Proverbs 3 (résumé): Further benefits of wisdom

The well-known chapter 3 of Proverbs is a father to son guide on how to live a life pleasing to God full of his wisdom. Wise living, says Solomon, comes when you "trust in the Lord with all your heart". If you fear the Lord and shun evil "this will bring health to your body". Another key to living in God's blessing is to "honour the Lord with your wealth" and understand that divine discipline is in fact a demonstration of God's love. Solomon then goes on to say that wisdom is invaluable and worth more than silver, gold or rubies, and it helps you live longer with riches and honour, and helps you sleep sweetly. He says that a wise man is generous, living in integrity and peace. He concludes his fatherly advice showing that God blesses the home of the righteous but curses the house of the wicked.

Resurrection Sunday Service

 After our fellowship breakfast and morning service singing 'Up from the grave he arose' we had a wonderful communion service last night which I led and at which Pastor Rafael preached on the resurrection which shows: God is not dead, God's Word is not dead, Our Hope is not dead! (Luke 24:1-12). It was an excellent message. Our drama group did a 10-minute presentation about the resurrected Lord which was good too. The praise and worship led by Sacha and Louisa was great as well. Jesus is alive! 🙌🙏😀

It rained 6 mm at Green Pastures yesterday bringing this year's total rainfall to 548.6 mm.

Proverbs 2 (résumé): Moral benefits of wisdom

Proverbs 2 starts with a father challenging his son to seek wisdom above all else so that you "find the knowledge of God." Solomon then states that wisdom, knowledge and understanding are God-given, and that God guarantees victory for the upright in heart, and God "is a shield to those whose walk is blameless." Solomon then says that when wisdom enters your heart it provides protection against "the ways of wicked men... and from men whose words are perverse." It will also protect you from the adulteress and the wayward wife. So Solomon concludes that "the upright will live in the land" whereas "the wicked will be cut off from the land". 

Another book

Yesterday I finished reading another book, given to me by granddaughter Louisa a long time ago. It was 'The Murder Game' by Tom Hindle. It was alright and had some good twists, but two-thirds through it was a bit boring.

Yesterday I gave a lift back into Patos from Green Pastures to our grandson and architect Felipe and his partner of the same profession Vivi. What a lovely couple they are and what excellent architects they are. We had a lovely chat along the way.

We have just got home from our Easter Sunday fellowship breakfast followed by a short service which I led and spoke at. It was a lovely morning.

Caatinga Cacholotes

To listen to a duet of the rust-red Caatinga Cacholotes was a beautiful thing this morning. The couples sing rounds together. They are crested and long-tailed about the size of a Blackbird or just a bit bigger. Another sound wonderful to hear is that of the White-naped Jay cornering a snake. A group of Jays gather round the snake with all of them, squawking their alarm call, which can be heard far away. I have photographed many a snake thanks to the Jays! I also heard today the Rufous-bellied Thrush, Cactus Parakeet, Guira Cuckoo, Smooth-billed Ani, Greater Ani, Dark-billed Cuckoo and the Campo Troupial. I also saw a wild Guinea Pig.

QPR moved up to 10th place in the Championship with a 2 x 1 win at home to Watford which is their third win on the run! 😃

Yesterday I finished reading my book 'The Bloomsbury Murder' by Mike Hollow which my sister sent me in January for my birthday. It was an excellent read! I have known Mike since he was with us in Brazil with Tearfund back in the nineties and he is the top writer of the 'Blitz Detective' series of which I have read all 10 books and which I highly recommend. Mike speaks Russian and French (Cambridge University), but writes in English, and used to work for the BBC before Tearfund.

Singing in the rain!

We are on our short Easter break at Green Pastures and it was wonderful yesterday afternoon having a siesta in the middle of torrential rain with tremendous thunder and lightening.

Yesterday it rained 28 mm at Green Pastures so things are gradually improving.

I had a relaxing day yesterday beating my granddaughter Louisa's husband Tiago at chess twice and reading 'The Bloomsbury Murder' by Mike Hollow which I should finish today.

This Good Friday is our 59th anniversary of Liz and I going out together! 😘😍

Praise the Lord!

Yesterday I again did without my siesta, as I did on Monday, so as to make further progress with my résumé of the Bible, and I managed to complete the big book of Psalms. This means I have finished 53% of the Bible which are the first 19 books of the Old Testament covering 628 chapters out of a total of 1,189 in the protestant Bible. I am very pleased with the speed I am maintaining with this work which started on the 23rd of September 2024. Hence I did the first half of the Bible in a year and a half on top of everything else I have on. If I can keep up this pace I should be able to complete the whole Bible by the end of next year. All this work is being published on the EAB website to be readily available for all our pastors and anyone else interested.

We will be having a short Easter break over the next few days as we do every year. We value your prayers. 😎

Yesterday it rained 26 mm at Green Pastures taking this year's total rainfall up to 511.6 mm.