear to see:

I ask Thee for a present mind, intent on pleasing Thee.

I would not have the restless will that hurries to and fro,

Seeking for some great thing to do, or secret thing to know;

I would be treated as a child and guided where I go.

I ask Thee for the daily strength, to none that ask denied,

A mind to blend with outward life, while keeping at Thy side,

Content to fill a little space, if Thou be glorified.

In service which Thy will appoints there are no bonds for me;

My secret heart is taught the truth that makes Thy children free;

A life of self-renouncing love is one of liberty.

Anna L. Waring

In the Depths of the Earth

   The old mill house was situated beneath the mossy rocks of a ridge that guarded the stream as it frolicked and laughed it's way through the valley. Water seeped out of the hillside, and dripped continuously down until the earth consumed it again. Hidden by the trees, a yawning entrance to a cave waited expectantly for an adventurous soul to explore it's depths. The grass was lush, ferns abounded, and moss reached with feathery fingers to encircle the trees. If a person had a healthy helping of curiosity they might follow the ruined aqueduct that ran alongside the creek; or, drawn on by the enriching beauty of the shy flowers at their feet, or the song of the water, they would find the origins of this happy little burn. Yet, not the beginnings, for those remain a mystery to me still. There stands an opening to a great cavern, the pool just inside pouring its cool waters into the swimming hole below. Sunlight, no matter how bright, can only penetrate so far. This is where the healthy helping of curiosity must be a hearty one if any were to discover to the full the mysteries that dwell in caves. Lofty corridors and constricting passages led and misled. Stalactites drip, dripped onto the expectant stalagmites, ever growing in silent agreement to a closer union. The bats were furry, and the spiders were large. I cannot inform you of the texture of the spiders, as we didn't pet them. Hidden chambers were guarded by impossible entrances; some perched above sheer waterfalls, others behind narrow, misshapen doorways. Four hours of exploration brought us to a room with terraced pools and a mountain of slippery and shifting rock that glowed as though with moonlight. It was a frightening climb as we were tired, wet and one misstep could have killed. Worn out, broken ropes taunted, as if they could tell of some unfortunate guest's past demise. The light strengthened into daylight and we broke out into the cold sunshine and wind of the world we knew. 

 The impossible "doorway" that I got stuck in.

The hidden entrance

(And what we looked like afterwards. My jeans used to be blue.)

Forget Not Hospitality

"Through the ministry of hospitality, we share our most prized possessions. We share our family, home, finances, food, privacy, and time. Indeed, we share our very lives. So, hospitality is always costly.Through the ministry of hospitality, we provide friendship, acceptance, fellowship, refreshment, comfort, and love in one of the richest and deepest ways possible for humans to understand. Unless we open the doors of our homes to one another, the reality of the local church as a close-knit family of loving brothers and sisters is only a theory."


~ Alexander Strauch, The Hospitality Commands



   Hospitality is an expressly tangible way to show the brotherly love that is paramount in the Christian life. It is a gift to others, a ministry of mercy to the lonely and the lost, and a mainstay that supports the work of the Lord. Furthermore, after the loving service care and raising of ones own children in the ways of the Lord, I can think of no other ministry of greater importance or more fitting for a woman to embrace as her own calling. It not only augments any efforts to reach out to others, but it in turn supplements the training of children, and can bolster and extend the work and effect of the husband's ministry. A virtue of such importance needs to be developed and continually refined.

Heavenly work

Thought it be fraught with frustrations and insurmountable limitations here in this decaying society and sin ridden world, Work is glorious. It was the purpose of God for mankind to work, and done according to His statutes, God promised to bless it, and to give His abundance thereby.  “Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land securely.  The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell in it securely," Lev. 25:18-19.
Over and again I've heard statements and even promises about what heaven will be like, and rarely do they include any work. More often I hear "We'll get to rest as much as we want," "People will just be sitting on clouds, playing harps," "We won't have to do any thing hard" and the like. Our time there (if I can use that turn of phrase about eternity) will not be for our own use, but for the unending glory of God. Just as our works here are to give Him praise, as well as our mouths, and the meditations of our hearts, we will be created afresh to use the gifts He gives without being hampered by sin and selfish ambition; and it will please Him.
Speaking of heaven with no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain Rushdoony wrote:

What work means in those circumstances is beyond our imagination. We can only dimly guess at it. It will be the unfettered application by man of his dominion under God to creation. It will be the unfrustrated and untainted energy of man applied to creation. It will be man's joyful expression of himself, of the form of the image of God within him, in  terms of his own particular calling and nature. Thus, the new creation, contrary to popular myths, will have very few harpists more than it has now; it will have many of us finding our truest calling in a new world.

R.J.Rusdoony; Revolt Against Maturity, p. 303 Thoburn Press 1977

What is our good?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,

 to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,

that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Rom. 8:28-29  

 

    We don't often hear the whole of this beautiful passage. All too often it's left just as a nice garantee that everythings going to be fine. At times, I've found discouragement even here, when I could not find the good that is being brought about-- that some things did not seem to be to my benefit. I think the problem lay in what I considered to be my good. We are told right here what that entails. God is using all the trials, the struggles, yes, even our failures to conform us to the image of His Son, in His love, His holiness, His purity...  "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2) This is His purpose, and He foreordained His children to that purpose. He gave us the assurance that He would work about our sanctification knowing that we of ourselves could never bring that about anymore that we can our own justification. But He will work all things to form us into the image of His Son. This is a promise, and God never fails His promises.

 

He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven,

and among the inhabitants of the earth: and

 none can stay his hand, or say unto him,

What doest thou?

Dan. 4:35

Snow: Curse or Mercy?

I've heard several people say that snow is part of the curse, and at least infer that we should not take a great delight in it. Because winter is something that was not in God's perfectly created world before the curse of sin fell upon it, snow is descendant from the evil that has corrupted that perfection.

But I love snow. I love winter. I love the frost that coats every surface with a wild order and design. I love to catch the flakes as they fall and see their intricacies, and find the different types of snowflakes. The blinding glitter across unbroken fields, the trees waking and shaking off their downy blankets, the soft drifts that provide so much fun for families to enjoy together: how can you simply, and coldly, brush it off as a worthless burden that must be viewed as something to be merely endured until the world is burned and remade into lasting peace.

Perhaps the change of climate that brought us winter did stem from the fall of this world from its wondrous state of untarnished beauty. It probably never snowed in that perfect garden. And that was good. But how merciful of God to temper even the results of so dreadful a curse with such glory. The Father did not leave us and all creation to groan alone under the weight of destruction, but He lifted it, placed it on Himself, and left His fingerprints for us to find.

A Christmas Hymn

Calm on the listening ear of night

Come heaven's melodious strains,

Where wild Judah stretches far

Her silver-mantled plains.

 

Celestial choirs from courts above

Shed sacred glories there;

And angels, with their sparkling lyres,

Make music on the air.

 

The answering hills of Palestine

Send back a glad reply,

And greet from all their holy heights

The Dayspring from on high.

 

O'er the blue depths of Galilee

There comes a holier calm;

And Sharon waves in solemn praise

Her silent groves of palm.

 

"Glory to God" the sounding skies

Loud with their anthems ring;

"Peace on earth-- good-will to men

From Heaven's Eternal King."

 

Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!

The Savior now is born!

More bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains

Breaks the first Christmas morn;

 

And brighter on Moriah's brow,

Crowned with her temple spires,

Which first proclaims the newborn light,

Clothed with its orient fires.

 

This day shall Christian tongues be mute,

And Christian hearts be cold?

O catch the anthems that from heaven

O'er Judah's mountains rolled.

 

When nightly burst from seraph harps

The high and solemn lay,--

"Glory to God; on earth be peace:

Salvation comes today!"
~ E. H. Sears

Little days of Great things

   I wish life were such that I could wake up and do something grand and important tomorrow-- that it were possible to simply step out and fix a problem, create something beautiful, rescue a soul. To wake in the morning and be someone spectacular. But the only worthy things that can be quickly done are the little things, repeated often, day and again, loyally accumulated, until they mature into those great things that can produce changes.

   Where do we find the daily propulsion to accomplish these great-little tasks? In the daily meditation of the law and promises of God!

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want

Proverbs 21:5

My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word
Psalm 119:28

 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 2Peter 3:14

 And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.
Psalm 119:45

Mother, Home, and Heaven

 "It has been said that the sweetest words in our language are 'Mother, Home, and Heaven;' and one might almost say the word 'home' included them all; for who can think of home without remembering the gentle mother who sanctified it by her presence? And is not home the dearest name for heaven? We think of that better land as a home where brightness will never end in night. Oh, then, may our homes on earth be the centers of all our joys; may they be as green spots in the desert, to which we can retire when weary of the cares and perplexities of life, and drink the clear waters of a love which we know to be sincere and always unfailing."

~Saturday Evening Post late 1800's issue

Ciao?

Ciao! You probably know this as a friendly Italian greeting, which it is, but did you know it comes from the Italian word schiavo, meaning "I am your slave"?

We use words every day, but do we really understand what they mean? What about all those clichés (that I can never seam to get right)? They have some interesting histories as well...

Clichés and stereotype share their origin. Back in the days of the printing press, a plate would be cast with several words that were frequently used together. These were called clichés, or stereotypes, and eventually cast their name onto the ready-made phrases or libels.

Chubby doesn't come from any sweet picture of a plump rosy-cheeked cherub, but a type of carp common in England and northern Europe. The portly fish possesses thick round cheeks and the name "chub" that gave us the word.

Neanderthal
The supposed archaic humans got their name from the Neander Valley (the Neander Thal) in Germany. The valley was named after a learned churchman and poet, Joachim C. Neander, whose name was changed from Neuman. So, traced all the way back, Neaderthal means "the man from the valley of the new man [the man of the future]." A far cry from the primitive and brutal man that it means today.

Swallow
There's a Scandinavian tradition that says swallows hovered over the Cross crying Svala! Svala! ( Console! Console!) hence their name Svalw, the bird of consolation.

To hobnob with someone is to be very close friends with them. Comes from hob "give" and nob "take"which derive from anglo-Saxon hab and nab meaning the same. To hobnob involves giving and taking, which has always been the way of good friends.

Nail one's colors to the mast
This expression is from crews on warships often nailed their ships flag to the mast to signify that they would never surrender and would fight to the last man.

Here's for all you Frisbee lovers: The disk is said to be named after the disposible metal pie plates made by the Frisbee Pie Company. Yale students began throwing them around and spawned the well known game.

Hubbub is believed to come from an ancient Irish war cry "abu! abu!" repeated again and again as hordes of warriors ran into battle.

Sabotage essentially is the damage done to machines by wooden shoes, a sabot being a shoe carved out of a singe piece of wood. Apparently the working class protested the coming of mechanical labor, fearing it would deprive them of work. So they would throw their shoes into the machinery in protest. Sabotage is still considered valid by some radical labor unions as a way to insure fair treatment.

Parting shot or Parthian shot
Variations on the phrase: 
Parthinian glance - a very keen backward glance
Firing a Parthinian arrow - getting in the last word in an argument
Some of these phrases were new to me, but we've all heard of a "parting shot". Well, the Parthian soldiers were famed as deadly mounted archers. These mail-clad horsemen would ride furiously to the attack, pour a shower of arrows on their enemies and then evade any closer action by rapid flight, withdrawing according to plan and firing their shafts backwards from thir horses while galloping away. Such tactics made Partia, located in what is now northwest Iran, a world power that even defeated the Romans under Mark Antony when he attempted to invade their country in 36 B.C. 

His Love here

Parents have so much that they give. Love, wisdom, protection, time, guidance, opportunities, care, teaching, provision... they will talk about what ever is on your mind, at just about any time of the day or night, caring about what you say. They discuss things, willing to address your concerns and answer your questions... They'll laugh with you, cry with you, teach you things you never could have dreamt of, and say they're still learning too, deserve honor, and yet still show you respect, love you when you're unlovable, hold you and then, let you go.

Could God have given us a greater blessing than to promise us that He would never leave us, and give us parents so we wouldn't forget?

God's sovereignty: over more than caucuses

We attended our caucus tonight, and as we sat waiting to begin, I was wishing you could tell who was truly conservative just by looking at people. I admit, I was feeling pretty timid when my dad and I arrived. I saw one family that I was pretty sure would be voting, if not for the same candidate, for the same principles. Two more families I knew came, but among the 82 people present, I wasn't sure how much of a voice righteousness had.

The caucus was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a prayer. A prayer that surprised me. Not some brag session of America, nor a little ceremony. But a prayer, to a God who gave us our freedom, who has "divine guidance" over every thing that happens here, who's blessing is something to be sought after. And, it was prayed "in Jesus's Name". It's been a long time since I've heard a humble, God-fearing prayer offered in a "secular" event.

God's blessing was on the evening, over everything that happened. From people choosing a conservative presidential candidate, to the passage of Godly resolutions, to not sending the 2 pro-choice women as delegates.

And His Divine care extended to both before we set out, and our ride home... As I was preparing our dinners to go, Dad asked me to switch Tupperware from the tall yogurt containers to something wider. I picked out some sturdy squares and thought nothing more about it... As I was driving home I slid in the drifting snow, and ran into the 3-4 ft. snow-wall on the side, and stuck fast. Rocking the car, backing, gunning; nothing helped. I offered to start digging, and Dad asked me what I was going to use... Yup! My Rubbermaid containers. It worked beautifully! We were out and on our way home in 10 minutes. And just to prove how tender is His care-- I was wearing my wool socks with my tennis shoes because I didn't remember to switch them out for a thinner pair. I don't remember ever wearing woollies with my sneakers before. "His mercies are from everlasting to everlasting"

So while I can't say what God has planned for America in this upcoming election, I know I can rest in complete faith, confident that He is in complete control of every factor of this race.

My God doeth all things well

Venomous words, how deeply do they bite...

And the poison is not withdrawn when the sound of them fades away.

Why do we turn our toungs on those we profess to love, saying things we would not dare say to a stranger? Why is it that spouses, parents, and siblings have to bear negligence, disdain, accusations, harsh rebukes and other such things that we would never abuse a friend with?

Are we taking advantage of their good will? "They will love me no matter what, so no matter what I say, they'll get over it"?? Why d0 we despise their love? We trample over what is the strongest of human feelings ever given to us by our Creator, as if it were a child's plaything, to be picked up and enjoyed or cast aside at a whim.

A beautiful passage from the Bible from paints a true and awful picture of what love is like, how strong it is, and tells it's worth.

Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm:
for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave:
the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it:
if a man would give all the substance of his house for love
it would utterly be contemned.

Read Away!

As far as material things go, there's not much better than good books. They can carry so much more than a good story. They can plant seeds in the hearts of those who pursue them, lift up a broken spirit, inspire and strengthen weakened courage, mold a soul for eternity. They can hold a treasury of truth.
For some time now I've been looking for good books and building my list (and library). And I'm hoping to attack that list with vim and vigor... and hopefully more method than before. As in not reading the middle first, the beginning to the end second, and the preface last. Since I've already confirmed that these are indeed good reads, I don't have that excuse anymore.
So. Starting tomorrow, November first, I am going to read as many of these books as I can in a year. This is not my complete "to read" list, I haven't made one of those, but this is of the books that are unpacked.

Here goes!


Confessions of St Augustine
The Rare jewel of Christian Contentment
The Art of Divine Contentment
Politics of Guilt and Pity
Politically Correct Death
Thoughts for Young Men

The Search for the Twelve Apostles
Kon Tiki
Bravest of the Brave
Endurance
The Slave's Champion
Sacred Fire
A Scottish Christian Heritage
Back to the Jerusalem of the East
North of the DMZ
Through Gates of Splendor

Holy War
The Singer
The Song
The Finale
A Symphony in Sand
A Requiem for Love
An Overture of Light
Men of Iron

Shallow Heart

I like to think of my self as unselfish. That I am generous, and that I will put others needs first before my own. But when I look at my life as though it were someone else's, I can't make myself see it that way. It's just too much of a stretch. I have taken the smallest measure of selflessness and became over-satisfied. I might serve other people their food first, or give them the more desirable portions, but I don't really care what or when I eat. So that might be called nice, but it couldn't be considered anything more. I didn't put them before me. I gave what I did not miss.
But in the rest of my live I become cross when what I want or consider mine is delayed when I can't go on the run I had planed, or when helping someone makes me not finish the work I thought important.

But the fountain of Joy I desire is elusive. It cannot be gained by pursuing it. MY desire for ME to have joy must be set aside, and I must Give joy.

"For it is more blessed to Give than to receive."

I want it...

But is it worth it? I want to be more careful about where I use my money. I like to spend it on fun things (especially if they are low cost) but I've been thinking a lot about how much excess I have. I have more clothes than I can fit in my room, and some families don't have enough to clothe their children. I can snack whenever I want, hungry or not, and some brothers and sisters don't know if they will be able to feed their families. I have entertainment at my fingertips, and some are fleeing for their very lives. I have more books than I will be able to read in several years, and some Christians have never even seen a Bible, much less owned one.

Maybe if we, who live in abundance, were to put aside the money we wanted to spend on ourselves, we could use it to relieve MUCH of the suffering of our fellow saints. Who knows? If all Christian kids didn't buy ice cream for a year, would we have saved enough money to provide a country with Bibles? If we girls just used the clothes we have until they REALLY need replaced, could we clothe the naked children?

If we Seek First God's kingdom, How much could His kingdom grow on this earth??

P.S.
I looked up how much money America spent on ice cream per year... roughly $2,400,000,000