The Invisible War !!

This sermon was a turning point for me the last week. It is so incredibly potent. I am still praying through its message, and am planning on listening AGAIN so i can write some stuff down! The sermon is 73 minutes, but it feels like 10!

White Christmas

This song has been one of my favorite Christmas songs for as long as i can remember :)  This version is great! I usually listen to the one from his albums, or i hear it when i watch White Christmas.



 

"I Need You!"

There are times when a song moves beyond the realm of "that's a great tune" into the realm of being the very fiber of your being. I am amazed at how, at the right time, one can rediscover a song that is exactly what you need, right now.

There are many difficult things we pass through as we traverse this sod. Things happen and bring back echoes of past pain. Then those echoes become shouts in your head. It is at this point that all the heart can cry is, "Oh, I need YOU! God I need You now!"

One may cry out for God to take away whatever is causing the ache, the pain, the suffering. God, in His great wisdom, goodness, and love sometimes just gives you the strength to keep breathing. This is the rub. This is where one must learn to lean in to His sovereignty. THAT is hard. Trusting in His goodness in the midst of deep, aching pain. Yet, it is the place one must go in the midst of the ache, 

For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~Hebrews 13:5

Cry out to Him in your need. He is faithful. Always.

Christmas Promise

My girls are singing this song EVERYWHERE we go right now. I am assuming they are singing it in a little Christmas play that they are in... It was the first time I had heard it.

it is beautiful.

i love the simplicity of this video and recording.

Comment problems

UPDATE: THANKS TO A GENTLEMAN'S HELP, IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING!!

There seems to be some kind of problem commenting on blogger right now, or at least on my blog here... Hopefully it will work soon!!

Thanks to those of you who have told me you tried to comment! Keep trying :) Maybe it'll work. 

Work Ethic

I like to think of how I do my work as my "mark". It says something about me. If I consistently only washed half of the dishes, or left the laundry in the washer for days, you would get the impression that I didn't care too incredibly much about doing a good job. On the other hand, if you walked into my kitchen and saw the sink and counters clean and tidy, or into the laundry room and saw the laundry washed, dried, folded, and waiting for its owners to come and put it away, you would rightly think I cared about doing my best work. This is a bit tricky for me, as I have truly struggled with being a perfectionist in the past.     (Here is one thing you need to know about perfectionists: a person who is a perfectionist wants to do it perfectly the first time, and if they can't, they will tend to just not do whatever it is. So to say that a perfectionist's home is perfect all the time is a lie. You may be surprised by how many "messy" people are truly perfectionists that are overwhelmed with the task before them! Yet, it can be overcome when we have a biblical work ethic! )

Ok...back to my post. I care about doing my best work. Our house is by no means perfectly clean, but i have learned to be content with tidy and "lived-in". We have 4 kids and 2 dogs, so "lived-in" is doable. And yes, this was a hard adjustment for me! We do the best job we can.

I have a couple verses from the Bible that have long been go-to verses for me regarding how and why I do my work, and I share them with our children often to remind them too. Here they are:

Colossians 3:22-24:  Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.  {emphasis mine}

Ephesians 6:7-8: With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free.

Both of these sets of verses directs our service to be done for the Lord, and as for the Lord. What a great focus for our serving. With these truths to guide us, you would think we would always do our work with excellence, giving glory to God. Unfortunately, we don't. We grumble. We complain. We do it, but we want everyone to know how unhappy we are about having to do it. Or, worse, we do it so that we can get noticed. We do it so that we can receive thanks and recognition. Teaching our children the important truths here is challenging when we ourselves don't live them out. 

So, from these two passages, how are we to do our work? What should our work ethic look like? Well, I see a few things here: 

• We are to do our work heartily (in an enthusiastic and energetic way; completely or fully {Merriam Webster}).

• We are to do our work unto the Lord. I often wonder how different my attitude would be if Christ Jesus was standing right there next to me. And then i remember ~ He is.

• We are to do our work NOT as men-pleasers, but with a sincere heart (sincere: free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings. {from google}) Ouch.

• We are to do our work as fearing the Lord. Matthew Henry has this to say about it: "Those who fear God, will be just and faithful when from under their master's eye, because they know they are under the eye of God." 

• We are to do our work with good will. I think of this as doing it with the right attitude, with a joy-filled heart. Doing our work out of gratitude for all that Christ Jesus has done for us. And yes, this even applies to the tenth load of laundry this week. 

• We are to do our work knowing that, even if no one here recognizes or thanks us, Christ sees and will give us the reward of our inheritance. We will "receive back from the Lord". What a motivation for our service! 

Wow! Take a look at that again. We have every reason to be joy-filled workers! I pray that as you go on this week, that these verses can encourage you to press on and keep serving where ever it is that God has placed you; whether in the corporate world or the home, the church or the factory, in your school work or in your work place.  When people see the way we do our work, if we are doing it from a biblical work ethic, they just may want to know why we care so much... which can wonderfully lead to an opportunity to share the hope of Christ that we have. 

May God be glorified in our serving! 

Our Lips For Him

Our Lips For Him

The lips of the righteous feed many...The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable.

   Proverbs 10:21, 32

The days are past forever when we said, "Our lips are our own." Now we know that they are not our own. And yet how many of my readers often have the miserable consciousness that they have "spoken unadvisedly with their lips!" How many pray, "Keep the door of my lips,"when the very last thing they think of expecting is that they will be kept! They deliberately make up their minds that hasty word, or foolish words, or exaggerated words, according to their respective temptations, must and will slip out of that door, and that it can't be helped. The extent of the real meaning of their prayer was merely that not quite so many might slip out. As their faith went no farther, the answer went no farther, and so the door was not kept. Do let us look the matter straight in the face. Either we have committed our lips to our Lord, or we have not. This question must be settled first. If not, oh, do not let another hour pass! Take them to Jesus, and ask Him to take them. But when you have committed them to Him, it comes to this--is He able or is He not able to keep that which you have committed to Him? If He is not able, of course you may as well give up at once, for your own experience has abundantly proved that you are not able, so there is no help for you. But if He is able--nay, thank God there is no if on this side!--say, rather, as He is able, where was this inevitable necessity of perpetual failure? You have been fancying yourself virtually doomed and fated to it, and therefore you have gone on in it, while all the time His arm was not shortened that it could not save, but you have been limiting the Holy One of Israel. Honestly, now, have you trusted Him to keep your lips this day? Trust necessarily implies expectation that what we have intrusted will be kept. If you have not expected Him to keep, you have not trusted. You may have tried and tried very hard, but you have not trusted, and therefore you have not been kept and your lips have been the snare of your soul (Proverbs 18:7).  ~ Frances R. Havergal

Be Not Weary

Be Not Weary.

Yes! He knows the way is dreary,

Knows the weakness of our frame. 

Knows that hand and heart are weary

He, 'in all points,' felt the same.

He is near to help and bless;

Be not weary, onward press.

Look to Him who once was willing

All His glory to resign,

That, for thee the law fulfilling,

All His merit might be thine.

Strive to follow day by day

Where His footsteps mark the way.

Look to Him, the Lord of Glory,

Tasting death to win thy life;

Gazing on 'that wondrous story,'

Canst thou falter in the strife?

Is it not new life to know

That the Lord hath loved thee so!

Look to Him who ever liveth, 

Interceding for His own:

Seek, yea, claim the grace He giveth

Freely from His priestly throne.

Will He not thy strength renew

With His Spirit's quickening dew?

Look to Him, and faith shall brighten,

Hope shall soar, and love shall burn;

Peace once more thy heart shall lighten;

Rise ! He calleth thee, return !

Be not weary on they way, 

Jesus is thy strength and stay. 

~Frances Ridley Havergal

Is God Nice?

What Comes After....

Light after Darkness

By Frances Ridley Havergal

Light after darkness, gain after loss,
Strength after weakness, crown after cross;
Sweet after bitter, hope after fears,
Home after wandering, praise after tears.

Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain,
Sight after mystery, peace after pain;
Joy after sorrow, calm after blast,
Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last.

Near after distant, gleam after gloom,
Love after loneliness, life after tomb;
After long agony, rapture of bliss,
Right was the pathway, leading to this.

Confused?

I have a very confused flower in my garden. It is a beautiful Iris. It bloomed wonderfully for me in May, and has now decided to grace us with beautiful blooms at the end of.... October!

We have had a freakishly warm October, and it is certainly confusing some little plants :).

Since this picture was taken, the flower has had 2 beautiful blooms open up fully, which then were used to grace the inside of our home! Now, there are 2 more blooms ready to go !! 

So grateful for simple pleasures, like an Iris blooming unexpectedly. 

This Good Day

Today, I got in the van to go to the library with the kids, and turned on the disc that was in. It was Fernando Ortega (a favorite around here). I went to his song "This Good Day" and it was just perfect. Rain clouds come. Cold winds blow. But i know Who is in charge of it all... my heavenly Father.

okay... here is a cool side note: This video here is from his dvd "Live in St. Paul". Guess who is in the audience? Yep... Brian and I :). We own the dvd, and have spotted ourselves in it. I was about a week out from my due date with our 3rd child at the concert! 

Fernando Ortega - This Good Day Lyrics | MetroLyrics 

Morning sun, morning glories
Pouring down the hill
Through my window
I can feel the ocean breeze

Noisy sparrows fill the oak trees
Swallows can't stay still
And in the glad commotion
Lord, You speak to me

If rain clouds come
Or the cold winds blow
You're the one who goes before me
And in my heart I know

That this good day, it is a gift from You
The world is turning in its place
Because You made it to
I lift my voice to sing a song of praise
On this good day

I will walk to woodman's cove
The fishing boats are leaving
Seagulls follow just above the water

I will wait until the sunset
Brings them home again
Rigging lines and anchors in the harbor

If rain clouds come
Or the cold winds blow
You're the one who goes before me
And in my heart I know

This good day, it is a gift from You
The world is turning in its place
Because You made it to
I lift my voice to sing a song of praise
On this good day

If rain clouds come
Or the cold winds blow
You're the one who goes before me
And in my heart I know

This good day, it is a gift from You
The world is turning in its place
Because You made it to
This good day, it is a gift from You
The world is turning in its place
Because You made it to
I lift my voice to sing a song of praise
On this good day

Songwriters
ORTEGA, JUAN F./SCHREINER, JOHN ANDREW

Blowing in the Wind

from freevector.com

I have been taking walks in the morning for about 5 weeks now. It is a time i need. A time for me to gather my wits about me for the day ahead. A time to pray. A time to think. A time to plan.

This morning, the walk seemed extra beautiful. The air was much cooler. It was windy. The Fall colors have been amazing the past 10 days. Today, the leaves were falling off of their trees, blowing around, swirling in driveways.

I stood amazed at the wonder of it all. Feeling small in the shadows of the great oaks and poplars, maples and elms. Thinking of how great our God is. How amazing His creation. These walks have helped me to take more time to give Him the praise and thanks due Him. How awesome He is, to paint the trees every Fall with such ardent colors!

Watching these leaves, i stood in awe. They loose their bonds from the great trees that bore them in the Spring, to make room for new leaves the next year. But they don't just fizzle away. NO! they glow, and burn, and dance on their way out. They are free. As i watched the leaves all around me, i noticed a dance. They seem to dance on their way out. Dancing and singing praise to God in their own way. Each leaf unique. Each leaf beautiful. Each leaf dying, to make room for new growth.

Today, i was thankful for walks in the morning. For time with God. For His beauty reflected in creation.

I was also thankful for freedom. Freedom to let go and to trust Christ with every detail.

Need This

Happy Consequences -or- A Disposition of Gratitude

Gratitude: The quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.
Disposition: A person's inherent qualities of mind and character. (thanks, google, for simple definitions.)

I am generally a grateful person. At times, i fail, as we all do. I grumble and complain that i don't have this and that. I look at what others have that i don't, and get grumpy. I can pout. i know, shocking! ;)

I notice that i can get less and less thankful for what i DO have, and more and more hungry for the things this world tells me i need. When that starts to happen, i also lose sight of the "good" in my life, as i am so focused on the negatives. I begin to major on the minors, if you know what i mean. Suddenly, the faucet in my bathroom looks ugly, because....didn't you see that really cool one in the magazine? Suddenly my closet seems to have nothing in it (when in all actuality, my closet is bursting with clothes), because....didn't you see all those really nice, new clothes at the store (and i ain't talkin' 'bout the thrift store).
NOTE: I am a very thrifty shopper and do enjoy thrift stores!! Sometimes though...

Do you see what happens so quickly? We get our eyes off of Christ, and onto the things of this world, and we get hooked. We get ensnared. We can grow a love in our hearts for this world that surpasses our love of Christ, which is idolatry by the way.

How do we combat this?

The most important way is by renewing our minds in the Word of God. We are to fix our eyes on Christ, and one great way of doing that is starting the day with a time of Scripture reading.  I have been camped out in the Epistles lately. Man! That will give you some serious perspective!
Philippians 4:11-13 says,

"Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.  I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Another way is to study in Scripture what we are to "put off" and "put on". We are to put off discontentment and covetousness, and put on contentment.  We are to put off enviousness and put on the quality of rejoicing with others.

I saw this card with a friend, and purchased it. it says
Happy Birthday on top. This card captures how i
want to live my life: FREE and full of joy in
Christ, with hands opened and eyes to Him.

A great way to develop contentedness and gratefulness is with a list. This past weekend, i had one of many great conversations with a dear friend. I had asked her what all the journals were that she kept (there were four of them!). One caught my attention: it was a journal for her to list the good things in her life, and the things she was grateful for. I was honest enough to say that i just hadn't done that since it seemed to be so "trendy" for a while. Yet, when she was sharing her heart behind why she does it, something clicked. I realized that there are so many good things in my life, and that writing them down would help me to remember. To remember God's goodness, provision, blessing, help, and strength. To see just how many good things there are on any given day. I have begun my own little book, and i am calling it: Good Things -or- A Disposition of Gratitude: A Journal. It has been a most excellent exercise. Today was my 2nd day writing in it, and it was already a beautiful thing to look back over yesterday's entries.
Here are just a few things in it:

• a walk in the crisp Autumn air as the world wakes up.
• friends around our table for food and fellowship.
• our space heater!
• flowers (roses, gaillardia, tall asters, daisies, ring flowers) in the house from my garden in mid-October.
• lego creations from scratch.
• music! music! music! 
• salvation.
• my Bible
• the book of Proverbs
• a long conversation and prayer with a child: difficult and beautiful at the same time.
• walks with my husband.
• laughter. 
• sunshine and a friend.
• a new kitchen timer.

Today, i took my kids to the Dollar Tree and had them each pick out a little notebook. I bought new pens. We took them home and then i explained what they were for. I had them each start their own Good Things, or gratefulness journal. One of my kids called theirs "Good Things or Happy Consequences". We keep them in a little basket in the living room so that they don't get lost, and so they can fill them in any time they want. They keep their new pens with the journals. I think it will be a treasure to them in months to come, as they remember all the "little" things, and the not-so-little things. 

Happy Consequences. Just makes my heart smile.

Some Days

There are some days when you have to sing this song to yourself often.

The Depth of Letters

 A friend sent me a letter John Newton had written to a woman who was struggling. It was amazing. It caused me to want to read other letters he had written. Here is a great website with some of his letters for you to read. They are worth the time, even if you just read a few here and there. I read a letter he wrote to a fellow minister about godly church members. It was an excellent reminder to keep pressing on in Christ as a member of a local church, and that a member living a life committed to Jesus Christ is an encouragement to the pastor.

HERE is a link to 151 of his poems/hymns, which are also worth the time to read, bit by bit.

As I read through a few of his letters yesterday, it stood out to me how every line, every word that he wrote was purposeful. His letters do not begin "Hi! How are you?" No. They start off deep, intense, and personal. He is intentional to take every bit of space on the paper he is writing on to turn the reader to Christ. To the reality of life in this world. To the blessedness of perseverance, or to the desperate need of repentance. He seems to fear no one in his writing. Newton was bold for Christ.

As I read through some of his letters, a deep desire came over me to make my own words count. To be intentional in my letters. To be bold for Christ. To be intentional with my spoken words. Recently we heard a sermon at our church that reminded us of the need to live godly lives. I listened to two other messages by different preachers on the same passage to fill it out a little for myself, and the main point i heard? EVERYTHING we do while we traverse this planet matters. Everything. Every word spoken. Every act of love. Every sacrifice made for Christ. Every time we say NO to sin. Every time we choose self-control (by the power of His Spirit) over blowing our top. Every time we make a conscious choice not to gossip. Every time we fold another.load.of.laundry.  Every time we get up early to have those precious moment with our Saviour. Everything matters. Everything.


John Newton seemed to understand this. His letters reflect it. His poetry and his hymns proclaim it. In the midst of his own pain and difficulties, the Gospel shines forth as the most beautiful Light, calling us all to fix our gaze on Jesus Christ, the Author and Perfector of our faith.

Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. Colossians 3:23-24

Miracle

This is a favorite of ours. It is so beautiful to hear this simple version.

Miracle by Sara Groves

Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Quiet our hearts for a little while
Things have been spoken shouldn't be said
Rattles around in our hearts and our heads

Let's feel what we cannot feel
Know what we cannot know
Let's heal where we couldn't heal
Oh, it's a miracle, it's a miracle

Things have been spoken, shouldn't be said
Rattles around in our hearts and our heads

Let's feel what we cannot feel
Know what we cannot know
Let's heal where we couldn't heal
Oh, it's a miracle, love is a miracle

Let's feel what we cannot feel
Know what we cannot know
Let's heal where we couldn't heal
Oh, it's a miracle

Let's say what we cannot say
Let's see what we cannot not see
Let's hear what we could not hear
Oh, it's a mystery, love is a mystery
Oh, it's a miracle, it's a miracle, let's be a miracle

Hymnody

The Look by John Newton

In evil long I took delight,
Unawed by shame or fear,
Till a new object struck my sight,
And stopp’d my wild career.

I saw One hanging on a tree,
In agonies and blood,
Who fix’d His languid eyes on me,
As near His cross I stood.

Sure never till my latest breath
Can I forget that look;
It seem’d to charge me with His death, 
Though not a word He spoke.

My conscience felt and own’d the guilt,
And plunged me in despair;
I saw my sins His blood had spilt,
And help’d to nail Him there.

Alas! I knew not what I did;
But now my tears are vain;
Where shall my trembling soul be hid!
For I the Lord have slain.

A second look He gave, which said,
“I freely all forgive;
This blood is for thy ransom paid,
I die, that thou mayst live.”

Thus while His death my sin displays
In all its blackest hue
(Such is the mystery of grace),
It seals my pardon too.

With pleasing grief and mournful joy,
My spirit now is fill’d,
That I should such a life destroy,
Yet live by Him I killed.

This is a hymn we sang on Sunday, though we sang a modernized version. I would like to know the original way this was sung. It is just beautiful. More and more i am beginning to understand "pleasing grief" and "mournful joy".  By clicking HERE you can see the updated lyrics and purchase the song, or you can hear the full version that we sang below. 

Quotable Quotes

I Am Like A Puddle

puddle on Lake Superior rock

I am like a puddle. 

Here for a short time.

Slowly fading. 

Hopefully, reflecting the Son

as His light shines on me.

On my own i am nothing. 

Christ must be everything.

The One who fills me,

Who sustains me,

Who loves me.

I am like a puddle. 

Like a flower, 

Here for a short time.

This vapor of a life.

For His glory alone. 

Just Think!

Take a few minutes to think of where these flowers are growing, and blooming, and THRIVING.

What are your thoughts as you consider this? Let's get a conversation going in the comments :).

Celebrating

Brian and I recently celebrated 17 years of marriage. The week before our actual anniversary, we took a trip to northern Minnesota. What a wonderful few days! Even though it was rainy and misty most of the time, we still got out an enjoyed the scenery. It was also a time to reflect and reset. Both of us learned lessons and were reminded of wonderful Truths of the Gospel as we were out and about. 

Harebells grow and bloom in adverse circumstances. There is a huge lesson there.
More on that in a different post. 

Yarrow growing in a crevasse at Cascade Falls.

Yet another plant, blooming where you would least expect it.

We were amazed at this old, gnarly tree. Roots straight in the rock.
Hmm. Another lesson right there; Our roots needing to be in the Solid Rock.

Celebrating 17 years of marriage. We hiked up Look Out Mountain,
and were rewarded with a misty view. What you would see on a clear day
is Lake Superior to one side, and the Superior National Forest on the other. 

When we returned to church on the 24th (the actual day of our anniversary), our pastor, Dr. Jeff Rich, preached on Genesis 1, and the crowning glory of God's creation. It was riveting. We had just been surrounded by the glory of God's creation, and to hear that even more glorious than all of that, is man! Man is created in God's image, we know this. Yet, how often do we elevate the beauty and majesty of the oceans, or of the mountains, or a waterfall, above man? I learned that as glorious as all of that may be, and is, that my husband and I reflect God's glory even more. He has created us in His image. When we were in sin, He called us out of the darkness and into His glorious light.  He has redeemed us. He has made us His own, through the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. What could be more glorious than that?

Simple Delights

In the midst of the hard of this world, there are simple delights...simple joys. Today, i need to share some of those simple joys. some of the simple delights.

~ Brian's hand to hold and arm around my shoulder when the going gets tough.
~ walking through the neighborhood at dusk with Brian.

Daisies in our garden

~ warm coffee early in the morning.
~ a room that faces the sunrise, to be alone with God in the early morning.
~ holding a book in my hand. especially my Bible.
~ butterflies flitting through our gardens.
~ roses and daisies.
~ Bluebirds and Goldfinches.
~ Cardinals and Barn Swallows.
~ Dragonflies and Hummingbirds.
~ our children's laughter filling the halls.
~ nerf wars on the staircase.
~ music. hymns. worship.
~ a small gathering on Wednesday night to sing incredible truths and hear God's Word preached.
~ friendship.
~ dishes in the sink, which means we have food on the table, which means we have a table and a home to have that table in.
~ dinners around that table. communion.
~ the beauty of the wind through the tall trees.

There are times when we just need to remember all of the seemingly simple gifts we have been given. Yet, if we really think about it, none of these gifts are simple! They move to the profound, when we look to the One who is the Creator and the Giver of each of these things. We are so undeserving, yet our gracious Lord showers us with grace and mercy every.single.day.

THAT, my friends, is truly amazing.

Bluebird

 

photo credit

To say that i like watching birds would be an understatement. I have the Birds of Minnesota book and faithfully check off each new type of bird i see. The book (and accompanying cd's of bird calls) are on top of a hutch in our kitchen for quick and easy access. Unfortunately the book was missing for a good year, but i found it this Spring in our front closet, right under my nose the whole time. It was a happy day when that book was found! The funny thing about me getting into watching birds, is that my husband has too. Last summer he was the one to spot the Scarlet Tanager that came by! I finally was privileged to see it, but he had the first couple sightings.

We have lived in our house for over 5 years now. I start to think that maybe we won't see any new types of birds, but.... WE DO!

 Last summer was the S. Tanager, this summer it was the  Eastern Bluebird. Many people in our area see them; i happen to be the one who doesn't. In June, i spotted one on a fort wall at Fort Snelling. I was so thrilled! Then, a couple of days ago, Brian and i were sitting on the back deck. He says, "What kind is that?" At first i didn't know what he was talking about, but his eyes were on a branch close by, so i assumed it must be a bird. All off a sudden, a flash of blue wings took off and flew across the yard! An Eastern Bluebird!

My jaw dropped.

This is the branch where the bird landed.
It's a dead branch i put in a container with
zinnias and morning glories. 

I couldn't speak.
I was so stunned and elated!

I ran inside and grabbed the bird book to show him. It was just the coolest thing to see that bird, the bird i have wanted to see close up for so long, right there on the branch on our porch, not five feet from us!

Seeing that bird was a sweet gift from my Father. He knew that something so simple would fill me with great joy. Brian said that it was like i had won the lottery, my reaction to seeing the bird was so big :). Though the moment was short, the sight of that bird helped me. It brought joy to a world-weary heart. It reminded me of the amazing Creator God that i serve. It reminded me that moments of absolute beauty pop up when i am least expecting them.

And...

It filled my heart with a deep gratitude.
Gratitude for simple joys. For beautiful nights. For time on the deck with my husband. For Eastern Bluebirds that will sit and rest for a moment on a branch nearby. For the One who created all things, and who does all things well - our great God!

Guess who visited the branch last night? A Hummingbird! The little thing came and took a sip of nectar from a flower, and then perched right there on the branch while we were eating our dinner. You should have seen all 6 of us just stop and stare and wonder! So tiny, so beautiful. 

Counting it ALL Joy

James 1:2-4 (NASB) states this:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

I have been working on memorizing this, and practicing it. Author and speaker Elizabeth George wrote a book titled Finding God's Path Through Your Trials. In the first number of chapters, she goes through the verses in James bit by bit. It has been very challenging to read. For instance, when she was simply talking about how we are to count it all joy (deliberate, act of the will, NOT based on feelings of the moment) when we encounter trials, i wanted to throw the book across the room! I thought, "Has this woman ever known trouble, trial, pain?" To my embarrassment, that was my thought. I know that she has endured heartache, trial, trouble and pain. That is why she can write the book! She has lived it, and has learned to be a woman of God with staying power in the midst of challenging circumstances.


Over the past year and a half i have had my fair share of trials. My Dad passed away in January of 2013. Family relationships changed dramatically after that, bringing much heartache. Weekly, i have fairly intense trials to deal with. One person even asked me, "When is it going to stop? Do you even see an end to it all?" I choose to not discuss my circumstances much anymore, unless things grow more intense and i need help. God has shown Himself faithful in every trial, every pain, every time i feel alone.

Enter James 1:2-4.

Little did i know just how much i would need the sound teaching of those verses! The past week brought about a very difficult trial and testing. When it was over, i was able to ask God to help me see how to count it joy. I needed His help to do it, because i just couldn't see it. Then i remembered that He is teaching me. He is training me. He is producing perseverance and endurance in me, so that the next time a trial comes my way, i can stand stronger in Him.  I need staying power. I need His Spirit to continue to show me how to please Him in how i handle the trials that come my way.

One thing i think we get hung up on is the word "joy". It doesn't mean that we are laughing or pretending to be happy when our hearts are breaking. There is pain in joy. There is pain in hope. Yet, we hope. Yet, we have joy... joy that is a deep peace and delight in knowing that God is working ALL things for the good of those who love Him:

Romans 8:28-30: And we know that [a]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom Heforeknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

And if the end result, if the reason that i am tested, is simply to bring Him glory, okay. If the end result is that i am more conformed to the image of Christ, okay. He IS worthy of all the praise and all the glory, no matter what the situation is.

The other morning i woke up and this song came on... timing? PERFECT! Nothing is wasted in the hands of our loving Redeemer!

May you be blessed by our great God as you press on in the face of various trials, counting it all joy, and remembering that NOTHING is wasted.

Alleluia

I literally had this song on repeat today as i was cleaning out some stuff in our parlor. My cd player is probably gonna burn out!




Go to his website for the lyrics.

"The Trial of Your Faith"

This is from Charles Spurgeon's classic devotional called Morning and Evening. On a particularly difficult day, my husband chose this for our family worship time at night. All I could do was quietly let the tears run down my cheeks as his gentle voice read. Then, i leaned into the hard truths that are written here.

Whatever difficulty you find yourself in the midst of, may these words encourage and strengthen your heart. There is a purpose in what you are passing through. 

Morning

"The trial of your faith."

1 Peter 1:7

Faith untried may be true faith, but it is sure to be little faith, and it is likely to remain dwarfish so long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: tempests are her trainers, and lightnings are her illuminators. When a calm reigns on the sea, spread the sails as you will, the ship moves not to its harbour; for on a slumbering ocean the keel sleeps too. Let the winds rush howling forth, and let the waters lift up themselves, then, though the vessel may rock, and her deck may be washed with waves, and her mast may creak under the pressure of the full and swelling sail, it is then that she makes headway towards her desired haven. No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity. Tried faith brings experience. You could not have believed your own weakness had you not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God's strength had you not been supported amid the water-floods. Faith increases in solidity, assurance, and intensity, the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.

Let not this, however, discourage those who are young in faith. You will have trials enough without seeking them: the full portion will be measured out to you in due season. Meanwhile, if you cannot yet claim the result of long experience, thank God for what grace you have; praise him for that degree of holy confidence whereunto you have attained: walk according to that rule, and you shall yet have more and more of the blessing of God, till your faith shall remove mountains and conquer impossibilities.

(emphasis is mine) 

Our Good Shepherd

We sang out the truths of this song today. It was hard to sing one part, because it is where i am, yet He is ever more beautiful as He lifts my head and leads me through the difficult times.

What a wonderful, glorious, loving Shepherd we serve.

a reminder

Oh, to always remember this! 

Romans 5

Romans 8:37-39

Just for Fun

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/lifestyle/spelling-bee/

That link will take you to a really fun way to "test" your ability to catch spelling errors. Watch out, though... they try to trick you ;). Remember, you only find words spelled incorrectly that start with the letter of the alphabet they indicate.

My score was 86% that i caught!!

how about you? leave your score in the comments if you want.

This is fascinating to me, as i tutor in the Barton Reading and Spelling System, and we are in level 5 of 10 levels. It was interesting to see how much the spelling rules helped in this activity. I cannot wait to get to the rest of the levels and learn the rest of the rules!

Thanks!

Just wanted to give a shout-out and a thanks to Blog Mommas for selecting this little blog for its Blog of the Week :)

If you have a blog and aren't connected with that directory... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Head on over there and get connected in the bloggy-world!!

Providential Hope

I heard this song this morning after my alarm went off.
absolutely Providential.
There is so much beauty in the midst of the pain...beauty in His drawing so near and in His faithfulness to carry us through.
Hope.
There is hope.




You Are Faithful ~ Raymond Gregory
When my heart is troubled
And I can hardly breathe 
I will rest on Your promises 
You won't abandon me
In the valley of the shadow of death
If I'm with You I will not be afraid 

You are hope for the hurting heart
You are rest to the weary soul
When I am broken, You are not shaken
Through trial, pain, and fears
You keep count of all my tears
When I am broken, You are not shaken
Lord You are faithful, God You are faithful

On the path of abundance 
I look back and I see
When the road was rough, I stumbled hard,
I was beaten down
It was then that you carried me

Through tragedy, In prosperity
You are faithful, You are faithful
In every season Lord, You are with me
You are faithful God

Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord You are Faithful

Worn

I love this song.
This is the cry of my heart after this past week. That there is beauty after the ashes.

My Dad

i was going through old discs that have piled up like dust bunnies under my bookshelves, when i came across this picture of my Dad and I from 2005. side note: i had just had my 4th baby!  He has been gone for almost 17 months now. He would have been 68 last Friday. What a wonderful find today. Thankful for a great memory.