Saturday, November 30, 2013

Seeing The Light


The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2



Advent
Looking forward to the coming of Christ.
  He brought me out of my darkness into His glorious light. 
 Hallelujah!





Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving


So whether you eat or drink 
or whatever you do,
 do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31


I'm so thankful that we will be able to have some of our immediate family here for thanksgiving dinner today.
I'm so thankful for our family.
The scripture is my reminder to not overdo the eating portion of thanksgiving day.



Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Not Just Saying It


 Let the message of Christ
 dwell among you richly 
as you teach and admonish one another 
with all wisdom 
through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, 
singing to God
 with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16

I've been around 10 of my 14 grandchildren this week and have observed the teaching of Thankfulness.  I remember doing the same things...instilling the politeness of saying "thank you."
True thankfulness, however, comes from the heart.  When one is truly thankful, even the little things have mega-meaning.  Thankfulness should be genuine and not just superficial...not that teaching politeness is not important, it is.  The world is way too impolite today and saying "thank you" does make one aware of another's acts of goodness.  True thankfulness, on the other hand, can only be experienced through the working of God in one's heart.  
I'm going to try and find the simple things for which I'm thankful...things I take for granted on a day to day basis...like a simple breakfast...so basic yet enjoyed.  Everything I have comes from God, even the bad things, I just don't acknowledge His goodness enough.

By the way, Lord, I'm really thankful that I was able to be with those 10 grandchildren and thankful for the 4 I didn't get to see...
what gifts!





Sunday, November 24, 2013

Family Roots


So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,
 continue to live your lives in him, 
 rooted and built up in him, 
strengthened in the faith as you were taught,
 and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7



Looking forward to this Thanksgiving season. 
 We'll see many kiddos soon. 
 I'm truly thankful to God.




Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Practicing Messiah


Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
    and extol him with music and song.
Psalm 95:1-2

Our church choir is performing Messiah for our Christmas offering this year.  I'm playing the organ, a very insignificant base to the orchestra but it still is taking a lot of practice.  It's not time to play with the choir yet so in the meantime, I'm singing with them.  It helps me to get the tempo of each section and learn the nuances of the conductor.  I never get tired playing or singing Messiah, though the practice is demanding.  This will be the first time I've ever played with an orchestra and I will only have one session with them before the dress rehearsal with the choir so everything has to be performance-ready--no pressure here.
Like all my musical endeavors the past year and a half, I've called on God to help me concentrate and learn.  I feel it is important to present the best I can because what I do is an offering to God for His goodness in letting me still be involved in His work.  Practicing Messiah is one of them.
Come to think of it, all Christians need to "practice Messiah."  We need to live a life of Christ in all we do even though it is tedious at times.  Everything we do is an offering to Him for all He's done for us.
Off to the organ.

Photo Credit: bigbirdz -- Pyungam Church Gloria Choir

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Let the Earth Be Glad


The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad;
    let the distant shores rejoice.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
    before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
    and all peoples see his glory.
Psalm 97:1, 5-6


I'm praising the Lord today for his glorious earth.  I take too much for granted and sometimes forget that God rules.  He can even bring mountains to rubble if He so chooses.  I'm happy I have a house and family today and thank God for His wonderful graciousness.



  

Monday, November 18, 2013

Blessed Be Your Name


"...Every blessing you pour out 
I'll turn back to praise.
When the darkness closes in, Lord,
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Blessed be your name.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
Blessed be your glorious name..."




Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. You alone are the Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.  You are the Lord God.

Nehemiah 9:5-7


Devastating storms hit Illinois and Indiana yesterday leading to death and destruction.  One was very close to where we lived in Central Illinois for 17 years and two were in Southern Illinois, both close to where we were raised.
How does one bless God in such circumstances?
According to the scriptures...you just do.
He is the author of our lives and knew the day we were born and the day we will leave this earth.  Everything is in His hands and he has dominion over all of it.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.



Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Word In Our Hearts


How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:8-11

My grandchildren are home schooled (the photo above is a borrowed child).  Along with their daily teaching, they are also taught God's Word. This isn't something that just home school teachers can do.  This is something every Christian parent and grandparent are expected to do but, alas, many do not.  Unfortunately, we did not push memorization of God's Word in our home, though we used His Word in our conversations.  We allowed the church to do this for us but unfortunately, most churches do not have their children memorize scripture either.  It only takes one generation for the Word to disappear.




Friday, November 15, 2013

An Icy Blast Brings the Deer


He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
    Who can withstand his icy blast?
He sends his word and melts them;
    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.
Psalm 147:17-18


A cold, rainy day in Dixie...no snow to melt here but raw...a good day for deer hunting.  My husband got his second of the season with a muzzle-loader.  He's so happy.  We put up our first one last week and probably tomorrow we'll do the second one.  God does provide.


Thursday, November 14, 2013

Finding Your Solitary




At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. 
The people were looking for him...
Luke 4:42



If we really want to be like Jesus, 
we need to find our
"solitary place"
every day.







Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Walk In the Light


But if we walk in the light, 
as he is in the light, 
we have fellowship with one another,
 and the blood of Jesus, his Son,
 purifies us from all sin.
1 John 1:7


It's a beautiful, sunny day today and this verse popped into my head.  Walk in and with The Light today.


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

His Word Runs Swiftly


He sends his command to the earth;
 his word runs swiftly.
He spreads the snow like wool
 and scatters the frost like ashes.
He hurls down his hail like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
Psalm 147:15-17


From Fall to Winter...overnight.
Even in Tennessee, today we will feel His "icy blast."
"It's time."  He states.
He's handed down His word.
The lady bugs, butterflies and wasps knew to drink the nectar left by the hummingbirds who left weeks ago.  The bluebirds made their last appearance as they stopped to rest here yesterday on their migration journey. 
It's time to pull out the fuzzies and put the soup on the stove because God has spoken.




Saturday, November 9, 2013

The Blood Trail


But now in Christ Jesus 
you who once were far away
 have been brought near 
by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:13

I sealed some leaves I picked up on my walk the other day and when they dried, I put them on our table for a Fall decoration.  My husband walked by and pointed to one leaf and said, "I don't like this leaf."  I was confused and wondered why he would be so adamantly against a beautiful leaf, the one I thought was the prettiest one, the yellow one with the big red splotch on the corner.
"Why?" I asked.
"Because it's the one that can lead the tracker away from his kill.  You see," he continued, "the hunter is looking for blood stained leaves to lead him in the right direction after he's shot his deer.  The deer must be found and many are very strong, even after being shot, and wander far into the woods for protection.  Because I don't want to waste a good deer, I go after him until I find him.  When I see a leaf like this, it can lead me on another 'trail' and I can lose the deer."  That made sense to me and it's something of which I'd never thought and it got me thinking of how many times we get off the blood-stained trail of Christ.
We're well on our journey and tracking his will with all our might until, suddenly, we see what we think is the "trail of Christ" when, in fact, we've been side-tracked by the evil one who put a diversion in our way...something that looked like Christ but was actually a ploy.  Some keep following that until they get desperately lost and lose their reason for coming in the woods in the first place.  They find their way home but never get the trophy.  Some realize they are on the wrong track and return until they find the right one again and at the end of the trail, they find their prize.
I've noticed a lot of leaves like that in my walks, still like them and even more so since they remind me to stay fixed on the blood trail of Christ.



Friday, November 8, 2013

I've Made My Choice


 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:15


  Each day presents a challenge...either I choose to do what God wants or what his adversary wants.  We choose each day which god/God to serve.
We taught our children to worship the true God and now they are teaching their children but it only takes one generation who doesn't care which god they serve for the Lord to vanish from the earth in the hearts of man.  Look around and you'll see what I mean.  It's happening as I speak.
Who do you choose?


Thursday, November 7, 2013

Whine or Worship?


 I know what it is to be in need, 
and I know what it is to have plenty.
 I have learned the secret of being content 
in any and every situation, 
whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
  I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:12-13

This last line has been my mantra since my sister (who has gone to be with Jesus) gave me a purse with this inscription on it.  It must be others' too since I receive positive comments every time I carry it.  However, the first part of this scripture sometimes gets overlooked.  We've lived in "want" before and I must say that I was not as contented as I could have been during those times.  I wanted more instead of being grateful for what I had.  Even when we had "plenty," I still wanted more.  I whined instead of worshiped.  
We have entered our retirement years and we are still working hard to get extra money to live our lives comfortably but I am realizing how spoiled I have been in the past.  I am living merely by the grace of God and God gives me the strength each day to accomplish His task for me.  I'm fully aware that He has gifted me in unique ways and I am full of thanks to Him, the Giver of All Things, for the opportunities He still provides for me.  I am humbled that He allows me, a sinner, to share in His wonderful work.  Things are different now...a lot less whining and a lot more praising.


Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sometimes Children are Just...Children


 Children just naturally 
do silly, careless things,... 
Proverbs 22:15a
Good News Translation in Today’s English Version- Second Edition Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.


I was reading an excerpt of a book today that talked about "Love and Respect in the Family"
and this was one of the scriptures used.  I don't think I have seen it put this way in the Bible before but it is so true.  Sometimes we over-react to everyday situations that maybe have even happened to us adults and blamed the kids for being non-respectful when, in fact, they are only being kids.  The author stated that after a childish event she would pray, "Lord, help me to respond instead of react."  That sounds like good advice in any touchy situation.


Photo Credit:  r.nial bradshaw