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Friday, 28 August 2009
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THANKS TO GOD
Earlier this week as I was flipping through my songbook to play the piano, I came across this song:Thanks to God for My RedeemerWORDS: August L. Storm (w. 1891), tr. Carl E. Backstrom (w. 1931)MUSIC: John A. Hultman (w. 1910)Thanks to God for my Redeemer, thanks for all Thou dost provide!Thanks for times now but a mem'ry, thanks for Jesus by my side!Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, thanks for dark and dreary fall!Thanks for tears by now forgotten, thanks for peace within my soul!Thanks for prayers that Thou has answered, thanks for what Thou dost deny!Thanks for storms that I have weathered, thanks for all Thou dost supply!Thanks for pain and thanks for pleasure, thanks for comfort in despair!Thanks for grace that none can measure, thanks for love beyond compare!Thanks for roses by the wayside, thanks for thorns their stems contain!Thanks for homes and thanks for fireside, thanks for hope, that sweet refrain!Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, thanks for heav'nly peace with Thee!Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, thanks thru all eternity.I have just been so blessed by this song this week....it is so FULL! Some things that stand out to me that I like....-Praise...it is so full of praise!- The altars of praise and lament concept -- joy and sorrow, prayers answered and desires denied, roses and thorns-Thanking God for memories...My family was experiencing an old summer tradition this week, and I'm not there...I think I may have been having some nastolgic feelings...and I was also reminded of the Kitchi Youth Rally this week and felt a longing to attend again.-Jesus, hope, peace, love!May it bless you as it has blessed me!
Monday, 26 January 2009
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"Remember Who Your Dad Really Is"
This piece of advice from the Bush girls to the Obama girls stood out to me. I don’t know what all they meant by those words, but I imagine that they may have been saying: "No matter how many people criticize him, no matter how busy he gets, no matter what happens in the next few years–no matter what people say–remember that he is your dad and he loves you."
I found myself identifying with this idea. My dad, too, spent a number of years in a leadership position. It was, obviously, on a much smaller scale than what President Bush or President Obama holds. But, it was just as important–he was a pastor. And it seems that no matter what level of leadership one holds, there are characteristics that come with the job. But, I know who my dad is! No matter how many criticisms or accusations came over the years, no matter how busy he got, no matter what people may have said. . . I know the agony over tough decisions that needed to be made. I know the sorrow over mistakes that were made. I know the gut-wrenching pain that was experienced. Because no matter what level of leadership–he was still a person with a heart and feelings. I know the joy experienced when he saw people seeking after God. I know that no matter what, my dad seeks hard to follow God and do what is right for his family. Because I remember (know) who my dad really is!
And this can be taken to another level as well. As Christians, we need to remember who our Dad is! When the circumstances around us seem more than we can bear, when the path ahead seems unclear, when the losses and the joys are keenly felt, when others may speak negatively about Him, we can remember that our Dad is: Creator of the universe, All-knowing, the God of all Comfort, Good, always Present and Delighting in us–His children. . .and so much more! Isn’t that cool!?
So. . .as you go through life: "Remember Who Your Dad Really Is"!
Saturday, 03 January 2009
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Some New Year's Advice
"Embrace the race you are running as designed for you by God Himself. Accept the opportunities and obstacles that are before you as part of His plan. Set your sights on Jesus. Then once more take a deep breath and get going."
from December 31 in Encouraging Words for Women (a flip calendar)
Monday, 08 December 2008
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The Reason for the Season:
Mary, Did You Know?
Words by Mark Lowry and Music by Buddy Greene
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
That your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered
Will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will calm a storm with His?
Did you know
That your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You've kissed the face of God
The blind will see
The deaf will hear
And the dead will live again
The lame will leap
The dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
That your baby boy will one day rule the nations?
Did you know
That your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding
Is the Great I Am
Thursday, 09 October 2008
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Recently, I read God Came Near (by Max Lucado) to a friend. The following passage stood out to me....Lucado had just finished telling a story of how his two year old daughter had nearly drowned in a pool causing him to remember the important things of life:
It was a divine slap, a gracious knock on the head, a severe mercy. Because of it I came face to face with one of the underground’s slyest agents–the agent of familiarity.
His commission from the black throne room is clear and fatal: "Take nothing from your victim; cause him only to take everything for granted."
He’d been on my trail for years and I never knew it. But I know it now. I’ve come to recognize his tactics and detect his presence. And I’m doing my best to keep him out. His aim is deadly. His goal is nothing less than to take what is most precious to us and make it appear most common.
To say that this agent of familiarity breeds contempt is to let him off easy. Contempt is just one of his offspring. He also sires broken hearts, wasted hours, and an insatiable desire for more. He’s an expert in robbing the sparkle and replacing it with the drab. He invented the yawn and put the hum in humdrum. And his strategy is deceptive.
He won’t steal your salvation; he’ll just make you forget what it was like to be lost. You’ll grow accustomed to prayer and thereby not pray. Worship will become common place and study optional. With the passing of time he’ll infiltrate your heart with boredom and cover the cross with dust so you’ll be "safely" out of reach of change. Score one for the agent of familiarity.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about being ready for the Lord’s return and about telling others the Good News...thoughts have been tumbling through my mind....my heart is convicted, yet I find myself bound by shyness and fear – or at least uncertain as to how to go about speaking the Good News to people. I pass by many college students in my day to day life. How many of them are going to an eternity of fire unless they hear/accept the salvation available through Jesus’ death and resurrection? If we really believe there is a heaven and a hell, why aren’t we more passionate about spreading the News?
The "agent of familiarity" has crept into our lives. The Good News has become too common. And truly "His aim is deadly."
I am reminded of a song:
"The Lord is coming, are you ready? The Lord is coming, are you ready? Would your heart be right if He came tonight? The Lord is coming, are you ready?"
What are we doing to help people be ready? Let us pray for each other–that we may awaken and heed the call of God on our lives. Let us pray for revival. Let us commit to obeying Him no matter what He asks of us.
I stand convicted. "Lord, I’m sorry!"
Jer33_3
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- Name: Carita
- Member Since: 5/8/2006
