tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90332674507142896872024-03-04T21:06:52.936-08:00His LilyEVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IN HIS TIMEStone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-45028849854068780412009-08-24T06:07:00.000-07:002009-10-27T19:22:03.229-07:00Building Materials<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSOkDu_BDsDIrrO4HJ3Fg5Qsl_QcFkS-b9g7lX-AQZiVKhXbbiHEJySPcIFtElyNxy6ZFb7p-7LRN3pqexr6kr71vjJq490_EWNPmRg20-rZ27hyuTPTYaNXceTksD0z2O5b2vY-kibPC/s1600-h/blue+flower+against+stone+copy.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 251px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373518161569587954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSOkDu_BDsDIrrO4HJ3Fg5Qsl_QcFkS-b9g7lX-AQZiVKhXbbiHEJySPcIFtElyNxy6ZFb7p-7LRN3pqexr6kr71vjJq490_EWNPmRg20-rZ27hyuTPTYaNXceTksD0z2O5b2vY-kibPC/s320/blue+flower+against+stone+copy.JPG" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Christ is building His Kingdom with Earth's broken things. Men want only the strong, the successful, the victorious, the unbroken, in building their kingdoms; but God is the God of the unsuccessful, of those who have failed. Heaven is filling with earth's broken lives, and there is no bruised reed that Christ cannot take and restore to glorious blessedness and beauty. He can take the life crushed by pain or sorrow and make it into a harp whose music shall be all praise. He can lift earth's saddest failure up to heaven's glory.</span></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;"><em>~ J. R. Miller</em></span></div><div><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em></em></div><div><em><strong>Turn off the "Beautiful Music" and listen to Selah's "God Bless The Broken Road"</strong></em></div><div><em><span style="color:#993399;"></span></em> </div><div><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ffffff;"><em>-</em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><em></em></span></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333399;"><em>"He hath made everything beautiful in His time..."</em> </span></span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">~ </span>Ecclesiastes 3:11</span></span></strong></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/W2671nJMXv8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/W2671nJMXv8&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-9278702076202256342009-05-30T05:49:00.000-07:002009-08-31T06:00:19.436-07:00Music Of The Storm<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0cUXejzvMhVwT4QF8JNt_c5yiel-NbtccH3T-vKEHtjB62WQ6tH7jDooM3_Da6sxKvyNG3MSwTg1IaUGQyJvFw9EDDw1Rl9AlNeXEYBGow-56Zv6owW20ROdL-O_lx1g7c4MPkdS-tEn/s1600-h/104_1223.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341598966937434930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0cUXejzvMhVwT4QF8JNt_c5yiel-NbtccH3T-vKEHtjB62WQ6tH7jDooM3_Da6sxKvyNG3MSwTg1IaUGQyJvFw9EDDw1Rl9AlNeXEYBGow-56Zv6owW20ROdL-O_lx1g7c4MPkdS-tEn/s320/104_1223.JPG" /></a> <span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6633ff;">"Nevertheless Afterward"</span> </span></span><div><span style="font-family:georgia;color:#000000;"><em><strong>(Hebrews 12:11)</strong></em></span></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></em></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">There is a legend that tells of a German baron, who, at his castle on the Rhine, stretched wires from tower to tower, that the winds might convert them into an Aeolian harp. And the soft breezes played about the castle, but no music was born. But one night there arose a great tempest, and hill and castle were smitten by the fury of the mighty winds. The Baron went to the threshold to look out upon the terror of the storm, and the Aeolian harp was filling the air with strains that rang out even above the clamor of the tempest. It needed the tempest to bring out the music!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">And have we not known men whose lives have not given out any entrancing music in the day of a calm prosperity, but who, when the tempest drove against them have astonished their fellows by the power and strength of their music?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Rain, rain,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Beating against the pane!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">How endlessly it pours</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Out of doors</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">From the blackened sky</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">I wonder why!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Flowers, flowers,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Upspringing after showers,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Blossoming fresh and fair,</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Everywhere!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Ah, God has explained</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Why it rained!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">You can always count on God to make the "afterward" of difficulties, if rightly overcome, a thousand times richer and fairer than the forward. "No chastening... seemeth joyous, nevertheless afterward..." What a yield!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><em><span style="font-size:100%;color:#6633ff;">(taken from "Streams In The Desert" ~ compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman)</span></em></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#993399;">"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."</span></em> Hebrews 12:11</span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#993399;">And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said unto me, "Write: for these words are true and faithful."</span></em> Revelation 21:5</span></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="color:#993399;">"He hath made everything beautiful in His time..."</span></em> Ecclesiastes 3:11</span></span></strong></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-6520875664048821932009-04-28T06:27:00.000-07:002009-09-01T11:43:54.344-07:00Bird-Brain Building Projects<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6zjJqsQ0fy9KTCsDB7NOIA3bkTHOEWI6LGCYdqbeQTF07U16ngELjdoCIDBfDmi5jPIRmkthZZfEJE6P8tOgcW0W5efpEN33qQcmZcuHerqHZnF59VprDHVu6A_mEerlI1yTJ9MmSIGV/s1600-h/my+robin+copy.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 292px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329734028403078994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB6zjJqsQ0fy9KTCsDB7NOIA3bkTHOEWI6LGCYdqbeQTF07U16ngELjdoCIDBfDmi5jPIRmkthZZfEJE6P8tOgcW0W5efpEN33qQcmZcuHerqHZnF59VprDHVu6A_mEerlI1yTJ9MmSIGV/s320/my+robin+copy.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">The cats were in a frenzy this morning, and as I passed the window at the kitchen sink, that looks onto my porch, I knew why. I was treated to a very close 'fly-by' –I nearly lost my cup of tea - my robin was back! Every spring, its renewed efforts to build a nest on top of my kitchen window amaze me! After humoring this bird the first time it succeeded, (I was thinking it was cute!), I decided (and so did hubby), that putting up with the twigs, grasses, and bits of whatever, floating down and collecting on the porch deck, just wasn't going to happen! (And, in all fairness, for its own 'peace of mind' - we won't frighten it every time the door is opened as we go in and out!) So I begin again… to get my broom, to swipe along the top of the crown molding to remove the “building materials” before any foundation can be laid. This bird will just have to pick a different spot! Yet, year after year, it comes back, checking out this building site -- you can almost see the wheels in its bird-brain spinning, endeavoring to make this work out once again. How persistent they are! I will roll up a section of newspaper again this year, and place it on the top ledge, to block the space - “no nesting allowed!”<br />But every year, their hope returns. </span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I wonder how often, we display the same “bird-brain” tendencies ~ to be persistent in our building projects: in the dreams we build and the goals we set up; in our determined efforts to see each dream and goal fulfilled according to how we envisioned it; and to plot our course of action based on what we ‘know’ ~ drawing upon previous experiences and/or traditions.<br /><br />After all, nobody wants to move forward “blindly” ~ and, certain ‘methods’ guarantee results. Certain locations seem ‘safe and secure’…<br /><br />But "God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts" ~ <em>Isaiah 55:8-9.</em> As God purposed to build His people, and settle them in His promised land, He moved them out, to cross the Jordan River, in “a new way” -- instructing them to follow the ark of the covenant:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">“When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall move from your place and go after it. Yet keep a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, so that you may know the way by which you must go. For you have not passed this way before now."</span> <em>Joshua 3:3-4 </em></strong></span><br /></span><div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;"><em>“You have not passed this way before”</em></span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">When the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, God had parted the waters before anyone moved ahead. They saw the wonders of God, as He ‘made a way’ for them. Now, as God begins a new chapter in their lives, He tells them, “you have not passed this way before.” There were no experiences to rely upon, and no traditions to fall back on. They could only trust that God would, again, ‘make a way’ ~ and the proof of their trust would be evidenced in their obedience – as they ‘followed on.’<br /></span><br /></span><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;">“When you see the ark… follow it!”</span></em></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">This time the waters didn’t part until the priests stepped out in faith. This time, they had to get their feet wet! They were learning to "walk by faith." This beautiful Old Testament picture is for every believer today ~ how we, too, must walk by faith -- only 'moving from our place' as we follow after God's Voice -- this is 'the way by which we must go.' It is the way of faith. It takes just as much faith to 'stay in your place' - waiting for His signal - as it does to 'move out' when you hear His Voice. In fact, often, it requires greater faith to <em>'wait.'</em> How many times have we formed a 'terrific plan' to carry out a 'good work' - in the absence of a specific word from God? Our best thinking - apart from His direction - is not Faith -- it's 'Labor and Spin.' But, the world tells us: "Don't just stand there... do something!" As a 'people' ~ we tend to want to be seen as: 'doing something'... rather than: 'standing before the LORD - waiting on Him.' But God says:</span> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></div><em><span style="color:#ccccff;"></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;">"Don't just 'do something' ~ Stand there!"</span></em></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Wait for God's direction ~ and then, follow Him, one step at a time. The only ‘word’ the Israelites had from God: “when you see the ark… follow it!” They had to ‘follow on to know – to know the way to go.” How beautifully this, too, pictures Jesus ~ Who is "The Way" and we must keep our eyes on Him!</span><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">"And I will bring the blind by a way they knew not; I will lead them in paths they have not known; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. I will do these things to them, and not forsake them." </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"><em>Isaiah 42:16</em></span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">"For we walk by faith, not by sight"</span> <em>2 Corinthians 5:7</em></strong></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><em><br /></em><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">God is the Architect of every ‘building project’ we encounter – when we live our lives in Him.<br />King David <em>(the most likely writer of Psalm 127)</em> exhorts his son, Solomon ~</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">“Unless the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it.”</span> <em>Psalm 127:1</em></strong><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">We can be ‘bird-brained’ oftentimes, though, … formulating a vision of what the outcome should be, and working towards that end… the result? “Wood, hay, and stubble”—<em>1 Corinthians 3:12.</em></span><br /></span><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">"...But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is."</span> </span></span><em><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">1 Corinthians 3:10-13</span><br /></span></em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When we surrender our building projects to the LORD ~ it is an act of worship! We worship in the beauty of holiness ~ bringing Him our gifts of gold, silver, and precious stones! Our <em><strong><span style="color:#cc66cc;">'beautiful surrender'</span></strong></em> brings glory to His Name! Then, we find ourselves in the Valley of Blessing~</span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">"O our God, ...we have no might... neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon You"</span> </span></span></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 Chronicles 20:12</span><br /></span></div></em></strong></span><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;">"The valley of Berachah"</span></em></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;">“And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD…”</span><em><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span></em></span></strong></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;">2 Chronicles 20:26</span><br /></em></strong></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Simply ‘follow on’ ~ in one step of faith at a time. Wait for His Voice, and then follow as He calls! As another “lily” most profoundly sings:<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><strong><em>“Could it be that He is only waiting there to see</em></strong></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><strong><em>If I will learn to love the dreams that He has dreamed for me?”<br /></em></strong></span><br />He is the Master-Builder, and His designs and dreams for you may include castles! </span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:130%;">“Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.”</span></em></span></div><em><br /></em><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>“I Will Listen”<br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em>by Twila Paris<br /></em></strong></span>Hard as it seems<br />Standing in dreams<br />Where is the dreamer now?<br /><br /><div align="left">Wonder if I wanted to try</div><div align="left">Would I remember how?<br />I don’t know the way to go from here</div><div align="left">But I know that I have made my choice</div><div align="left">This is where I stand until He moves me on</div><div align="left">And I will listen to His voice</div><div align="left"><br />This is the faith</div><div align="left">Patience to wait</div><div align="left">When there is nothing clear</div><div align="left">Nothing to see</div><div align="left">Still we believe</div><div align="left">Jesus is very near<br />I cannot imagine what will come</div><div align="left">But I’ve already made my choice</div><div align="left">And this is where I stand until He moves me on</div><div align="left">And I will listen to His voice</div><div align="left"><br /><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Could it be that He is only waiting there to see</span></em></div><div align="left"><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">If I will learn to love the dreams that He has dreamed for me</span></em></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Can’t imagine what the future holds</div><div align="left">But I’ve already made my choice</div><div align="left">And this is where I stand until He moves me on</div><div align="left">And I will listen to His voice</div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><strong>For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle-dove is heard in our land; The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><strong>Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><strong><em>Song of Solomon 2:11-13</em></strong></span></span></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:78%;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="left"></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-70164869167885538352009-01-23T14:21:00.000-08:002009-05-30T06:28:24.303-07:00The Calling Of Your Hearts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakQQD-FofjP6_krUz0d1LEEVpRfbwDB6aJ5aTZ2wUyO9YjAzEuM1m79Ajr9vKfxzqmjriL-CfnjNRuLJ-dI4ZHX2PGlGPAxwDk6aqu_YyS5KpdtAgdHQpIGQyibYSzwniQhhksBf3Zw_0/s1600-h/Dad-pic-7+copy.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 254px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294618868708748930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakQQD-FofjP6_krUz0d1LEEVpRfbwDB6aJ5aTZ2wUyO9YjAzEuM1m79Ajr9vKfxzqmjriL-CfnjNRuLJ-dI4ZHX2PGlGPAxwDk6aqu_YyS5KpdtAgdHQpIGQyibYSzwniQhhksBf3Zw_0/s320/Dad-pic-7+copy.JPG" /></a> <strong><em><span style="color:#330099;">For my Daddy ~ </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#330099;">He went "<a href="http://thecallingofyourheart.blogspot.com/2009/01/ill-be-home-for-christmas.html"><span style="color:#6600cc;">home for Christmas</span></a>" -- On December 23, 2008</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#330099;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(from Dad's memorial service: January 3, 2009)</span> </span></em></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">“<a href="http://thecallingofyourheart.blogspot.com/2009/01/dads-getting-dressed-for-wedding.html"><span style="color:#6600cc;">The Wedding Song</span></a>” is a classic love song, which Paul Stookey, of “Peter, Paul, and Mary” –wrote for Peter’s wedding. He shares how the lyrics came to him: </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><br /><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">"Lord," I prayed, "nothing would bless this wedding ceremony more than Your presence. How would You manifest Yourself?"</span></em> </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">And the lyrics came: <em>“I am now to be among you at the calling of your hearts…”</em><br /></span><br />Paul changed the “I” to “He” – to tell how God’s presence blesses a marriage. I pray that, today, His presence would bless this “marriage ceremony” as well, – for in reality, my Dad is united with the Bride Groom ~ </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Jesus Christ!<br /><br /><em><strong><span style="color:#333399;">The Calling of Your Hearts – to A Beautiful Life!!<br /></span></strong></em><strong><em></em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><strong><em>My Dad</em></strong> – you’d often find him on the floor. Rolling on it, that is, laughing…<br /><br />Mom and Dad just got a computer. And recently, my sister, Sue, sent them an email… and it so happens that the time Mom and Dad were reading it, Sue called… mom says… “Dad’s on the floor”...<br /><br />My cousin Chip was telling us this week, how he remembers when my dad came up to NY from PA, looking for work. He was staying at Uncle Carl’s house. Dad would watch Saturday morning cartoons with him. Dad would be watching <span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em>T</em></span><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">he Road Runner</em>,</span> rolling on the floor laughing --- Chip would be watching Dad!<br /><br />Many of you remember Dad’s “Charlie” jokes… Chip asked me how I was going to handle “Charlie” --- there, I just did!<br /><br />My Dad had a few favorite sayings…. When I drive, I find myself repeating some of them! If Dad got behind a slow driver, he’d say… “I’m gonna suck you up my exhaust” – I always wondered how that would work … since the exhaust pipe is in the rear of the car and the people driving below the speed limit were in front of him!<br /><br />Regarding things that would irritate him…. such as the white fuzzy seeds on the trees in June, that would clog the pool filter… Dad would say, <strong><em>“I’m gonna dynamite it!”</em></strong> (the trees, not the pool!) Both his dad and mom’s dad worked in the coal mines in PA, and in those days, they’d just have some dynamite laying around…. I’m sure he wishes he brought some to NY!<br /><br />The one word I catch myself saying – probably too many times a day - </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">is “STUPID!” </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Now, Dad NEVER called any of us that!! </span><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">THIS ONLY APPLIED TO INANIMATE OBJECTS & SITUATIONS.</span> For example, today, on the way to the service, I was eating a clementine -- that is a tangerine that doesn't have seeds. Well, every piece I ate had at least 2 or 3 seeds in it! I told Tom – "It’s STUPID!" Anything that didn’t go “right” – or work “right” – was STUPID. So I was thinking about this… <span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em>If anything is stupid – you dynamite it!</em></strong><br /></span><strong>I’m sure he’s on Heaven’s floor right now!</strong><br /><br />Mom was telling us this week – how, when they were dating, he would suggest they go parking in the PA mountains … but mom was afraid of bears! We’re all thinking that was dad’s point… she’d stick pretty close to him.<br /><br />High School… We often heard the story of Typing class… where mom would raise her hand, and say, “Mr. ....., my typewriter isn’t working!” – meanwhile, dad, who was sitting behind her, had stretched his foot forward, to nudge the plug out of the outlet just enough…. Of course, as the teacher was coming to fix the problem, he’d push it back in, and then, the typewriter worked. As soon as the teacher walked away, ….. mom would be saying, “Mr. ….., my typewriter isn’t working again!” Dad would be laughing!<br /><br />Dad loved Elvis, and for his 50th birthday, we all arranged for Elvis to show up at the house! I can still hear dad sing, “There Will Be Peace In The Valley…. for me…. someday.” <strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><em>That day is here.</em><br /></span></strong><br />At Christmas, you could never tell what your present was by the size or shape of the box… I think the grandsons have requested a few Nintendo or PlayStation games, only to open a box of Huggies Diapers. Dad loved video games, too…. In fact, this year, he bought himself a PS3 –<br /><br />Mom would call him John Bull or Johnny Bull – the Englishman – if they got into a disagreement…. Dad would be laughing. I can, in all honesty, tell you, that a disagreement between them, was very rare in our house. That’s a testimony to the kind of marriage they had.<br /><br />Speaking of Englishmen…. Dad now knows I’m the one that started the “007” pranks on him at Christmas for several years – <em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>It goes like this:</strong></span> </em></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em><br /></em><strong>Graham. John Graham. 007-275. Licensed to:____. </strong><em>(plunge toilets / hammer nails into 2 X 4’s…)</em> "Whatever"… It varied year to year. He would’ve made a great "Bond"… with his very handsome looks, his quick smile, and his somewhat protruding belly…<br /><br />The “275” is just his house number – though, I wouldn’t be surprised if it reflected the number of ladies’ broken hearts – because Dad was a GREAT CATCH! <em>BUT</em> - he was totally a one-woman man. My mom has at least one close girlfriend who likes to call him ‘boyfriend’ -- her name happens to be Judy, too!<br /><br />I dragged my mom and my sister Sue, into this “007 drama" – where we’d write teaser notes and drop off ‘gag’ gifts – usually beginning a few days before Christmas. On Christmas Eve, we would leave Tom’s parents’ house late, and on the way home, we’d drive up my parents’ road, and I’d jump out – with a sign attached to a large stake, and a sledge hammer. I’d pound it in his front yard – 20 feet from the house, right smack in the middle of his big front window – so he couldn’t miss it Christmas morning. Then I’d try to erase my foot prints in the snow!<br /><br />The toughest drop-off was always later Christmas Day -- Trying to make it seem that the “gift” didn’t appear the same time we all did! That was always the “grand finale."<br /><br />We veered off the “Bond image” at times, creating identities for him – that reflected his life, his career, or his interests: ELVIS; GRAMBO; MR. MOM; JOHN – THE JOHN-MAN … (that was more of a ‘honey-do’ theme, rather than a plumber…. you know... a ‘Tim the tool-man Taylor’ -type)… One year, we left a message for 007-275 on a roll of toilet paper – the roll was on a broomstick, set up in the rafters of the garage ceiling, in front of his kitchen door. We pulled down the toilet paper to reveal the message. That might have been: “John the John-Man” year.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Today he’s ---- Graham. John Graham. 007-275. Licensed to live forever!</span> </em></strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">Dad is one of 9 kids …. <a href="http://hislily.blogspot.com/2008/05/cadillacs-and-volkswagons-pt-2.html"><span style="color:#6600cc;">His mom, is 98 yrs. old</span></a>! There are 10 kids in mom’s family… So there are many brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces and nephews…. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><strong><em>And everyone just loves him!</em></strong><br /><br />Dad’s family always had a very large garden, full of strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, and every veggie you can grow. And he had a beautiful garden, too.<br /><br />Dad and I know GOOD DIRT. Especially the smell of it! One summer in the Adirondacks, browsing the shops in Lake George, I was smelling the rose-scented soaps, and lavender sachets, … and a sales-lady came over and wanted to show me a particular variety. She opened the lid of a jar, and shoved it under my nose…. And exclaimed, “you’ll just never guess what scent this is!” She was so certain I wouldn’t figure it out!! “Dirt” I replied! “No, no,” she said, “it’s mud!” I told my dad - “I’d recognize that smell anywhere!” I learned that from him.<br /><br />There’s nothing like the smell of dirt when it’s tilled and ready to plant! My dad and I would get down on our knees, and he had a way of running his hand through the dirt, spreading it out, scooping some up, running it through his hands, evaluating the color, the richness, the content – usually how much compost it contained – and he’d say to me, “now, that’s good dirt!” </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><div align="left">Like the Huggies Diapers… Dad’s presents were fun! – Him and mom, and the rest of our family, Tom’s family included -- “pitched” in, and got me 40 – 40lb bags of cow manure, for my 40th birthday. I think I only asked for 1 or 2!<br /><br />And he taught us well! -- For Father’s Day, one year, …my sisters and I showed up - the day before, to “hang out” with dad. We were also waiting for his present to arrive! A big red dump truck pulled up, backing into his driveway, and the guy got out, and asked my dad, “Where do you want it?” Dad didn’t know that we had gotten him 8 yards of DIRT for Father’s Day. <em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">[I hate to say, I don’t think any of us stuck around to help him move it all to the backyard!]</span></em> I think mom was in on that one, too! She also loves to garden! They shared many, many hours of gardening – just one example of the knitting together of their hearts in like passions. They have planted a glimpse of heaven in their backyard!<br /><br /><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><em>John and Judy ~ The Second Greatest Love Story Ever!</em></strong><br /></span>They HAVE a love that is endless: a love that abides forever –<br />They HAVE a love that knows no bounds: <em>Life cannot measure it. Death cannot extinguish it.</em><br />They HAVE a love that is “perfect” – in the Biblical use of the word – meaning “complete.” They “complete” each other. They were made for each other. The Lord God called their hearts to each other, and to Him.<br /><br />In Genesis 2, God established His DESIGN for the relationship between a man and a woman:<br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."</em> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="color:#000000;">~</span> </span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;">Genesis 2:24</span><br /></span></em></strong></span><br />In Ephesians 5, Paul lays down the principles of marriage to be followed – following the example of Jesus Christ. <em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">(This is what I call the “marriage dance” – in this sense, boy did mom and dad know how to dance well!!)</span></em><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God ~<br />Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.<br />For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body…<br /><br />Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word…<br /><br />So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord loves the church…" </em></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<em><strong> Ephesians 5:21-33</strong></em></span></span><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">Today, I stand before you as a witness – to testify of the love between my dad and my mom – And the obedience of my Dad to the Word of God: “to love as Christ loves.” </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">This is his legacy!</span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;color:#993399;"><span style="color:#333399;">MY DAD FULFILLED GOD’S CALL TO LOVE</span><br /></span></strong>Pastor and Bible Commentator, John MacArthur, expounds on this, in his “Divine Directive for Husbands” - when I read this, I think of my Dad. </div><div align="left"><strong><em>He writes ~</em></strong><br />“The Lord's pattern of love for His church is the husband's pattern of love for his wife, and it is characterized by – A Sacrificial Love --- in caring, in protecting, and in providing for her. Christ loved the church by giving "Himself up for her." The husband who loves his wife as Christ loves His church will give up everything he has for his wife, including his life if necessary.” </div><div align="left"><br /><strong><em>He continues…</em></strong> “ … it is much more difficult to make lesser, but actual sacrifices for your wife…. Husbands, when you put aside your own likes, desires, opinions, preferences, and welfare to please your wife and meet her needs, then you are truly dying to self to live for your wife. And that is what Christ's love demands.” </div><div align="left"><br /><strong><em>This is how my Dad lived and loved.</em></strong> We have witnessed his “Christ-like love” – demonstrated over and over again, in the love he had for mom, and for each of us girls. He is the most loving, unselfish, generous man we've ever known. He knows what it means to lay down his life for his wife and his daughters – He loves as Christ loves. </div><div align="left"><br /><em><strong>Paul writes in Philippians ~</strong></em><br /><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">"Do nothing out of selfish ambition… but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who… made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant… "</span> </em><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Philippians 2:3-7</em></strong></span></span><strong><br /></strong></span></span><br /><strong><em>And Jesus tells His disciplies in Matthew ~<br /></em></strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be chief among you, let him be your servant; even as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." </em><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Matthew 20:26-28</em></strong></span></span></span><br /></span><br /><strong><em>This describes my Dad – He was a “servant chief.” Mom tells us, he let her be “boss” every other day!</em></strong><br /><br />Dad had a ‘servant’s heart’ -- One WEED you’d never find in the “garden of Dad’s life” - was </div><div align="left">SELF-AMBITION. He had no “Ambition” to be a “Somebody”… rather, he esteemed us as his "somebodies" -- and he always "worked to make things happen" for us – whatever we needed – help, support, wisdom, counsel, muscle -- it wasn’t ever about money – though he would have gladly given that, too -- if needed…. It was about HIS PRESENCE. And in that he was Christ-like! He did ‘his part’ and was content in that -- to be the best husband and father ever, and to love self-sacrificially as Christ loves His Bride – that is, His Church.<br /><br /><strong><em>Jesus said ~<br /></em></strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."</em> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>John 15:12-13</em></strong></span></span><br /></span><br />This is where the seed of a beautiful life is planted, and grows, by the power of God and the provision of God. It is only the power of God that can enable us to love one another in this way. When you see God’s “agape” love – that is, His unconditional love, shining out of the life of His child, then, you have seen a visible representation of God -- for God is love.<br /><br /><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><em><span style="color:#000000;">And today, I stand as a witness before you, that I have seen God --- flowing out of the life of my dad.</span></em></strong><br /></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="color:#333399;">A Love That Is Better Than Life!</span><br /></span></em></strong>The Psalmist wrote:</div><div align="left"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>“Because Your love (O, LORD!) is better than life, my lips will glorify You”</em></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Psalm 63:3</em></strong></span></span><br /><br />Dad’s love for us, like our Heavenly Father’s love, was better than life! And here’s the KEY: He was able to love the way he did, with the love of Christ, because he loved God!<br /><br />Jesus declares His Father’s command for life:<br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”</em> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Matthew 22:37-39</em></strong></span></span><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><em>As I read the following, many of you will recall the times when my dad loved you ~ What does the love of Christ look like?</em></strong><br /></span><br /><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."</span></em> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>1 Corinthians 13:4-8</em></strong></span></span><br /><br /><em>God invites each of us into a love relationship with His Son. This is our High Calling… </em></div><div align="left"><em>THE CALLING OF OUR HEARTS ~ To know Him, to love Him, and to love one another.<br /></em><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">Responding To This Call – Produces An Abundant Life!!<br /></span></em></strong>Jesus said --<br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>“The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly.”</em> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>John 10:10</em></strong></span></span><br /></span><br />An Abundant life is a A fruitful life –<br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"The fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."</em> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Galatians 6:2</em></strong></span></span><br /></span><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Dad was a “fruity guy” – what can I say!!! – the only time he lost control – was when he was on the floor laughing!</span></em></strong><br /><br />This is the kind of life that Jesus fills us with, when we trust in Him! And this enables us to view “LIFE” through God’s eternal perspective. Then, how we react to the circumstances LIFE throws at us …will change, because of His presence –<br />1 Corinthians 13:12 - tells us that: </div><div align="left"><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">"Now, we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face..."<br /></span></em><br />I know God has a purpose in allowing this tragic event – though we may not see it clearly, yet. His Word tells us that He works all things for good – FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM! I may be tempted to say, “this is so "STUPID" -- <em>as dad would say</em>…<br /><br />But WAIT! … He isn't saying that -- because "now he sees "face to face" -- and we only see through a glass darkly! I might say "stupid" -- but Dad now knows the reason why God allowed this to touch our lives! I imagine he's up there, cheering us on - to keep running this race - </div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="color:#33cc00;">"till God makes everything beautiful -- in His time!"</span></em></strong><br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="color:#333399;">The Greatest Love Story Ever…</span><br /></span></em></strong>From God’s perspective – being that He’s “outside of time”…. Life doesn’t end – The question is… where will you spend it?<br /><br />We have just celebrated Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, whom He gave to us, because He so loved us – and for us who have placed our faith in Him, we will have eternal life: living with Him, in His presence. This is the reason for the season – the reason God sent His Son. <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong><em>(John 3:16)</em></strong></span><br /><br />This is what mom told us – as we gathered around my Dad, early Tuesday morning, December 23, right after he had moved to heaven. It’s all about Jesus ~ He was born to die -- so that we can live forever!<br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"This is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." </em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>1 John 5:11-12</em></strong></span></span><br /></span><br /><em><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="color:#333399;">This is “ The Calling of Your Hearts” – to An Eternal Life!!</span><br /></span></strong></em>Pursue God with all of your heart! And you will discover the life my Dad lives ~<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">A BEAUTIFUL LIFE... </span><span style="color:#ffffff;">- </span><span style="color:#cc33cc;">AN ABUNDANT LIFE... <span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span> </span><span style="color:#cc33cc;">AN ETERNAL LIFE...<br /><em>AND</em> … A LOVE THAT IS BETTER THAN LIFE!<br /></span><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;">All Because Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!</span><br /></em></strong><br />We are called to be the Bride of Christ - And Dad is getting dressed for the Wedding!<br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His Bride has made herself ready... </em></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb…" </em><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Revelation 19:7-9</em></strong></span></span><br /><br /></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>"And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new."</em> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:78%;">~<strong> <em>Revelation 21:5</em></strong></span></span><br /></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:100%;color:#330099;"><em>Have You Responded To This Calling?</em></span></strong></span></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-58916791644807788642008-11-21T06:16:00.000-08:002008-11-21T13:52:31.227-08:00White Rain<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;color:#3366ff;">"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?"</span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Job 38:22</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"></div><p></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmfDByqtt6VJGJdq8d_sapmaBpDiKD7r6sfPFcBc5ge0WPu4IgCZo1TE7Nb_MPLDGTJOEz5ES9mZL5h2Fseg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="left">The Lord God asked Job <em>(in Job 38)</em> ~ "Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the frost?" The answer is obvious...</span></p><p align="left"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;">"This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working."</span></em> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Isaiah 28:29</strong></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">In the New Testament, James tells us:</span> </p><p align="left"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><span style="color:#3366ff;">"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning."</span> </span></em><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>James 1:17</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">God's "gifts" include the rain and the snow ~ even if we don't like the cold! Each season, in fact, each morning, brings God's Provisions -- new mercies we see! His faithfulness is so great - it reaches to the heavens! And includes everything He sends from heaven.</span></p><p align="left"><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#3366ff;">"Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds."</span></em> <span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Psalm 36:5</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc66cc;"><em><blockquote><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc66cc;"><em>"...All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc66cc;"><em>Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! -- </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc66cc;"><em>Summer and winter and springtime and harvest; </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc66cc;"><em>Sun, moon and stars in their courses above - </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc66cc;"><em>Join with all nature in manifold witness - </em></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;color:#cc66cc;"><em>To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love!"</em></span></p></blockquote></em></span><p><span style="font-size:130%;">In 1923, <a href="http://hislily.blogspot.com/2008/11/beautiful-words-wonderful-words.html"><span style="color:#3366ff;">hymn</span></a> writer, <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/gisthyf.htm"><span style="color:#3366ff;">Thomas Chisholm</span></a>, wrote: "GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS" ~ Truly, God is so faithful to provide all we need! And this can be our 'song' as we consider our Thanksgiving holiday approaching. Enjoy listening to "Selah's" Todd Smith sing this marvelous hymn, knowing how deeply he understands God's faithfulness, experiencing it first hand. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><em>(</em></span><a href="http://christianmusic.about.com/b/2008/04/21/selahsmithbabynews.htm"><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">click here:</span></em></a><em> for the article about his daughter / and his wife's blog: "</em><a href="http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/2008/04/audrey-caroline-is-here.html"><em><span style="color:#9999ff;">Bring The Rain</span></em></a><em>")</em></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Great is Thy faithfulness!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Great is Thy faithfulness!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Morning by morning new mercies I see.</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!</span><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/JJHao_5N9d8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/JJHao_5N9d8&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(verse 1):</span></em> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father; There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not; As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.</span></p><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333399;"></span><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">(verse 2):</span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Summer and winter and springtime and harvest: Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. </span></span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(verse 3):</span></em> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">"It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High: To show forth Thy lovingkindness in the morning, and Thy faithfulness every night..."</span> Psalm 92:1-2 </strong></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;">"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in Him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him."</span> Lamentations 3:22-25</strong></span></p>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-83997649103656739872008-11-13T05:31:00.000-08:002009-05-03T12:37:15.357-07:00Beautiful Words, Wonderful Words, Wonderful Words of Life!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjnDPlBOl-PRWGusGet_kqwOB7I-szTfVKgjWgFUrxNGVteReYNvmO8J9UheBVdK3UwYP_rPqz-o0uMXmdF1who6Bxr7HzfJawixiJ9wecgRY1iHTDKdmVk_xXRkkqLsY00E78dl3tvGR/s1600-h/101_8489.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268146421498392146" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 134px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbjnDPlBOl-PRWGusGet_kqwOB7I-szTfVKgjWgFUrxNGVteReYNvmO8J9UheBVdK3UwYP_rPqz-o0uMXmdF1who6Bxr7HzfJawixiJ9wecgRY1iHTDKdmVk_xXRkkqLsY00E78dl3tvGR/s200/101_8489.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://hislily.blogspot.com/2008/11/that-beautiful-name.html"><span style="color:#000099;">Hymns</span></a> ~ are simply beautiful words, put to beautiful music, that "knit" our hearts together with those who love them -- throughout the ages! When someone speaks of their love for hymns, if you love hymns, something deep inside of your heart cries, <strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">"Yes! I know!"</span></em></strong> And this is a 'knowledge of experience' ~ as those who love hymns have found, the Spirit of God has a way of bringing those inspired words into your head, to speak to your heart, at just the time you need them! "Fill my cup, LORD, with that <strong><em><span style="color:#6633ff;">'soul-quenching water'</span></em></strong> that never runs dry!" Hymns satisfy a thirst, like no other songs can do. Oh, that we would draw from this well of worship, and learn what "true worship" really is! Sadly, in some areas of our country, we have a whole generation of young people who simply don't know this heritage of our faith.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I found someone who knows this blessing of "growing up" with these inspired works of God!" I pray that God would use her, and the talent she recognizes He has given her, to restore a love for hymns in a new generation! Enjoy listening, as this "lily of the field" shares her thoughts about "hymns" ~ and then, "sings her soul"...</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000099;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>Carrie Underwood singing "How Great Thou Art" ~</em></strong> </span></span></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;">Live from The Grand Ole Opry </span></em></strong></div><div></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong><br /><p><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></span></em></strong></p><p><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000099;"></p></span></em></strong><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value=="http://www.youtube.com/v/nhvaDJTUmrU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nhvaDJTUmrU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">For more Beautiful Music:</span></em></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/"></a><br /><a href="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/standalone/52773621" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/download/52773621"></a><a href="http://view.playlist.com/13510046987">Beautiful Words, Wonderful Words, Wonderful Words of Life</a>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-73240533442808153442008-11-11T08:54:00.002-08:002008-11-14T06:09:32.133-08:00Downpour<p align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6633ff;"><strong><em>"He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: </em></strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;color:#6633ff;"><strong><em>as showers that water the earth." </em></strong></span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;">Psalm 72:6</span></strong></p><p align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRQI9tWpkYP84ER23P41zb-hDxVyim5m8ge2ZYj301IrJC4kXkbIId4suOp7-FyxhmBsrFPE5y58Opr2bKnA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p align="center"></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">"O how pleasant are the effects of rain to languishing plants, to make them green and beautiful, lively and strong, fragrant and beautiful! So the effects of Christ's influences are most desirable to drooping souls, for enlightening and enlivening them, for confirming and strengthening them, for comforting and enlarging them, for appetizing and satisfying them, transforming and beautifying them. A shower from Christ would soon make the church, though withered, turn green and beautiful, and to send forth a smell as of a field that the Lord hath blessed...</span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">...As nothing can stop the falling of the rain; so nothing can hinder Christ's gracious influences, when He designs to awake, convince, or soften a hard heart. When those showers do fall on sinners, the most <em>'obstinate will'</em> must yield, and cry, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' " </span></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#339999;">~ John Willison</span></em></strong></p><p align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993399;">As he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, 'Saul, Saul...'<br />And he said, Who art Thou, Lord?<br />And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.<br />And he trembling and astonished said, 'Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?' </span></em></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Acts 9:3-6</em></strong></span> </p><p align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#6633ff;"><strong>Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.<br />My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He. </strong></span></p><p align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>Deuteronomy 32:1-4</em></strong></span></p><p align="left"></p>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-41994577987391756992008-11-07T18:14:00.000-08:002009-02-24T12:30:06.914-08:00Oh, What A Beautiful Morning ~ Oh, What A Beautiful Day!<div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKjqzdmggRHevjbV81HMqIQWZqgA_ZTox6rPcg5LIqlJ1UmtbQt1qHGECDOTCIAyK28GtMMVN1cDZkpEnWJtnGhTH9KFUQnc6bGBWZ0kdKJQZdcMdskQ_bjuNqwVr3fkbpPFAhVZRq19s/s1600-h/104_0253.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266302477579458658" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKjqzdmggRHevjbV81HMqIQWZqgA_ZTox6rPcg5LIqlJ1UmtbQt1qHGECDOTCIAyK28GtMMVN1cDZkpEnWJtnGhTH9KFUQnc6bGBWZ0kdKJQZdcMdskQ_bjuNqwVr3fkbpPFAhVZRq19s/s320/104_0253.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em><strong></strong></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"><em><strong>-</strong></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em><strong>"Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own."</strong></em></span><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong>~ CHARLES DICKENS</strong></span> </span></div><p><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong></strong></span></p><p></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">What a beautiful day! </span><span style="font-size:130%;">It must have reached 70 degrees this afternoon in western NY! And, as I worked outside, to clean up the rest of the gardens, getting them ready for winter, I noticed, in my November garden, a single red rose, in bloom!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It must have been that type of day, when the Angel of the LORD visited Abraham and Sarah, and announced that "according to the time of life," Sarah would have a son! And Sarah laughed! It was certainly past the 'season' for child-bearing, seeing that Sarah was 90 years old. <span style="font-size:100%;"><em>(Genesis 17:17)</em></span> How often do we believe the 'season' is past, then God surprises us with something only He can do? "Tis the season"!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">God's ways are not our ways! And His Timing, often, is not our timing -- but His Timing is always perfect! There is "much" He has to work out ~ in our lives, in our character, in our relationships -- before He can entrust us with His redemptive plans and purposes ~ in serving Him. He uses the "wheel of circumstances" to fashion our lives, molding us into His image, and all that He's designed for us -- just as a potter would mold some clay for a specific use. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"><em><strong>-</strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;color:#000099;">"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-family:verdana;"><em>~ Isaiah 55:8-9</em></span></strong></span><br /><span style="color:#ffffff;">~</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">At the Lord's "appointed time" He "visited Sarah"</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> as He had said, and He "did unto Sarah" as </span><span style="font-size:130%;">He had spoken! <em><span style="font-size:100%;">(Genesis 18:14; 21:1)</span></em> God named this baby "Isaac" which means "laughter" ~ because Sarah laughed at the idea of bearing a child in her old age! </span></p><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">The Lord gently reminded Sarah: </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>"Is anything too hard for the LORD?"</strong></span></em> </span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Genesis 18:14</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">We, too, must often "wait for the Lord" -- for the promises He has spoken to our hearts, and for His guidance and direction in our lives. His answers don't always come right away - as we'd like them to! Rather, we <strong><em>must</em></strong> wait for it! When we get discouraged, and feel too much time has gone by, we must ask Him to strengthen our hearts to "wait"!! He is always faithful to encourage us -- whether through His Word, through something shared by a friend, or through a circumstance, because, He is FAITHFUL! Let's not impeach His Word or His Character, by giving in to doubt... by having our attitudes reveal that, in fact, we actually believe: He isn't able! Or - in believing that He may have lied to us - going back on His Word, or that He simply has <strong><em>not followed through</em></strong> on His promises. God's Word tells us that we're the ones that need to <strong><em>"follow on":</em></strong></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ccccff;"><strong><em>"...follow on to know..."</em></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">"Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; </span></strong></span></span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."</span><em> </em></strong></span><strong><span style="color:#000000;"><em>~ Hosea 6:3</em></span></strong></span></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">~</span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">This wonderful verse imparts a whole lot of understanding about God's Timing! It tells us, first, that we must <strong><em>"<a href="http://hislily.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-beginnings.html"><span style="color:#6600cc;">follow on to know</span></a>"!</em></strong> If we quit waiting and quit hoping, quit praying, and quit seeking the Lord -- whether individually, or with others -- by moving on with our lives and taking matters into our own hands, doing our best thinking, apart from God, ... we'll never know! We'll never know, then, what God might have been preparing to work through us!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Secondly, it tells us, that, "His going forth" is PREPARED. And, to emphasize this point, God gives us an example: "prepared as the morning." Did the morning ever come sooner than it was suppose to? Does the morning just "pop up" whenever it wants? No, God has a "set time" for the morning, and this has been true throughout the ages. If there is something you can count on, it's that "tomorrow is another day" as Scarlett O'Hara would say! "As surely as the sun rises" -- </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">God is telling us, you can count on His "going forth" -- it is guaranteed, and it will happen in God's "set time." </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">~</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Thirdly, God reaffirms this, when He tells us: "He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain..." These "rains" were indicators of the seasons in Israel. The "former rains" were the first rains, that came in the autumn, to soften the ground for plowing, making it ready for planting. The "latter rains" were the spring rains, that matured the crops to ready them for the harvest. The people needed both - in their "season." And it could have been a mess, had the rains come out of season! Here, God is saying to us, that He "comes to us" in His season. At the right time. His perfect time. He tells us: </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">~</span><br /><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"><strong>"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven"</strong></span></em><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Ecclesiastes 3:1</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">~</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong></div><span style="font-size:130%;">You might be thinking, that you're not expecting to see "His going forth" -- or not waiting for some big "visitation" - not thinking that He's going to show up at your door, or, not believing that "He shall come unto you"?? ... So... how does God "appear" to us? In 1 Samuel, we find a really wonderful truth:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">~</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">"And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed Himself to Samuel </span></strong></span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">in Shiloh </span></strong></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">by the word of the LORD."</span><em> </em></strong></span><strong><em>~ 1 Samuel 3:21</em></strong><br /></span></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">-</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When God reveals His Word to us, God "appears" to us! Jesus Christ is THE WORD, and John's gospel tells us, that the WORD was made flesh, and dwelt among us! <em><span style="font-size:100%;">(John 1:1, 14)</span></em> God also declares through His prophet Isaiah, that He sends forth His Word, as the rain and the snow, to accomplish His purposes. Not only does His Word originate with Him, but He sends it according to His "season" --</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">~</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#000099;">"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, </span></span></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#000099;">and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: </span></span></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#000099;">So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."</span><em> </em></span></strong><strong><em>~ Isaiah 55:10-11</em></strong><br /></span></span><span style="color:#ffffff;">~</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">God "comes to us" in the same manner -- "in His season, according to the appointed time" -- </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">to fulfill His promises, to give us a word of direction or encouragement, to work in the midst of our circumstances, and to bring healing, restoration, or salvation to those we lift up in prayer before Him. He hears our prayers, and He answers according to His "set time." This is God's Way -- </span><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">and this is the means by which He "exercises" us. ~ <em>FOR...</em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"><em><strong>"He makes everything beautiful in His Time!"</strong></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Ecclesiastes 3:11</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">~</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#000099;"><em><strong>So, are you "waiting" for His Word? Have you placed yourself in a position to "receive His Word"?</strong></em> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Is the ground of your heart softened by the rain of His Spirit, to receive what He's waiting to give? If so, like Abraham and Sarah -- with "Isaac" -- it's always pure joy, when He answers, because we're not just receiving "some-<em>thing</em>" -- we're actually experiencing Him! He comes to us in the midst of our circumstance ~ to redeem it for His glory!!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">But if not, -- if </span><span style="font-size:130%;">you hear His Word, and reject it, -- you may experience a "blindness" of sorts: never "seeing" what God might have wanted to do in and through your life, ... or a truth that He wanted to reveal to your heart, ... and as a result, you may find yourself "locked out" of God's perfect plan, and find your heart heavy with the labor of carrying the load yourself. </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="left"><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">"Some sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High: Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; they fell down, and there was none to help."</span> <em>~ Psalm 107:10-12</em></strong></span></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>Wait!</em></strong> Good News!! God "exercises" us through these trials, and often, the very circumstances that seem to "lock us out" of blessings and fulfillment, -- God uses to reveal to us, that we have, in fact, locked the door from the inside! Keeping Him out ~ not letting His Word in! -- It is easy, after all, to release the lock and step out into the light of His Word once again. Simply call out to Him! He is <em><strong>waiting</strong></em> to "send forth His Word"! <strong><em>Waiting</em></strong> to unveil the hidden things, by shining the light of His Truth, and releasing those who are prisoners of their circumstances! He is a great and mighty God! And He is able!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#ccccff;"><strong>"Call unto Me and I will answer thee!"</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><strong>Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses.<br />He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their bands in sunder.<br />Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000099;"><strong>For He hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Psalm 107:13-16</strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;"><em><strong>~</strong></em></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">"Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, </span></strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">and show thee </span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."</span> </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Jeremiah 33:3</strong></span></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">What "season" are you experiencing in your life? </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Are you waiting on the Lord to fulfill His Word to you?</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Are you "<strong><em>following on to know</em></strong>"?</span><span style="color:#ffffff;"><span style="font-size:130%;">-</span></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"></span></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, </span></strong></em></div><div align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;">and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD!"</span></strong></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong>Psalm 27:14</strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ffffff;">-</span></strong></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">A time to be born, and a time to die;<br />A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;<br />A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;<br />A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace... </span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;">I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. </span></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#33cc00;"><strong>He hath made every thing beautiful in His time.<br /></strong></span><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-11<br /></em></strong></span></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-37262951304645112182008-11-03T10:36:00.000-08:002008-11-28T08:21:57.442-08:00That Beautiful Name<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflC-01bpKFbDfanZyouRJuCz0SOodsdVl13EJLV7gVhvzaXP7iN8l9Nvj4JP7kBybfS9yEac3eSkj1k3XHqNCXXJnf0w4vSA0uCyVYGLc1_HvwukJR561xvv1QwT9vi36SGclRMwpsscU/s1600-h/101_8909.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264507908181201042" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjflC-01bpKFbDfanZyouRJuCz0SOodsdVl13EJLV7gVhvzaXP7iN8l9Nvj4JP7kBybfS9yEac3eSkj1k3XHqNCXXJnf0w4vSA0uCyVYGLc1_HvwukJR561xvv1QwT9vi36SGclRMwpsscU/s320/101_8909.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">"I know of a Name, a beautiful Name, </span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">That angels brought down to earth;</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">They whispered it low, </span></em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">One night long ago,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">To a maiden of lowly birth.</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">That Beautiful Name, </span></em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">That Beautiful Name,</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">From sin has <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pow'r</span> to free us!</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">That Beautiful Name, </span></em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">That Wonderful Name,</span></em></strong><br /></span><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">That matchless Name is Jesus!" </span></em></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">~ <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/k/iknownam.htm"><span style="color:#000000;">THAT BEAUTIFUL NAME</span> </a></span></strong><br /><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><em>Words by Jean Perry, 1916; Music by Mabel Johnston Camp<br /></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I cut my teeth on hymns... real meat. And, to be honest, hymns are my 'preference.' I can't help "feeling" that a lot of the choruses sung "over and over and over" by many of today's church 'worship bands' -- are milk. Skim milk. Rather than being <strong><em>songs of adoration</em></strong> - directed toward our Beautiful Savior, the focus of many, <em>(but not all),</em> seem to be centered on "me and I" --- </span><span style="font-size:130%;">another 'by-product' of our "me" generation. When I was in Junior High School, my younger sister and I would sing our favorite hymns on the way to church - which was a 30 minute drive from home. Not much on the radio back then! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffffff;"><strong>-</strong></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;">Some of our "favorites" were songs like:</span></em></strong> "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/f/lfoundaw.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Love Found A Way</span></a>.... to redeem my soul....", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/i/highergr.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Higher Ground</span></a>.... I'm pressing on the upward way, new heights I'm gaining every day....", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/f/a/faithist.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Faith Is The Victory</span></a>... O glorious victory that overcomes the world!", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/l/hleademe.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">He <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Leadeth</span> Me</span></a>... By His own hand He <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">leadeth</span> me...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/itisglor.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">It Is Glory Just to Walk With Him</span></a>... whose blood has ransomed me...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/l/ilttts.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">I Love to Tell the Story</span></a>... 'Twill be my theme in glory...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/a/iatolord.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">I Am Thine, O Lord</span></a>... draw me nearer...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/countyou.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Count Your Blessings</span></a>", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/r/trstobey.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Trust and Obey</span></a>", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/i/tissweet.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Tis</span> So Sweet to Trust in Jesus</span></a>... just to take Him at His Word...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/thershow.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">There Shall Be Showers of Blessing</span></a>... mercy drops round us are falling...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/h/therepow.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">There Is Power in the Blood</span></a>... in the precious blood of the Lamb!", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/a/t/atcalvry.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">At Calvary</span></a>... mercy there was great and grace was free...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/g/itgarden.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">In The Garden</span></a>... He walks with me and He talks with me...", "<span style="color:#6633ff;">Springs Of Living Water</span>... to the blessed cross of Christ one day I came...", </span><span style="font-size:130%;">"<span style="color:#6633ff;">Heaven Came Down and Glory Filled My Soul</span>.... O what a wonderful, wonderful day, day I will never forget....", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/y/myhopeis.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">The Solid Rock</span></a>... my hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus' blood and righteousness!", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/o/softlyat.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Softly and Tenderly</span></a>.... Jesus is calling...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/m/j/mjesusil.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">My Jesus I Love Thee</span></a>... ", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/e/neartoth.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Near To The Heart of God</span></a>...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/u/turnyour.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus</span></a>... look full in His wonderful face...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/t/hthineow.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Have Thine Own Way, Lord</span></a>... Thou art the Potter, I am the clay...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/l/o/lotearms.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Leaning On The Everlasting Arms</span></a>... what a joy divine!...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/o/sotpogod.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Standing on the Promises</span></a>", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/h/channels.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Channels Only</span></a>", "<span style="color:#6633ff;">Take My Life and Let It Be</span>... ever, only, all for Thee...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/o/wondword.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Wonderful Words of Life</span></a>... beautiful words, wonderful words...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/p/openeyes.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Open My Eyes, That I May See</span></a>... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">glimpses</span> of truth Thou hast for me...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/k/ikwihb.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">I Know Whom I Have Believed</span></a>... and am persuaded that He is able...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/c/o/comethou.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing</span></a>... tune my heart to sing Thy grace...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/k/hkeepsme.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">He Keeps Me Singing</span></a>... there's within my heart a melody...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/o/togodbe.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">To God Be the Glory</span></a>... great things He has done!...", "<span style="color:#6633ff;">He Lives</span><span style="color:#000000;">... you ask me how I know He lives, He lives within my heart!</span>", "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFjikyp7mQ"><span style="color:#6633ff;">It Is Well With My Soul</span></a>... when sorrows like sea billows roll...", and of course, "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/o/holyholy.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Holy, Holy, Holy</span></a>... Lord God Almighty, early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee", "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvaDJTUmrU"><span style="color:#6633ff;">How Great Thou Art</span></a>... then sings my soul...", "<a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/g/i/gisthyf.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Great Is Thy Faithfulness</span></a>... morning by morning new mercies I see", and "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6rfkXbVcudc"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Amazing Grace</span></a>... how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!.." ~ a "few" favorites among many, many glorious hymns!! In fact, singing from the Hymn Book, is where I learned to read music! </span><span style="font-size:130%;">What a precious lesson! </span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><em>[listen to: "It Is Well With My Soul" by Wintley Phipps; "How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood; "Amazing Grace" by Charlotte Church -- links]</em></span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333399;">When I sing these hymns at home, now, I often find that my kitties </span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#333399;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">come running to me - </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">it's as if they know the songs </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;">are praising </span></em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333399;">the Creator of Heaven and Earth! Let Heaven and Nature sing!</span></em></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6633ff;">"</span><a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/h/a/halwasav.htm"><span style="color:#6633ff;">Hallelujah! What a Savior</span></a><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#6633ff;">!"</span> ... as the hymn goes!</span></span></em></strong> </div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">When I was in High School, my dad and I sang a duet in Church: </span><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#333399;"><strong><em>"<span style="color:#6633ff;">It Took A Miracle</span>".... to put the stars in place, it took a miracle to hang the world in space, but when He saved my soul, cleansed and made me whole, </em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><em>it took a miracle of love and grace!</em></strong></span><br /></span><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">My mom gave me an old hymn book, the one we used to sing from, in the church where I grew up. That is truly one of the most beloved books on my shelf! And as I was singing through some of the well loved hymns, I came upon this one, that really speaks to my heart:</span> </div><div align="center"><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">"</span><a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/k/iknownam.htm"><span style="color:#6600cc;">That Beautiful Name</span></a><span style="color:#6600cc;">"</span></span></em></strong> </div><div align="center"></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Take a moment to listen to: "You Are So Beautiful To Me" - by Joe <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Cocker</span> - from my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">playlist</span>... and simply meditate on how Beautiful our Lord Jesus is! "Lord, You're everything I hope for, You're everything I need, You are so beautiful to me!" <em>Indeed.</em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><em><span style="color:#000099;">For more Beautiful Music:</span></em></strong> </span><br /><br /><br /><div style="VISIBILITY: visible; MARGIN-LEFT: auto; WIDTH: 450px; MARGIN-RIGHT: auto; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/"></a><p align="left"><a href="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/standalone/52773621" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/mc/images/launch_pink.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.greatprofilemusic.com/download/52773621"></a> </p></div><br /><a href="http://view.playlist.com/13510046987"><strong><em><span style="color:#cc66cc;">Beautiful Words, Wonderful Words, Wonderful Words of Life</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span style="color:#cc66cc;"><br /></span></em></strong><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><strong>"<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Hosanna</span>! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the LORD: we have blessed You out of the house of the LORD... Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">endureth</span> forever."</strong></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><div align="left"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;color:#000000;"><em>~ Psalm 118:26-29</em></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:85%;"></span></em></strong></div><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"></span>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-58776934276975145692008-10-28T17:23:00.000-07:002008-11-09T12:22:49.577-08:00Tiny Points of Green ~ pt. 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslAG7Y_wAUspsNOR2Vr_C-TSTfc3_Qc6rutgrpv5Bh5uIfVpL2K1X98_OL69X6FULZ2vQdN2zKjL0n8oqUtnCyfyqCOlV4PHrbg867uZPV5YFoIe6-v4od3De0zGTxjMoaAxkpjcdhgw-/s1600-h/tiny+points+of+green-1+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262548811508347074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 146px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgslAG7Y_wAUspsNOR2Vr_C-TSTfc3_Qc6rutgrpv5Bh5uIfVpL2K1X98_OL69X6FULZ2vQdN2zKjL0n8oqUtnCyfyqCOlV4PHrbg867uZPV5YFoIe6-v4od3De0zGTxjMoaAxkpjcdhgw-/s200/tiny+points+of+green-1+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#330099;"><strong><em>"Sky Angel Cowboy"</em></strong></span> </span><br /><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">As a follow up to my April 11th post, <a href="http://hislily.blogspot.com/2008/04/tiny-points-of-green.html">Tiny Points of Green</a> this video clip comes along and gives us a precious look into the heart of "a tender sprout" that is growing into a "thrifty plant" -- who has experienced the comfort of a loving Heavenly Father, and then, in turn, shared that comfort with others ~ </span></span><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33cc00;"><strong><em>This will bless your heart!</em></strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /></span><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">13 year old Logan, lives on a ranch in Nebraska -- and called KSBJ Christian radio, out of Houston, Texas, which he picks up on Sky Angel -- to share the lesson that God taught him. Now, it has been heard around the world!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">From April 11th ~ <span style="color:#33ff33;"></span></span><a href="http://hislily.blogspot.com/2008/04/tiny-points-of-green.html"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#33ff33;">Tiny Points of Green</span></a> :<br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em><strong>[God] "Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."</strong></em> </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">~ <strong>2 Corinthians 1:4</strong></span><br /></span><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"><p><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:130%;">If you pray that God will draw your child to Himself, don’t be amazed when a trial comes along. God is more concerned about our heavenly rewards than He is about our earthly comfort! We never want to see our children suffer hardships, but the fruit that ripens from God’s pruning is precious! <em>James points out:</em></span></span> </p><p><strong><em>"...knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing."</em> <span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">~James 1:2-4</span></strong> </span></p><p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zCdZwitrNoY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zCdZwitrNoY&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-19635195518715378522008-10-27T09:11:00.000-07:002008-10-27T17:36:03.460-07:00Over The Rainbow<p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTYbBF2cH0avNm1L1-CsZ2LIYsN8AnES_Wm37KwDWfFEwMjJmKjRz5qLEcOmPYqCRi72oxqjKV9K3WSzfdwlXbw6mhGt7ScFsfn1pdXm3e6MNmlzUG6ocFrdrvndtC6tZhaLYlhw7teic/s1600-h/104_0049.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261892561919331874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 252px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTYbBF2cH0avNm1L1-CsZ2LIYsN8AnES_Wm37KwDWfFEwMjJmKjRz5qLEcOmPYqCRi72oxqjKV9K3WSzfdwlXbw6mhGt7ScFsfn1pdXm3e6MNmlzUG6ocFrdrvndtC6tZhaLYlhw7teic/s320/104_0049.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#9999ff;"><em><strong>A Covenant of Mercy:</strong></em></span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>"As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of One that spoke."</strong></span></em> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><strong><em><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">~</span> Ezekiel 1:28</em></strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Last evening, as the sun was setting in the west, the rays broke through the clouds as it was raining, and my hubby and I saw the most beautiful, spectacular, "full" rainbow we've ever seen! I only wish the pictures I took could have captured the actual intensity of the color spectrum ~ it was breath-taking! Even a car driving down the road, passing our house, had to stop to take in the sight! If ever God was displaying His Glory, surely, we were treated to a glimpse ~ and, then, He repeated His handiwork this morning! As the sun was rising in the east, chasing the clouds and morning showers away, the rays mixed with the lingering sprinkles of rain, and we were treated to another rainbow, displayed in the heavens!</span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc33cc;"><em><strong>Who couldn't help but wonder what mercy He is promising!</strong></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">And God said, "This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. </span></span></strong></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="color:#993399;"><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="color:#000000;"><em><span style="font-family:georgia;">~</span> Genesis 9:12-15</em></span> </span></span></strong></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></p></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></span>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-18869678480174933392008-10-06T10:07:00.000-07:002008-10-27T17:37:28.824-07:00A Lily Among Thorns<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeCRO5zyxelpOxP2XxZqAviDLdTBMyRG3o6kWR_8dN5BauodgjWNiMoBW6H6jHEJjb-0-SyNOOhv6ycPSKWC9hSgiT3uagsByQLXlGtKA5gp9kMY4hAyZTw_oYwDghyphenhyphenRP1mHPPtgXnpKN/s1600-h/SARAH1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254118406632439842" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMeCRO5zyxelpOxP2XxZqAviDLdTBMyRG3o6kWR_8dN5BauodgjWNiMoBW6H6jHEJjb-0-SyNOOhv6ycPSKWC9hSgiT3uagsByQLXlGtKA5gp9kMY4hAyZTw_oYwDghyphenhyphenRP1mHPPtgXnpKN/s320/SARAH1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><div align="left"><br /><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;color:#6600cc;">"...They lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me... they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city... they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips --</span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-size:100%;color:#6600cc;">Because of His strength will I wait upon Thee: for God is my defense."</span></em></strong> </div><div align="left"></span></div><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Psalm 59</span></strong><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">After 5 weeks of vicious attacks upon herself and her family, Sarah Palin silenced the "dogs" and went "toe to toe" with "seasoned" Senator Joe Biden in last week's debate. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Now, she wants America to see Obama for the 'man he is' - beginning with "his friends."</span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Here is an awesome FOX NEWS SPECIAL - reinforcing Sarah's message --- </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">So... turn off the Beautiful Music, get a cup of your favorite warm beverage, ... sit back... and give a serious "Berean" heart and mind to what's being presented. It's time to grab our shovels, and start digging deep - America's leadership is at stake!</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">Afterwards, choose "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban, from the playlist, and say a prayer for our nation. I thought this song would have been a fitting one to have played at the RNC, as John McCain was so eloquently communicating his final words - </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">"Stand up for America! Stand up and fight!"</span></strong></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">May God Bless America and shed His Grace upon us all.</span> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;">"...The Bereans... received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, </span></strong></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;">whether those things were so."</span></strong> </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:78%;"><strong>Acts 17:11</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>"You Raise Me Up"</em></span></strong><br /></span>You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;<br />You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;<br />I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;<br />You raise me up... To more than I can be. </div><em><div align="left"><br /><br /></em></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#6600cc;">FOX NEWS SPECIAL --- </span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:100%;">[6 parts - each Vol.]<br /></span>Sean Hannity Special: Barack Obama & Friends [Vol. 1 & 2*]</span></span><div align="left"><span style="color:#6600cc;">(* this link will take you to Vol. 2 -- also.)</span></div><div align="left"><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/p_HZMD97nMw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/p_HZMD97nMw&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-74372657929882476832008-05-11T16:20:00.000-07:002008-08-27T15:54:12.103-07:00Cadillacs and Volkswagons ~ pt. 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsLzYVFj6dUszF8pGf1IU4zIP4jSqOwwTSI8XPHvVJNUqwnj06Zw5vciAxKx15RWG_M8PHwfmIYZaU89vrLbml2Smnf8z6gmKfYtrJy0O0T5O-rKM6hla2wkb3GCqYBgjjSKnvPhdSxXz/s1600-h/garden-sign+on+picket+fence+copy.-2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199271434009653858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXsLzYVFj6dUszF8pGf1IU4zIP4jSqOwwTSI8XPHvVJNUqwnj06Zw5vciAxKx15RWG_M8PHwfmIYZaU89vrLbml2Smnf8z6gmKfYtrJy0O0T5O-rKM6hla2wkb3GCqYBgjjSKnvPhdSxXz/s320/garden-sign+on+picket+fence+copy.-2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYvAzcv-TEXyGzwreFI2AnwBAe3be_tTAeAh3oaHpoYwlooEFH6PLSRo6KlrAWfYvRR6WcmNOD8l1KsLEE2bh-TxLLLgra1lA3rSrWkatP7Y91wI1yRrNdRkRsyVmu6j2yfXQ0GBOczKh/s1600-h/garden-sign+on+picket+fenc+copy.JPG"></a><em>[As a 'follow-up' to my April 13th post regarding</em></div><div><em>"Spring Cleaning," and my hubby's comment about my housekeeping:<br /></em><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">“my mother is the Cadillac, and honey,<br />you’re the Volkswagon” !!</span> ]<br /></em><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">My Grandma is 97 -- she'll be 98 this summer! She is a mother of nine and lives in PA. I have lived most of my life in NY. When we were young, we'd make about 6 trips a year to visit her. With nine kids and a HUGE garden, Grandma's time was 'understandably' given to meals (which came from the garden) and child-care. I'm going to assume that house-keeping wasn't the top prority. She was always baking homemade breads, making homemade jellies and jams, and canning all the fruits and veggies the trees and garden produced. Her dinners always included a 1-inch thick piece of her bread with peach, plum, or strawberry jam... I can still taste it! And when we would leave to go home to NY, she would always go upstairs to her room, while we waited downstairs, patiently (and excitedly!) for her to return -- with 'treasures' to give to us! Those treasures included small porcelain kittens and puppies, bunnies, birds, and other figurines -- one time she even gave us a horde of 'Cracker-Jack-type' of treasures -- I remember spending hours playing with. </span></div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><div><br />One visit, when I was in high school, my Grandma shared with me, a dream she had -- she dreamt that she was Raptured! She described the feeling of being compressed into thin air, as she watched her clothes drop to the floor, and she, herself, was caught up into the air... it was so real to hear her describe this -- and I've never forgotten that. That was about 30 years ago, and at that time, she was very 'in-tune' with world events relating to the European Common Market. Her expectation of Jesus Christ's return planted a similar seed in me -- to "watch and keep my lamp burning!" (Matthew 25) </div><div><br />Now when my family visits Grandma -- (me, hubby, and three kids - my college boy, and 2 teen girls), we like to take her out to lunch. Conversation is a little more difficult, being that she can no longer hear as well as she used to, but if you encourage her to talk, she'll bring out her treasures: her wonderful insights into the Person and work of Jesus Christ! On one trip, about 2 or 3 years ago, we took her home after lunch and walked into her house -- She went into her room, and came back with a beautiful, small blue-glass bowl, and gave it to me. Then, she gave us a 'final word' -- since we were leaving to go back to NY, and wouldn't make another trip till spring. She would always say, she'd never know if she would be here 'on this earth' -- come spring. This time, though, she spoke to my kids, her great-grandkids -- and told them to WAIT for the Lord to bring their future spouse to them. She shared with them her pastor's story: how he had been praying for a wife, and kept hearing a name -- "Lee" -- and he told the Lord, that's a guy's name!!! But one day, he met a lovely lady on campus, and when he asked her name, she replied: "Lee"! As tears welled up in my eyes, I looked around her house - I could see through some piles of "clutter" there were 'treasures' .... but I knew what the true TREASURE was: it was Grandma! The Words of life that poured out of her mouth, to share with her GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN -- my children! -- this was a godly woman! And I was hugely blessed!! To those who have eyes to really 'see' -- she is the pearl of great price!</span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;"><em><strong>She opens her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness...<br />Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.</strong></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong>Proverbs 31:26, 31</strong></span></div><div><br /><br /></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-65053207270621496962008-04-13T17:35:00.000-07:002008-04-13T19:26:04.932-07:00Cadillacs and Volkswagons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ__C804sAgzsj3RYN9fmfYzl8-4Zmz7-hOMsrS5JYAnkxh_yaBzMJ4d55hryuguHlr12BhA2IigBWBwZo6KFh8UWiErs3cQ6wlCCgSAwm8tCI0jve8OTxIxFWi-ZimWpaf4m6SXq5i3gk/s1600-h/basement+clutter-3A.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188894227057664498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ__C804sAgzsj3RYN9fmfYzl8-4Zmz7-hOMsrS5JYAnkxh_yaBzMJ4d55hryuguHlr12BhA2IigBWBwZo6KFh8UWiErs3cQ6wlCCgSAwm8tCI0jve8OTxIxFWi-ZimWpaf4m6SXq5i3gk/s320/basement+clutter-3A.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I will start by saying that I’ve been married for 25 years, 26 this summer, and somewhere between baby #2 and baby #3, my hubby -- commenting on my housekeeping / cleaning, exclaimed: </span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">“my mother is the Cadillac,</span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">and honey, </span></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">you’re the </span></strong></span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;">Volkswagon” !!</span></strong> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;">I think at the time it probably brought tears to my eyes – now, I smile... </span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em>(and so does he!).</em><br /><br />So… having recently discovered the blogging community, but not new to Proverbs 31 Ministries, <em>(I’ve been receiving, and have been blessed by the online devotionals for a few years),</em> I read “Spring Cleaning” by Karen Ehman, and several posts to the <a href="http://www.lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/">Swap and Hop </a>-- hosted by Lisa TerKeurst - <a href="http://www.lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/">http://www.lysaterkeurst.blogspot.com/</a> <em>(so I can compare my own ‘clutter pics’ and somehow find comfort in the company!)</em> – needless to say, I feel your pain! -- and now I’m feeling brave enough to give this a shot… I’ll post my most embarrassing clutter issue -- my basement – or should I say attic? The embarrassing part is that 2 years ago I moved “It” from the attic to the basement because we were having a new roof put on our house, and this involved a complete tear off, in which everything had to be moved out of the attic. During the summer months, I’m busy with my daylilies, and so, I ‘put off’ the sorting and reorganizing of 24 years <em>(and three kids!)</em> of accumulated “stuff.” Living in western NY, the attic gets pretty cold in the winter, and the basement remains chilly, and that’s always incentive enough to ‘put off’ this project until it warms up. But as soon as spring hits, and the ‘tiny points of green’ start poking through the cold hard ground, my daylilies call to me, begging to be dug up, divided, replanted, and sold. And so the cycle goes…. Yikes!<br />I’m hoping that it’s not too late to post, and that I’ll be able to figure out how to link back… certainly, I’ll be eagerly anticipating any advice on getting organized! Oh yeah... that's a ping pong table under the clutter!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;"><em>Stay tuned for Cadillacs and Volkswagons part 2…</em></span></div><br /><br /><div></div>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-61461678033934047342008-04-11T09:53:00.000-07:002008-11-10T11:17:37.880-08:00Tiny Points of Green<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2T34wPmPAe-bZkmykRDqj1VWj-Z5Skbe_lHShDF5-wor36dmY3mQFFq5EQVGzhLv5zVc9slvAgA8WBOgCzwmbfDU6Ox2_rtHxDUhT7fpQJWwnCvM0ZdTZPPR1M3Juom32_IiH3w7y-Of/s1600-h/tiny+points+of+green-1+copy.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188084673168140722" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2T34wPmPAe-bZkmykRDqj1VWj-Z5Skbe_lHShDF5-wor36dmY3mQFFq5EQVGzhLv5zVc9slvAgA8WBOgCzwmbfDU6Ox2_rtHxDUhT7fpQJWwnCvM0ZdTZPPR1M3Juom32_IiH3w7y-Of/s320/tiny+points+of+green-1+copy.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga9VfTyhaQ2vhhhdUoQQeRiEgzXC0QaYy8ZLCqjo7fyYcjTg9YOasxJRYk_y3VXP1lcvcHI1ZcMEKjAgMPCANkY1YY7VWwdMdRXsx5N7YE9eBBIuIfyQYCRfulMs9DOFSYyqOcKRIebEyp/s1600-h/tiny+points+of+green-1+copy.JPG"></a><br /><br /><em><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><div><br /></div><div><div><div align="center"></span></span></span></em></div></div></div><div><em><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">“…their love was something as new and as tender and perhaps as unobserved as the tiny point of green that, forcing its way through the earth, is yet unconscious of its own existence but promises a thrifty plant.”</span></strong><br /></span><br /></span></em><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">Elizabeth Prentiss <em>(1818-1878)</em> from her book: Stepping Heavenward</span></strong> <strong>~</strong></span><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><strong>“Last Sunday Dr. Cabot preached to the young. He first addressed those who knew they did not love God. It did not seem to me that I belonged to that class. Then he spoke to those who knew they did. I felt sure I was not one of those. Last of all he spoke affectionately to those who did not know what to think, and I was frightened and ashamed to feel tears running down my cheeks when he said that he believed that most of his hearers who were in this doubtful state did really love their Master, only their love was something as new and as tender and perhaps as unobserved as the tiny point of green that, forcing its way through the earth, is yet unconscious of its own existence but promises a thrifty plant.”</strong></span><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;">When my youngest daughter was in 5th grade, her school put on a talent show as an assembly during the school day. While the young performers were backstage, the floor was cleared of tables to make room for several 4th and 5th grade classes, coming in to watch. Several moms had arrived, myself included, and taking a seat on one of the chairs arranged in a semi-circle behind the students, I had a clear view not only of the stage, but also of the many young students sitting on the floor waiting for the show to begin. There were a few musical instrument performances, followed by several singing groups ~ mostly groups of girls. All the contestants had chosen for themselves what they were going to perform, and as these things go… three of the groups had chosen the same song -- evidently the most popular song for that year -- “Skater Boy.” I watched, as each of these groups of girls assembled ‘stage front,’ dressed in their skimpy costumes, and began to dance – MTV wannabies - and I was very aware of a heaviness in my heart. <em>A burden.</em> While looking out across the room, upon so many young, innocent children, I saw a picture: </span></div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">God desires for these little ones to be His “lilies of the field.”</span></strong></em> </span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><div><br /></div><div align="left">Who will tell them about Jesus? Who will fulfill His desire that each of them should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth? <em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ 1 Tim. 2:4</span></em> Who will cultivate the soil of their hearts to receive the Gospel message of salvation ~ so that they can grow as His lilies -- living in this world, but not loving the ways of this world? By the time the third group finished, I realized our mission field is our own backyard! We have a generation of young people growing up in this country, who have never heard the truth about Jesus Christ – God’s only begotten Son – how He came to earth, so they could have REAL LIFE, and have it more abundantly! Instead, they fill that void with ‘life’ as they imagine it should be – according to what the world treasures.<br /><br />That was five years ago. Now, as a mother of three <em>(two in High School, and one in college), </em>my youngest daughter shares with me the ‘drama’ that daily transpires ~ pitfalls which have snared so many young teens, resulting in painful experiences that need God’s tender touch of grace and mercy and forgiveness. What these young people think they need and what they really need are two radically different things. This is our mission field ~ what is our ‘approach’ to meet their ‘real need’? What was often Jesus’ approach to share the Truth in the Gospels? </div><div><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>Jesus met people’s needs: healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, feeding the 5000, etc., and in doing so, they were open to receive </em></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>from Him – to receive the words He spoke, </em></span></strong><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>words given to Him </em></span></strong><strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em>by His Father. </em></span></strong><span style="color:#6600cc;"><em><strong>Words of Life.</strong></em></span> </div><div><br /></div><div align="left">Do we seek to model this approach? Are we sensitive to the needs of others, looking for ways to bring refreshing "living water" into the dry circumstances of everyday life? As I consider my own two teen daughters, and college boy, I contemplate what their “perceived needs” are, realizing that when I seek to meet these needs (as long as it aligns with God’s Word), they will be more open to receive from me: my counsel, my wisdom, my witness – all pointing to my Savior, Jesus Christ.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;"><em><strong>They want to be heard</strong></em></span> ~ so I will listen (and listen and listen!) I will try not to respond with: ‘not now, I’m too busy… or I’m too tired.” <em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ James 1:19<br /></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;"><em><strong>They want to be respected</strong></em></span> ~ so I will give them my attention and consider their ideas and opinions, looking for ways to encourage them -- taking into account their feelings and their age. </div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:100%;"><em>~ Romans 12:10 GNB</em><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;"><em><strong>They want to be independent</strong></em></span> ~ so I will give them wise, godly counsel and choices and let them make as many of their own decisions as possible, (choosing battles prayerfully and carefully), stepping in when absolutes are called for, and praying for them continuously. </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ Colossians 4:2<br /></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#33cc00;"><em><strong>They want to be treated as ‘grown up’</strong></em></span> ~ so I will engage them in conversation, in the same manner I would give attention to a dear friend of mine. I will not brush them off as ‘children’ and their ideas as ‘childish’ – instead, I will seek to ‘stretch’ their understanding and imagination, and give them age-appropriate responsibilities and hold them accountable. </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ 1 Timothy 4:12<br /></span></em><br />These “perceived needs” (not limited to this short list), really aren’t all that different from those of any other teen in their ‘public’ school. Keeping this in mind, I discover that when I make myself available to listen to their friends, lifting them before the Lord in prayer, God releases a stream of Living Water that can flow through me and out of me to accomplish His work ~ whether planting a seed, watering a field, or laying a foundation… for He alone gives the increase! </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ 1 Corinthians 3:9<br /></span></em><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#6600cc;">Consider how the lilies grow ~</span></em></strong></div><div align="left">As parents, we always want our children to seek God, grow in His Word and in His Ways, grow in fellowship with other Christian kids, and make ‘right choices’ that are pleasing to Him. So we teach them ~ watering them with God’s Word. We pray for them and encourage them. We train them up in the way of Truth. Then we trust God to complete the work He began ~ and He is faithful to do it! <em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ Philippians 1:6</span></em> <strong><em><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong><em><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"></div><div align="center"><blockquote><div align="center"></span></span></em></strong></span></span></em></strong><strong><em><strong><em><blockquote><strong><em><strong><em><span style="color:#3333ff;">He knows the right amount of water<br />our “seedlings” need to<br />flourish in His Hand. </span></em></strong></em></strong></blockquote></em></strong></em></strong></div></blockquote></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;">We might be tempted to ‘drown’ them in ‘good things’ thinking ‘it’s what they need.’ But God’s Ways are higher than our ways and His Word tells us, that often He allows trials to come to us to mature us. That goes for our precious children as well. We want to protect them forever, but somewhere, sometime, along this path of life, temptations and trials will come to them. I witnessed this maturing in my youngest daughter this past year, as she faced a difficult trial at school. To hear her verbally profess that “she was too comfortable and God used this to cause her to look to Him, and -- ‘He works!’…” is joy unspeakable and full of glory!! <em><span style="font-size:100%;">~ 1 Peter 1:7-8</span></em> </span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#333399;"><span style="color:#3333ff;"><span style="color:#000000;">Shortly afterward, a classmate experienced a similar trial, and my daughter responded with “I know what you’re going through…” -- an ‘open door’ to share the comfort she had found in Him!</span> <span style="color:#333399;"></div></span></span></span><strong><em><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><em><div><br /></div><blockquote><strong><em><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><strong><em>Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able </em><em>to comfort them </em><em>which are in any trouble, by the comfort </em><em>wherewith we ourselves </em></strong><em><strong>are comforted of God. </strong></em></span></span></span></em></strong></em></strong></span></span></span></em></strong><em><span style="color:#339999;"><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong>~ 2 Corinthians 1:4</strong></span></span></em></blockquote><span style="color:#339999;"><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">If you pray that God will draw your child to Himself, don’t be amazed when a trial comes along. God is more concerned about our heavenly rewards than He is about our earthly comfort! We never want to see our children suffer hardships, but the fruit that ripens from God’s pruning is precious! </span><em><span style="color:#000000;">James points out:</span> </em></div><div><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em><blockquote><div align="left"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong><em>"Count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing." </em></strong></span></span><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong>~ James 1:2-4</strong></span></em></em></strong></span></div></blockquote></em></strong></span></em></strong></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size:130%;">While they aren’t always going to make those right choices, what matters, is how do we respond when our kids fall? We ultimately want them to see Jesus in us ~ His mercy and grace, His forgiveness, His work of restoration and reconciliation, and by experiencing these riches, be able to share what they have received with those who have never seen the Light of Life. Then they will grow into thrifty plants!</span><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"></span></em></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">Ambassadors for Christ ~ </span></em></strong><strong><em><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;">entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation!</span></em></strong> </p><div align="left"><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong><em>"And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation... Then we are ambassadors on behalf of Christ..."</em></strong></span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;color:#6600cc;"><strong>2 Corinthians 5:18, 20</strong></span><span style="color:#6600cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /></div></span><blockquote></blockquote>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9033267450714289687.post-22681062745221602322008-04-07T13:44:00.000-07:002008-11-10T11:25:10.457-08:00New Beginnings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm-ql0TJl_EbWnx-_tvlTQ2II8Y0TOaS7Wcgb44jMxQqLM7a9QxhJQfeSjmFVG4XLWGa8IWonGr9SQCPmcTp0V4tSjI8Q8rxWAh_xqL82TXDB9biroG-NBWf1hqToRLj94wIhDzB4vPho/s1600-h/Crocus-1+copy.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5186607325565839506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfm-ql0TJl_EbWnx-_tvlTQ2II8Y0TOaS7Wcgb44jMxQqLM7a9QxhJQfeSjmFVG4XLWGa8IWonGr9SQCPmcTp0V4tSjI8Q8rxWAh_xqL82TXDB9biroG-NBWf1hqToRLj94wIhDzB4vPho/s320/Crocus-1+copy.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;color:#000000;"> Amazing... how the crocus begin to pop up out of the cold hard ground, defying the previous year's death. Being resurrected to new life, they display themselves in royal apparel, reflecting the King in His majestic purple robes, and the Bride, in her pure spotless white linen, gloriously announcing that "times of refreshing" are here -- heralding the coming of spring -- a new beginning!<br /></span><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></span><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">O death, where is thy sting? </span></span><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#cc33cc;">O grave, where is thy victory? </span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000000;">1 Cor. 15:55</span><br /></span><br /></span><span style="color:#cc33cc;"></span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;">For the past seven years, I have kept a devotional journal. Blogging is new for me. Eight is often a picture of 'new beginnings' throughout the Bible, and in this, the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">th</span> year of my 'journaling pursuit' to know the heart of God, I graciously take hold of where this path might lead me, knowing that my Jesus always goes with me and before me, and it is simply for me to follow. Hosea tells us, in the sixth chapter of his book, that <em><span style="color:#6600cc;"><strong>"we shall know, if we follow on to know the LORD; His going forth is prepared as the morning, and He shall come unto us as the rain"</strong></span></em> ~ <strong>Hosea 6:3</strong>. It's April. As I get ready to cultivate the soil of my New York garden, I find it's time, also, to ask Him to rain upon my heart, and soften its ground to receive His plantings: all that He desires to work in me, according to His good pleasure, so that I might walk in His newness of life.<br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6600cc;"><strong><em>"I want to know Christ, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on...!"</em></strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;">Philippians 3:10-14</span></strong>Stone and Lilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18001302481736109276noreply@blogger.com0