Life changes

Merry Christmas everyone (a bit late).

Lots of changes recently in my life. A new addition in the form of a three year old boy being one of them. As a result, my internet time has been greatly constricted. Now I find what time I have is spent looking for the best deal on pull-ups and baby shampoo. All that to say, posting will be erratic. ;-)

The Christmas Rose

A Rose has sprung from a tender root,
From Jesus, as those of old have sung,
And it bore a flower,
In the middle of a cold winter,

When half spent was the night.
Isaiah foretold it, the Rose I have in mind;
Is Mary the pure, the little flower has brought us.
From God's eternal wisdom, she bore a child,
And remained pure.

The Flower, so small, whose sweet fragrance fills the air,
Dispels with glorious splendor the darkness everywhere;
True man and truer God, helps us out of all sorrows,
Saves from sin and death.

Oh Jesus, until we leave this misery,
Let your help guide us into joy,
In Your Father's Kingdom, where we eternally praise You.
Oh God, allow us this.

Translated from the early 15th century German poem "Esistein Ros' Entsprungen." Author unknown.

Come, Thou Almighty King

Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise!
Father all-glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend;
Come and Thy people bless
And give Thy Word success;
Stablish Thy righteousness,
Savior and Friend!

Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of Power!

To the great One in Three
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore!
His sovereign majesty
May we in glory see
And to eternity
Love and adore!

by Unknown Author

Lead me

You, O LORD, are my lamp;* my God, you make my darkness bright.
Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me,* and bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling.
~Psalm 18:29, Psalm 43:3

Step by step

Our steps are directed by the LORD;* he strengthens those in whose way he delights. If they stumble, they shall not fall headlong,* for the LORD holds them by the hand. I have been young and now I am old,* but never have I seen the righteous forsaken, . . .
~Psalm 37:24-26

Your love, O LORD

Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens,* and your faithfulness to the clouds. Your righteousness is like the strong mountains, your justice like the great deep;* you save both man and beast, O LORD. How priceless is your love, O God!* your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings. They feast upon the abundance of your house;* you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the well of life,* and in your light we see light. Continue your loving-kindness to those who know you,* and your favor to those who are true of heart.
~Psalm 36:5-10

Let Your Heart Take Courage

How great is your goodness, O LORD! which you have laid up for those who fear you;* which you have done in the sight of all for those who put their trust in you. You hide them in the covert of your presence from those who slander them;* you keep them in your shelter from the strife of tongues. Blessed be the LORD!* for he has shown me the wonders of his love in a besieged city. Love the LORD, all you who worship him;* the LORD protects the faithful, but repays to the full those who act haughtily. Be strong and let your heart take courage,* all you who wait for the LORD.
~Psalm 31:19-21, 23-24

Hope

They shall obtain joy and gladness,
And sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
~Isaiah 35:10

Peace

I will listen to what the LORD God is saying,* for he is speaking peace to his faithful people and to those who turn their hearts to him.
~Psalm 85:8

We proclaim

We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
~1 John 1:3 (NIV)

Refuge, shelter, shield

But all who take refuge in you will be glad;* they will sing out their joy for ever. You will shelter them,* so that those who love your Name may exult in you. For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous;* you will defend them with your favor as with a shield.
~Psalm 5:13-15

YAHWEH declares

Yes, I know what plans I have in mind for you, YAHWEH declares, plans for peace, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. When you call to me and come and pray to me, I shall listen to you. When you search for me, you will find me; when you search wholeheartedly for me, I shall let you find me . . .
~Jeremiah 29:11-14a

Be joyful always

Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances, for this
is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

It is good to praise the LORD

It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love
in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody
of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. ~Psalm 92:1-4

Endless praise

You are God; we praise you; You are the Lord: we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father: All creation worships you. To you all angels, all powers of heaven, Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory.
~Te Deum

Advent - Day 1

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
   from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
   the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
   the Spirit of counsel and of might,
   the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD—
                                                           ~Isaiah 11:1-2 (NIV)

Sunday Hymn

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus
Words: Charles Wesley

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Praise the LORD!

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
        whose hope is in the LORD his God,
     who made heaven and earth,
        the sea, and all that is in them,
    who keeps faith forever;
         who executes justice for the oppressed,
        who gives food to the hungry.
    The LORD sets the prisoners free;
         the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.
    The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down;
        the LORD loves the righteous.
     The LORD watches over the sojourners;
        he upholds the widow and the fatherless,
        but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
        . . . Praise the LORD!
                                            ~Psalm 146:5-9 ESV

Praise the Lord

[God] rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son. ~Colossians 1:13, gnt

So thankful

But now thus says the LORD,
    he who created you, O Jacob,
        he who formed you, O Israel:
    “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
        I have called you by name, you are mine.
                                                      ~Isaiah 43:1 ESV

Sunday Hymn

Now Thank We All Our God
Words: Martin Rinkart, circa 1636 Music: Nun Danket

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

Giving Thanks

His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
A PSALM FOR GIVING THANKS.

    Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!
         Serve the LORD with gladness!
        Come into his presence with singing!

    Know that the LORD, he is God!
        It is he who made us, and we are his;
        we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

    Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
        and his courts with praise!
        Give thanks to him; bless his name!

    For the LORD is good;
        his steadfast love endures forever,
        and his faithfulness to all generations.
                                                                     ~Psalm 100 ESV

Thankful that I can:

Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
   the LORD hears when I call to him. ~Psalm 4:3

So thankful

Even before a word is on my tongue, O Lord, you know it completely. ~Psalm 139:4, nrsv

Thank You, Lord

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being. ~Revelation 4:11

Giving thanks

that when I become fearful He reminds me:

I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you." 
~Isaiah 41:13

and then enables me to say:

When I am afraid, I will trust in you. ~Psalm 56:3

Sunday Hymn

God of Grace and God of Glory
Words: Harry E. Fosdick, 1930
Music: John Hughes, 1907

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.

Giving thanks

again for peace that passes understanding.

   Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ~John 14:27

Giving thanks

for this: 
  I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. ~John 16:33

Giving thanks

that I am His loved, chosen, and treasured possession.

  For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you . . . but it is because the LORD loves you . . . 
~Deuteronomy 7:6-8 ESV

Giving thanks

for being called to a life of intercession.

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. 
~Colossians 4:2

Giving thanks

that:
In peace I will lie down and sleep,
   for you alone, LORD,
   make me dwell in safety.
~Psalm 4:8
 

Giving thanks

for His grace . . .
   He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son 
and forgave our sins. ~Ephesians 1:7 (NLT)
   Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. ~Ephesians 1:7-10 (The Message)

Sunday Hymn

O Give Us Homes
Author: Barbara B. Hart, b. 1916
Musician: Jean Sibelius, 1865-1957

O give us homes built firm upon the Saviour,
Where Christ is Head, and Counsellor and Guide;
Where ev'ry child is taught His love and favor
And gives his heart to Christ, the crucified:
How sweet to know that tho' his footsteps waver
His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,
Who always place their hope and trust in Him;
Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,
Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;
A home where each finds joy in serving others,
And love still shines, tho' days be dark and grim.

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,
The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;
Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,
And praise is natural speech to ev'ry tongue;
Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,
And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!
We trust to Thee their problems, toil, and care;
Their bonds of love no enemy can sever
If Thou art always Lord and Master there:
Be Thou the center of our least endeavor:
Be Thou our Guest, our hearts and homes to share.

Giving thanks

Reflecting on and rejoicing in this:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.• The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.~ Psalm 46:1-4,7

Giving thanks

This post, There's grace enough for this girl..., from Holley was especially timely and such a blessing this week.

Giving thanks

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save,
   nor his ear too dull to hear you call. 
~Isaiah 59:1

Giving thanks

I’m so very grateful for these comforting words:
      The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; * 
Because of them I'm freed to:
     Forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead . . .**

*~Lamentations 3:22-23
**~Philippians 3:13

Giving thanks

I am so grateful for the opportunity to do this each day:
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; . . . Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ~Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Giving thanks

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights . . . ~James 1:17

I don't know how many times I've thought, written, and said the words, "I wonder why, when I got so much benefit from doing that, I stopped doing it." The acts of writing and reading about what I, myself, and others are grateful for is one of those things that brings such benefits to my life and those around me that I really don't understand how or why I allow myself to fall out of the habit of doing it.

So, what better time to begin again a habit that I hope will become a regular part of my living a life of intentional thanks giving, than November, a month (in America) traditionally associated with giving thanks for our blessings.

The kids and I have been reading, discussing, and digesting Ephesians 1:3-8. I can't think of a better way to begin my gratitude list or a better way to express what I am most grateful for than this:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.   ~Ephesians 1:3-8

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.*
*Words: Thomas Ken, 1674.  Music: Old 100th, Genevan Psalter, 1551

Give thanks

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever,
•Who remembered us in our abjection, for His mercy endures forever. Alleluia! 
~(Ps 136:1)•(Ps 136:23)

Sunday Hymn

We plow the fields, and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand;
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
 
Refrain
All good gifts around us
Are sent from heaven above,
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord
For all His love.

He only is the Maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star;
The winds and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.
Refrain

We thank Thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good,
The seed time and the harvest, our life, our health, and food;
No gifts have we to offer, for all Thy love imparts,
But that which Thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts.
Refrain

~Words: Matthias Claudius, Paul Erdmann’s Fest, 1782
~Music: Wir Pflügen, Johann A. P. Schulz, 1800

My prayer

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
~Philippians 1:9-11

Thanks giving

For the 5th year in a row, Rebecca of Rebecca Writes is declaring November to be a month of thanksgiving!

Every one of us has an abundance of good gifts from God, and Rebecca is inviting us to join her in giving thanks to Him for His many blessings.

Each day during the month, she’ll post something for which she’s thankful and we can participate in any one of several ways by either:
• Mentioning something we’re thankful for in the comments at Rebecca Writes. She’ll include the comment in one of her thanksgiving posts.
• Emailing her with what we’re thankful for and she’ll include it in a post.
or
• Posting our thankful thought(s) on our own blog and sending her the link(s), which she’ll then link to our post(s). If you plan to post something daily during the month, let her know that, too. That way you won’t need to send daily links.

Sheer mercy and grace

God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. ~ Psalm 103:8-12

Sunday Hymn

Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven;
To His feet thy tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Evermore His praises sing:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King.

Praise Him for His grace and favor
To our fathers in distress.
Praise Him still the same as ever,
Slow to chide, and swift to bless.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in His faithfulness.

Fatherlike He tends and spares us;
Well our feeble frame He knows.
In His hands He gently bears us,
Rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely yet His mercy flows.

Frail as summer’s flower we flourish,
Blows the wind and it is gone;
But while mortals rise and perish
Our God lives unchanging on,
Praise Him, Praise Him, Hallelujah
Praise the High Eternal One!

Angels, help us to adore Him;
Ye behold Him face to face;
Sun and moon, bow down before Him,
Dwellers all in time and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
Words: Henry F. Lyte, 1834. Music: John Goss, 1869

What Wondrous Love is This?

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul,
To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down, sinking down,
When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb, I will sing, I will sing;
To God and to the Lamb, I will sing.
To God and to the Lamb Who is the great “I Am”;
While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;
While millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
And through eternity, I’ll sing on.

Listen

Words: Attributed to Alexander Means.

Music: From The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion, by William Walker (New York: Hastings House, 1835); arranged by William J. Reynolds (1920-) 

Go to Dark Gethsemane

Go to dark Gethsemane, you that feel the tempter's power;
Your Redeemer's conflict see, Watch with him one bitter hour.
Turn not from his griefs away; learn of Jesus Christ to pray.
See him at the judgment hall, beaten, bound, reviled, arraigned;
O the worm-wood and the Gall! O the pangs his soul sustained!
Shun not suffering, shame, or loss; learn of Christ to bear the cross.
Calvary's mournful mountain climb; there, adoring at his feet,
Mark that miracle of time, God's own sacrifice complete.
"It is finished!" hear him cry; learn of Jesus Christ to die.
Early hasten to the tomb where they laid his breathless clay;
All is solitude and gloom. Who has taken him away?
Christ is risen! He meets our eyes; Savior, teach us so to rise.
James Montgomery

Thankful

Today I’m so grateful, once again, for the blessing of my internet community, for the wonderful women that God has brought into my life, for their love, creativity, and generosity.