Poems by my Greatgrandfather, W.W. Embree

Be Not Dismayed
By W.W. Embree

Be not dismayed, for I will guide you,
In the way that you must go—
I will never leave or forsake you
While you’re walking here below.
Be not dismayed, that trials beset you,
They must come to one and all;
But if you cast your care upon me,
I will never let you fall.

Be not dismayed, though friends forsake you—
This you know they did to me,
But in spite of all that did it,
I went on to Calvary’s tree.
Be not dismayed, for I have paid the ransom—
Redeemed your soul from sin and shame,
That you might have that blessed knowledge;
That you, in me, shall live again.

Be not dismayed, for I am with you—
To see that you shall never fall,
For I bought you with my life’s blood,
And now be ready for the call.
Be not dismayed, the trumpet’s sounding—
To call the dead from out their graves;
And the living shall come with them
In the clouds they shall be raised.

Be not dismayed, oh glorious morning—
When I shall receive my own,
And present them, to the Father;
Hear them sing around the throne.
There, always to be with me—
Never more from me to part,
Always to rejoice and praise me,
There to always cheer my heart.



Be Not Troubled
W.W Embree

Let not your heart be troubled,
For I must now go home—
But very soon you shall see me
Sitting upon my throne.
I go to prepare a place for you—
Where you shall ever be,
And where the joy that overflows—
Is like a mighty sea.

I know your hearts are troubled now,
But yet, you’ll have to stay,
But I will send the comforter—
To lead you on the way.
Just watch and pray and do your best—
For me and men below
For I shall soon be coming back,
And then you all shall know:

Just why I went to the Father
To present before the throne—
My blood as the atonement—
That you might be coming home.
Home with God the Father,
And Jesus Christ His Son—
There to ever love and serve Him,
And there to be made one.



DUTY
by W.W. Embree

If you cannot be the watchman,
Standing on Mt Zion’s hill,
You can in the lover valley
Always do the Master’s will.
As you speak to those about you—
Pointing them to realms above,
You may feel your heart is burning
With His eternal love.

Love that sent our Lord to sacrifice,
His life on Calvary’s tree.
There he paid the debt we owed to God,
He died to make us free.
Free from sin and free from sorrow,
Free from pain and free from care,
That in that eternal glory,
We may in His glory share.


Faith in God
by W.W. Embree

If you have not the Faith of Peter
Walking on the angry waves,
You can tell the world around you—
That our Jesus came to save.
Save us from sin and folly,
That besets on every hand—
And when life’s work is ended,
We shall see the promised land.

There to see that blissful morning—
Wrought for those redeemed from Earth—
There to have an understanding
What is meant by second birth.
So we’ll keep our lamps all burning,
Filled with oil and power and love,
When the call comes from the Father—
We’ll be taken up above.

There to always be with Jesus,
Never more to go astray—
There to feast our souls upon Him—
There to see the Perfect Day.
There to listen to the angels,
As they sing around the throne—
There to satisfy our longing,
In that bright eternal HOME.


God’s Promise of Care
(see Psalm 37)
by W.W. Embree

Fret not thyself, because of evil—
For you will find it on every hand,
But I am with you to protect you—
Till you reach the promised land.
Trust in the Lord, and walk before Him—
Lay every burden at his feet,
Do not trust to self for strength,
Nor to the friends that you shall meet.

Delight thyself, in God your savour,
And always try to do His will;
Remember that He ever loves you—
And will speak the words “Be still.”
Commit thy way unto the Lord,
And He will surely bring to pass;
The great desire that fills your heart—
You’ll never need to say alas.

Rest in his grace, and wait on Him—
For He will always faithful be,
He never will forget a friend—
That’s why He went to Calvary.
There to redeem poor sinful man—
And teach him what is best to do—
That in the end he may find peace,
And have a home in Heaven too.


Hard to See
by W.W. Embree

‘Tis hard for sinful man to know
Why it is God loved them so,
And harder still for them to see,
Why Jesus should go to Calvary.

To that cruel cross on high,
There to suffer and to die.
Shed his blood and bore their sin;
That sinful man might live again.

There he took the sinner’s place,
And took the curse from the human race.
All this is hard for man to see,
Why Jesus dying on the tree,
Could satisfy and make him free.

But when they are born again from above,
They then are filled with God’s love,
Love that makes them see and know,
Why it is God loves them so.


Humbleness
W.W. Embree

If you cannot preach like St Paul,
Who the nobles gladly heard,
You can always preach like Jesus—
You can always preach the word.
Preach the word to those about you,
Never falter, never fear;
For we know that God will help you,
And will bring you good cheer.
Fill your life with loaves and fishes,
Feed the hungry, help the poor;
And you’ll find a welcome awaits you,
At every humble door.

Gather treasures for the Heavens;
Seek to know and do God’s will,
Then when Christ shall call to bless you,
He will say, “Oh peace be still.”
Peace be still—Oh wondrous blessing,
From the Father and the Son,
And at last when life is ended;
You will hear the Voice: “Well done.”
“Well done, good and faithful servant,
Enter into joys unknown,
For I’ve come to take you with me,
Into that eternal home.”



I Do Not Know

I do not know why I should grow,
And understand God’s will—
And while I wait and meditate—
My heart is saying, “Peace, be still.”

I do not know why I should seek
To know thy will,
Or why I long to be like thee;
But when the clouds are cleared away,
And I shall enter into thy day,
I then shall know.

He knows, He bids me take my cross
And follow Him—
Forsaking self, and those I love,
That I may have a home above with Him.
And while I do not understand;
But if he leads me by the hand,
I then shall know.

He knows the way I take, and when
I’ve borne my cross,
Through this dark night, and planted
It on Calvary’s height;
I then shall see the blessed light,
And be like Him, and know as I am known.




I Love Thy Word
By W.W. Embree

Lord I know that thou dost love me,
For you have proven that to me;
By the sending down of Jesus,
For to die on calvary.

In my helpless, lost condition,
Thou didst mercy to me give;
By the death of my dear savior,
Through His death that I might live.



I Love thy Word (2)
by W.W. Embree

Lord, I love thy word and ways,
Keep me in these darkening days;
Keep my lamp all shining bright,
Lest I stumble in the night.

Lead me to that fountain deep,
Safely fold me with thy sheep.
Lord, I want that thou shall be,
All and more than life to me.

So I bring myself to thee,
Soul and body yhine to be,
Teach me Lord, that I may see,
All that thou would have me to be.


Lord, Teach Us
by W.W. Embree

Lord, teach us how to pray,
That we may always do our best,
Lord, keep us ever at thy side,
And lead us into perfect rest.

Teach us Lord, to know thy will,
That we may ever faithful be—
Lord, lead us to understand, just why
You died to make men free.

Lord teach us, to ever see—
The way in which we here below,
Must travel while we are here,
For we are weak, that thou doest know.

Teach us Lord, to know thy word,
And use us in thy glorious way—
That we may more than conquers be,
And brought into that perfect day.

Fill us with power to overcome,
And lead us in the way that’s best—
That more than victors we may be,
That we may stand through every test.

Teach us Lord to humble be
And fill our hearts with love,
That we may always ready be
To come to you above.


Meditation
by W.W. Embree

As I looked upon the mountains,
Dressed in white and gold, and bleak—
Then I listened for my Savior
For I knew that he would speak.
Speak to cheer the lonely prospect,
And make me look beyond
To that hope that’s set before me,
When the winter days are gone.

How it fills my heart with wonder
As I gaze upon the view,
As I see the power and wisdom
That was given Him to do.
When I think that in the future,
those great hills must pass away,
And in the mind and purpose,
Shall bring in the new day.

A day of joy and gladness—
For there will be no sin
For in the mind of Jesus,
New things shall then begin.
A new place for his people,
Who loved and served him well—
Where cold and storm can’t reach them,
For in it they shall dwell.

How steep the path and cold the way,
That we have traveled in;
But soon we’ll be rejoicing
Because there will be no sin.
Then we shall reign with Jesus,
No Devil to molest
There we may serve our Jesus,
And give to Him our best.


My Walk with Jesus
by W.W. Embree

I went through the valley of Baca,
I stood on Mt Carmel’s height—
I heard there the voice of my Savior,
As he called me as out of the night.
I heard his blessed voice as I wandered—
Through the valley of sorrow and tears,
I heard him speak peace to the billows,
I heard Him say, “Child, do not fear.”

I walked then with Jesus my savior—
I heard Him speak peace to my soul,
As He bade me march on in the battle,
Till I reached that Heavenly goal.
I heard His command, “Go Ye ever
And seek out the lost of my sheep,
They are helpless to find the way homeward,
Though the way will be rugged and steep.”

“Yet, with all the care and the sorrow—
Remember, I have traveled the way:
So gird on thy sword and be marching,
And I will lead in the way.
The way that will lead you to victory--
If you’ll follow in my command,
For I will never leave nor forsake you;
But will always hold onto your hand.”


Puzzled
by W.W. Embree

I am puzzled and I am worried,
And I don’t know what to say,
But I’ll keep on in dead earnest
Till the closing of the day.

Then at evening by the fireside,
In the quiet of the night,
I will do my best to study what is
Best for me and right.

In the Book of Books I study—
As I walk the pilgrim way,
And I know that God will teach me,
What I ought to do and say.

For he knows just what is best,
And will lead me in this vale,
Till I reach that place in heaven,
At the ending of the trail.

So, I’ve just surrendered to Him,
And obey Him all the way,
And I know I shall be with Him—
In that blissful, endless day.


Quandary
by W.W. Embree

I sometimes wonder, and it seems to me—
That perhaps the Lord has placed us,
Where he wanted us to be;
Yet, it is hard to understand—
Just what is His way and will;
But if we do our best
We will hear Him say “Be still.”

Be still, the hardest thing
That man ever tried to do,
Yet, if we cast our care upon him—
He will take you through.
Through to victory and to joy—
In His will and way,
And when at last the journey’s ended—
We shall see the perfect day.

Yet, sometimes we fret and worry,
And we think we ought to be—
Brought into the larger fields,
In this mighty rolling sea.
But then we know that God Father,
Always knows what is best,
So we yield to Him our all,
And will see His perfect rest.







Poem to baby Mercy Onida Morris
by W.W. Embree

Dear Mercy Onida, thou dear child of God,
How I hope that you ever will be—
True and faithful to God as you walk,
Through this broad open sea.

May you ever grow stronger,
And be true to God—
Be a credit to the name tat you bear,
And be a true witness while walking the sod
And ready the burdens to bear.
That when the call comes—
To return home to God
Many sheaves of fine wheat you may bring,
As a proof of your life’s work
While walking below
and hearing the angels sing.


This poem was written and dedicated to Little Mercy Onida Morris, infant daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Morris of Enterprise Oregon.



Story of Jesus
by W.W. Embree

I stood upon Mount Olive,
And my gaze did reach afar—
There I heard the cry of the wise men—
Have you seen the kingly star?

I followed it to Bethlehem—
As the wise men oft have said,
There we found the little Christ Child--
Cradled in a lowly manger bed.

I went with Him to Egypt—
Where He tarried for a while,
Till the Lord could deal with Herod,
Who would slay the little child.

Then God spake again to Joseph,
And bid him to come home
For they that would do harm to him,
Was not upon the throne.

I saw Him at Jerusalem
With the wise men of that day,
I hear Him ask, and answer
Their questions without delay.

I saw him as He walked
on the shores of Galilee,
I heard Him as he called to Peter,
Leave your nets and follow Me.

I went with him to Cana—
Where He made the water wine,
I marveled at His wondrous power,
And the beauty of His mind.


I saw Him heal the leper—
I saw Him raise the dead,
I heard him tell the Pharisses,
“I AM THE LIVING BREAD.”

I saw Him feed the multitude,
And cause the blind to see,
I heard him preach repentance,
And I knew that that meant me.

I saw Him in the judgment hall—
Where the Jews dared not to be,
I heard them cry to crucify
When Pilot would set Him free.

I saw Him on the cruel cross—
The day was black as night,
I heard him cry “My God! My God!”
Then His soul would take its flight.

I saw Him placed within the tomb:
My heart was sad with pain,
Yet I knew that he had promised,
That he would raise again.

So on that third day morning—
According as He said,
The angel rolled away the stone,
And He rose from the dead.

Again He walked in Galilee,
Instructing those He loved—
That they might carry on the work
When He went home above.

I heard him tell the apostles,
To preach Him far and wide,
And tell to lost humanity
A savior lived and died.
He died that man might live—
He took the curse away,
And now all all who will accept Him,
Shall see His perfect day.

He then arose to Heaven
While the apostles steady gazed,
There to become their High Priest,
Till the closing of the days.

Now, we are looking for Him,
To come to get His bride,
And this will end our pilgrimages
We’ll be ever at His side.


Take Up Thy Cross
by W.W. Embree

Take up thy cross for you must travel,
In the vale of sin and shame;
Till I call you from the valley,
In His holy, precious name.

Take up thy cross, I have gone before you,
Marked the way with Blood I shed,
Then I went to Calvary’s mountain;
And gave my life as Living Bread.

Take up thy cross, and be not faithless;
I will take you all the way,
When at last the journey’s ended,
You shall see the perfect day.

Take up thy cross, and raise the banner;
That the world may know and see,
Preach the word, and tell the sinner,
Jesus died to make men free.

Take up thy cross, the Master calls you,
Do not wait another day,
Let Him lead and guide your footsteps,
In the dark and dreary day.

“Take up thy cross, Oh, weary pilgrim;
Do not falter you can’t fail,
For I am with you, to protect you,
Till you pass within the veil.”


Your Duty is Always Near
by W. W. Embree

If you cannot be the Admiral sailing
With the conquering fleet,
You can always on the shore land
Lend a hand to those you meet.
You can help the poor and needy,
You can speak a word of cheer—
You can tell them how God loves them,
And for them does always care.

You can always find your duty,
As you pass along the vale—
Helping those who need the helping,
To find the better trail.
The trail that leads to heaven,
With the Father and the Son—
Where a welcome always awaits you,
And you’ll hear the voice well done.

So you see my weary pilgrim friend;
That rewards are not to be,
Just to those who climb the mountain steep,
Or sail the boundless sea,
But to those who in the toils of life,
Have faithful to Him stood--
Were you faithful to the trust I gave you,
Did you do the best you could.

A sermon by William Warren Embree, my Greatgrandfather

Sermon on DUTY
by Willam Warren Embree

“Fear God and keep His commandments
for this is the whole duty of man.” Ec 12:13

I wish in this short article to just speak on one word of my text: DUTY. It is a small word but carries great responsibility for every one in this life. Solomon, the wise king, after looking at everything from every angel, and trying everything under the sun: seeking to find if there was anything that would bring to mankind perfect peace and happiness, had at last to sum up the total of all his research with my text. “Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Jesus, in talking to His disciples, placed duty as the greatest achievement of his followers, by telling them; “So likewise, when ye shall have done all these things, which are commanded you, say we are unprofitable servants: we have done only that which was our duty.” In this text Jesus, places the emphases on, “All things which are commanded you.” And when they had done all, the full, then and then only had they done their full duty; with no place for boasting. From these texts we must find what God calls duty. We must know what He has commanded us to do and then in harmony with written word begin to carry out the plan of God, for us revealed in his word.
Duty, reaches into every step that we take in this life. Responsibility rests upon us, that we may not shirk nor side-step without great harm to ourselves, and to not only to ourselves, but to those whom we love. Our duty to God stands first at all times, and if we are faithful in this line of duty; it will not be hard to be faithful in the other duties that will come to us. We are to love God with all our hearts, and keep his commandments.
Then you may raise the question, “What are His commandments?” In St John 15:12, He said, “A new commandment I give you, that ye love one another as I have loved you.” This covered all other commandments that he had given. Then in order to do our duty to God, we must also do our duty to the people of God by loving them as Christ loved us.
That we should be willing if need be to lay down our life for the brethren. We will help them in time of need, and speak words of love and comfort to the broken hearted, uphold the weak and teach them to be strong in the faith and love of God. Then he said; “Love your enemies; do good to them that hate you.” Here Jesus clearly told us what our duty was to this class of people. Can you do it? Yes, by the grace of God we can, if we have brought our lives up to the first duty: “To love God and keep his commandments.” For this is one of them. When we obey the first, the second comes just as easy.
Then comes our duty to the lost world. When Jesus commanded, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” you will say “Impossible! I can’t do this.” No, you may not be able to contact everyone, but you can give of your substance to help someone who can go. Then you may share their reward. Your duty will be to speak to those about you, and tell them the story of Jesus and salvation. That He died for their sins, and that it was love that made Him do it.
Then there is the duty of husbands and wives. This is a sacred duty, and one which God will hold us responsible for if we fail. Let’s examine Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, fifth chapter; we are commanded, “Husbands love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it. Wives be subject to your husbands in all things.” Then he closes the chapter by saying, “Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
How different the homes would be if men and women would do their duty in the home, toward each other. If it was so, there would be no broken homes, nor children deprived of the care of parents. In all ages the man has been the bread winner, and the woman the home builder. This is God’s plan for them, but in these days of Modernism, we find so many cases that women get a distorted view of their calling—and in many cases they will leave their children and husband to do the best they can, while she goes galloping over the country preaching the gospel that she is in direct violation of; even at times divorcing her husband if he objects to her leaving her home and children.
Motherhood is the most sacred duty that ever come to a woman; and God never has, nor never will call a mother from her duty of home building to preach, nor for any other purpose. In the 1 Cor. 7:10; “And unto the married I command yet, not I, but the Lord, let not the wife depart from her husband: but if she depart let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife.” In the face of these facts, what can the professed Christian that has committed this crime, base their hope upon? Let us get on scriptural grounds and then we will see again the power of God in our midst. Let us declare the whole council of God, as we see the day approaching.
No wonder that God does not bless us as in the early church. It is not because God has changed, but because of unscriptural teaching and living by professed Christian people.
In conclusion, let me say to you my friend; God will not judge us for what we could not do, but the judgment will be, did you do what you could? Did you do your duty to God? to man? to the church? and in the home? Happy is the man or woman that can say “Yes,” from an honest heart to these questions; and I am sure that they will hear that “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joys of life.
God grant that we may get on scriptural grounds so that we may claim the promises of God: and see the sick healed, sinners saved, and God glorified.
Jesus is coming soon, how will it be with you? Let us search our hearts, and try our ways and see. Let us turn again unto the Lord. Let us seek Him with all our hearts, and obey His word, and then we shall know that we are in His will, and that He is glorified in us.
May God help all who read this.

By W.W. Embree, Boring Oregon

Autobiography of my Greatgrandfather Embree

I transcribed my Greatgrandfather's autobiography and I am sharing it here because I think it is interesting. I hope my siblings and nieces and nephews will enjoy reading it.

Family tree:

Great Grandfather William Warren Embree
Married to Elizabeth Jane Carlisle
William had several siblings.
Father of Iris Ethel and Grace Ellen
Iris married Abe Flaming
Grandfather of Paul, Ted and Anna Flaming
Grace married Charles Grace; the adopted 2 children.
Great Grandfather of Rebecca, Victor, Roger, David and Rhonda, as well as their cousins: PJ, May Jean and Gary, ... (I forgot their names)
Great Great Grandfather of Nathan, Amanda, Lori, Nicholas, Elissa, and the various grandchildren and great grand children of Anna (Flaming) Wood...

Preface to the autobiography, sermon and poems of William Warren Embree

The preface to this writing is to leave an account in a small way of my life to my daughters, and to show that if there is a determination in the heart that one can do even great things. No one ever worked under greater handicap than I have: left alone at a very tender age, with no one to guide or encourage; yet, I learned two good trades and got a good education and in a manner that very few would have ever undertaken. I do not wish or say this to brag but I know that if one will set their heart on anything, with God’s help and confidence in one’s self that there is nothing that will keep him from doing what he wills to do.
Had I centered my mind on wealth I believe that I would or could have been a very rich man. But wealth never did appeal to me, perhaps because I was always poor and did not miss what wealth could mean to one. Yet it is not the wealthy that have done the great things of the world, nor is wealth always to the smartest men. Many of our best men in America have been very poor and with very little chance from a money standpoint but who gained the respect and love of the nation. The greatest thing that I ever did was when I gave my heart to God. All else that I have done in this life will soon be forgotten, but this never for God never forgets. These seventeen years of service to God are the best years of my life.
These poems are dedicated to my two daughters Iris and Grace. May God bless you.
From your father, W.W. Embree.

Autobiography of William Warren Embree (1868-19..)

In a little old log-cabin in Adams County, Illinois on a Saturday morning, Nov. 28, 1868, the writer of this article saw the light of day for the first time; and while I was the honored guest of that home. Still I am wholly dependent on others for the account of my birth; but I was like all others of my kind, I soon grew and in a short time began to take an interest in my surroundings.
When I was four years old, father one day announced his intention of emigrating (migrating) to Kansas. I was very happy for by this time the wanderlust was well developed in me for a boy of four years. Well do I remember the day that we should start. The wagon was covered and all was loaded in and off we set for the far west. We crossed the Mississippi River at Quincy and headed westward for Kansas. The trip was a hard one on all of us and especially on mother as she had had a baby just one month old the day we started. Many were the hardships that came to us on the road, but we finally landed in Allen Co., Kansas on April 1st, 1873. We stayed a short time with my uncle, and then went farther out where homestead land was more plentiful. Bad luck seems to have been with us for the first year; we lost our crop with drought, and one of our horses died. Father traded the other horse for a yoke of oxen so we were able to farm the next year. This was year to be remembered by all that passed through it. It is known as the grasshopper year. Truly it was well named. I remember very clearly, although I was only six years old, but it was something never to be forgotten by those who saw it. They (grasshoppers) came in great clouds, and when they settled on the ground they just covered it. In three days time there was nothing left that was green. Even the leaves were all eaten from the trees. Stock starved for lack of grass and not a stock of corn was left. What little we had when we came was gone and father was left to hunt and trap for a living.
In the spring of 1876 we went to Missouri as mother’s father and mother lived there. So we landed in Kirkville, Missouri without a dollar. It was hard sledding for Father, as he had so many little ones to feed and wages were very low.
We soon moved out in the country and cut cord wood for fifty cents a cord, and worked at whatever mink, coons and skunks, as well as most men. Also, Father would give to me his rifle when he sent me into the woods alone. When I was nine years old I fell from a horse and broke my hip, which always gave me much pain, as it was never set.
At eleven years old, when my father died I was thrown out into the world to sink or swim. I will not try to describe to you what I suffered the first few years that I was working out. Up to the time that Father died I had not be in school as I was not strong, and now there was very little chance for me for I must work to supply food for Mother and the younger children.
When I was fifteen years old I went to school for three months, and that was the last school I ever attended, in all I think that I went about nine months. I was a good reader and got the four fundamental rules of arithmetic; that was all that i knew from books.
I then went to work in a small mill and worked there for two years, and there I learned a little about engines. Then, when I was eighteen, I decided to try the West again. To decide with me was to act. So I began to make plans to go. I did not at this time have a dollar. I was cutting wood for .50 per cord to supply food for mother and my two sisters who were at home with us. But go I must, so I found a young man who wanted to see the West. I gave him a glowing account of the things that we could do out west, and I agreed to bear all of the expenses for the trip if he would haul us out with his team. He had eleven dollars and we were to pay him back when we got through and got work; which I did. There was Mother and my two sisters and myself. So we started from Missouri on the first of March 1866. Had a winter drive with lots of snow and mud. I walked all the way out as the team was so poor that some days we only went six or seven miles. When we reached the Missouri River our money was all spent except one dollar, which it took to cross the river, but we were in Nebraska, and we got a job husking corn for a week, and then pulled on, arriving in Dawson Co. on the 2 of April, after a thirty-one days drive. I will not attempt to describe the trip, but will say that it was the hardest trip that I ever made in my life. But I was in the land of promise so why worry. I soon found work on the few ranches that were in the country. I, like all other boys, wanted to be a cowboy. Well, I did ride for the most part of two years, but soon learned that I would not get rich in that line of work. In the spring of 1890 there was a meeting in our schoolhouse and I went, and there God got a hold of me and I was saved. I was, at this time, 21 years old and I felt the call of God to preach his word; but I put it aside as I felt that I had so little education. I decided then to go to Washington; it was yet a territory. I had two uncles living at Ilwaco. Seattle was just a small burg and Portland was very small, nothing on the east side but timber and brush. How glad I was that I got saved when I arrived in Ilwaco, Washington. Here I met with many temptations, but thanks be to God he gave me power to say “No.” Again, I went into the mills and learned more about engines as that was to be my work. But after a year in the West I returned to Nebraska. The fall of 1891 I went with a thrasher until my hip, that was broken years ago, now gave me so much pain that I was forced to quit.
Then I decided that I would learn a trade, so took up the photographing trade as my chosen profession. I bought a small outfit and went to work to learn the trade. I had up to this time never known what failure meant, so in this as in all other I must win and win I did for it was through this that I met the one that was to be my wife, Miss Elizabeth Jane Carlisle. And the one that would supply to me what I had missed in education in my younger days. She was teaching our school, and I took the picture of the school. This proved the way to an acquaintance, which soon ripened into love and we were married July the 4th, 1892. I was now 23 years old. That year I farmed but did not make very much so I decided to follow my trade, which I did for ten years.
Our first little girl was born to us on the 21st of July, 1893, Iris Ethel. This meant that I must earn more as there was one more mouth to feed. 1894 was a drought year again and times were very hard. In 1895 on May 19 our second little girl was born to us, Grace Ellen. Times were very hard and I worked at any thing that I could get and took pictures when I could get any to take.
That winter of 1895 my wife told me that if I would study that I could teach school in the spring. I have often wondered whether she believed it; but more to please her I agreed to study. She was a good teacher and I was a fertile ground to work on. In this, as in all other things I was determined to win. So I just threw my whole self into the work and on the 22nd of December,1895, I took my first lesson. It took my first lesson. It took fourteen studies to get a certificate in Nebraska, so I got the books; many of them I had never seen before and went to work to master them. I worked hard and in just three months from the day I began I wrote a good second grade certificate where many that had more experience failed. I mention this because I know that if one will do his best with God to help, nothing will be too hard for him. I had here done the impossible from a human standpoint, but I continued to study and to study and to seek help from God. I did not teach that year but went back to my trade and continued in it until the fall of 1890. Then my health failed so that I was forced to give up my business. I had done well and learned the trade so well that I took 4th place at the World’s Fair in Omaha in 1899. When my health failed I sold out and then went on the road as a salesman for a wholesale house in Omaha. I worked for them for two years while I gained back my health (to God be all the glory), and in1902 we decided to come into the far west. I came to Tacoma, then to Spokane, and then to Oregon City. From there I went to Kelso, Washington. This was in 1903.
Here we both went out to teach school and I continued in this work for four years. This was the first time that I had been inside of a school since I was fifteen years old. In 1904 I wrote the second best certificate in the country. We then bought land and farmed a little, then in 1911 we went to Idaho. In 1918 we moved to Portland Oregon. I again took up engine work and my wife and both the daughters went to Westport. There I was first as assistant engineer. Wages were good and we were soon out of debt, but I lost my job and again came to Portland. Here I got a job as Chief Engineer at Bull Run mill and logging camp. I worked for this company for two years and fight months. When I went on the job I was in very poor health I had been for two years. The Dr. had given me no hope that I would ever be well again.
In this condition I began to think about my soul’s salvation. I had been saved, as I stated when I was 21, but like so many I had lost all that long ago, and now when I faced the future I had nothing to lean on but a memory of misdeeds and years wasted in sinful life. Yet, I knew that God was true and if I would call on Him that I should be saved. Yet, I hesitated because I could not bring myself to the thought of joining another church. I had so failed what time I had spent in the church that I hesitated to join another. The greatest question that confronted me is what could I do, and while pondering on this and praying that God would undertake for me—God out of Heaven spoke to me, and thanks be to God I knew Hid voice.
Then I began in earnest, just as I had in learning a trade I put my whole heart into it and sought for salvation and pardon for my sin. After many weary days, and all night prayers I finally was able to take what God so freely had provided for me: a full and complete salvation. This took place on March 3, 1919 at 4:30 A.M. It was at this hour that I touched the hem of His garment and was washed in the Blood of Jesus. I was made a new creature in Him with every habbit broken and at this time I found that Jesus saves. Oh and the joy that filled my soul. The old tobacco habit that I had for 38 years was gone and I was filled with the spirit of God so much that I could scarcely speak without crying or praising God.
Soon I was called to preach and again I was obedient and for two years I preached to the men in the camp. Then I left the millwork and from 1921 to 1928 I gave all my time to preaching the word. I was ordained in the Bible Standard Mission in 1923.
From 1928 to the present time I have farmed and preached wherever a door was opened to me, and I hope to be able to give the rest of my time to the seeking for lost souls of men. I know that the time is short and that soon I must lay down the burdens of this life; but I have a hope that when that time comes that I shall just enter into the fuller meaning of life. That life that knows no ending, sorrow, nor pain. I have gone back over my life and have made my restitution so that I can now look the world in the face without shame. My life has been a hard one, yet I can look back with joy and see how God had his hand on me and finally brought me unto Him. I am glad for salvation that saves and keeps. Also, God healed me when I was saved and now for 17 years I have never taken any medicine nor consulted a doctor.
Now that I am in the evening of this worldly life and I know that this world holds nothing for me now. My inheritance is all above with Jesus. May God bless you my dear children.

William Warren Embree

Wanted: Portland Artists and Craftspeople!

Artists & Craftsmen
Wanted:
Come rent a table and sell your work at our
Arts and Crafts Fair
(this is a fundraiser)
at Reedwood Friends Church
2901 SE Steel Street, Portland, Oregon

We are charging a flat fee of $25 for a 6’ long table or $30 for an 8’ table

You stay with your table, sell your arts and crafts, take your own money, and keep your profits! No special tagging needed and no percentage taken at the end! Bring your work, a table cloth, and a warm smile. We’ll provide the table and chair.

Saturday, November 21, 2009
Set up 8AM-10 AM
Open to the public 10AM-5PM
Clean up 5PM-7PM

For forms and details email Becky at: ArtCraftFair@gmail.com

Reserve your table now before they are all taken!

I finished Dr. Amen's Book

Wow! I really think the world would be a better place if everyone in the world read Dr. Amen's book: Change your Brain Change your Life. I did buy a copy of that one for my brother's birthday. I also got a copy of the new hardback: Magnificent Mind at any Age by Dr Daniel Amen. I look forward to reading it soon.

I'm also reading Drawing on the Right Side of your Brain by Betty Edwards. I will be teaching drawing to young kids during a church camp soon and I want some good ideas. Drawing is something that mostly came naturally to me. My best friend taught me (way back in 8th grade) several things about drawing that I still remember today. It will be interesting working with the kids. They'll be doing self portraits from photos and drawing animal skulls.

Change your brain, change your life!

I recently watched a special on PBS Oregon Public Broadcasting with Dr. Daniel G. Amen. Wow! I highly reccommend it and his books. Yesterday I bought 2 more of his books (I own 2 already) and I started reading. I don't have time now to share what I have learned but it is so powerful that I am debating which book to buy for my brother's b-day present later in June. I wish everyone would read his books.

Embroidered Swan

One of my pattern customers bought my large swan pattern and using an embroidery machine created this work of art. She sent me these photos and gave me permission to share them in my blog. Her name is Lou Hurst and she teaches machine embroidery at SEW & VAC in Pheonix Arizona on 35th Avenue. She will be offering classes in creating swans like this in the future so if you live in that area you should check out the class schedule at the SEW & VAC.

You can find my patterns in both my ebay store and my Etsy store FantasyCreations1.

Blessings! Becky

I joined Facebook yesterday!

My best friend convinced me to join Facebook yesterday and so I did! Last night I set up several scrapbooks full of pictures of my stuffed animal designs and my bead embriodered jewelry.

Today I sold a beautiful pair of earrings on Ebay.

Can you find Beauty and the Beast in the flowers?