The Value of God’s Word Through the Centuries

Here is a rare and amazing photo of my great-great grandparents R.J. Bugbee and Mary Bugbee (seated) and my great grandpa Mark Bugbee (with the dark beard) and his siblings taken about 1880. Our eleven year old grandson Billy found this photo as he researched our family tree online. Two people in this photo I recall my mother speaking of many times. The first being Mark Bugbee who was a dear Christian man and greatly loved by my mother. In my living room I have two mission style chairs that belonged to him. Also a familiar name from this picture is Jay Bugbee (standing second from the right.) Despite being born with club hands and feet, he went on to be a professor of penmanship at a college in California. Can you imagine the hard work such an accomplishment would require?

I have a great fascination with the lives of people who lived 100, 150, or more years in the past. Although their daily lives looked very different from ours, two things have remained constant since the beginning of time. The need for happy relationships between family members as each has a loving concern for everyone else has always been the building block for well lived lives. However, rarely does this happen without the second essential; lives that love and honor God out of great thankfulness for His great gift of eternal life. From all that my mother told me about my great grandpa and grandma, these two essentials lived in their lives.

I am blessed to have my great grandma’s Bible and as I have looked through it, here are some wonderful verses she marked as dear to her over 100 years ago. On December 3, 1899 she marked this: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice; And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:30-32 On March 26, 1899 she marked: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8

The Bible has brought good news for thousands of years to those who read it and believe it.

New Lights for a Dark World

Two sweet babies joined our thankful and delighted family during the past 3 weeks. Freya Evenstar Suko arrived June 16th and Cosette Ivanna Whitaker Suko joined her family in Chile on July 4th.

What a world these little girls have entered where quarantines and face masks abound, along with protests and frequent lawlessness. Should we be worried for this fresh little generation? Absolutely not. What amazing opportunities lie in the future for these little ones to become bright lights for God in our dark world. Ever since Adam and Eve chose to do as they pleased and disobey God, our world has been a dangerous place. And nothing has ever lessened that peril except the presence of God in the souls of people.

Our daily prayer for our children, their spouses, their children, and their grandchildren should be concerning the condition of their souls. We were made to have a beautiful relationship with God that results in a flourishing of the inner person. Too often the emphasis has been misplaced to physical safety, happiness, and a successful life; what a twisting and cheating of the amazing life God calls us to.

When I was a teenager in the early 1960’s I heard a conversation with a young Christian couple who were just about to be married. They hesitated to make plans to have any children after their marriage because they just didn’t want “to bring children into such a terrible world.” For Christian people such thinking is wrong. The world needs more light, not less. No worries, just trusting God and everything He has to say about life.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

Do not forget that Discovery Baptist Church will be meeting at Harborview Fellowship at 4819 Hunt St., Gig Harbor starting this coming Sunday at 2:30 in the afternoon. Please bring a chair along in case we are meeting outside. No children’s programs this week, but, starting on the 19th we should having everything rolling again.

If you missed the exciting Groundbreaking last Sunday morning, here is a link for you to watch. https://livestream.com/discoverybaptistgigharbor/events/9195663

A Peaceful Soul This Summer

As you can tell from the photos, happiness abounded last Thursday morning here at the Suko’s. As the children enjoyed scampering about our fun tree house, the ladies visited and lunched together. A dear friend of our family even drove up from Portland for the day to be part of our time of in-person fellowship (thank you Gina.) What a perfect day for the finale of our Ladies Bible Study for the summer.

During the next few months many opportunities will present themselves for us to worry, or trust our wonderful God and experience peace and calm in our souls. The better we know Him, the more we will trust Him. So, let’s make a point to spend unhurried time reading His word and talking to Him throughout this summer—what a difference that will make in our response to life.

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

I’m so thankful to have the cast removed from my wrist. Now I am working on getting the swelling down and movement restored. Praise to God!!