“The aim and final reason of music should be nothing else but the glory of God and the refreshment of the spirit.”

J. S. Bach

He’s alive!

“…I am the resurrection, and the life…”

John 11:25

This is a beautiful poem that I wanted to share with you…

He loved me before I even existed.

Garden of Gethsemane Photo by BBC

He wept in the garden.

He knew all about me and the choices I’d make.

He let the soldiers lead him away.

He knew my heart – my stubbornness, my selfishness, my pride. My sin.

He stood in front of the judge and made no excuses.

He knew I’d be lost forever without Him, that there would be no other way.

The lashed him. They beat him. They pierced his brow with a vicious crown. He let them.

He thought of my hope. My future. My safety.

Maybe he even thought of me as the first heavy nail plunged through his flesh.

He knew my years of rebellion to come. He also knew I’d say…that one thing. Do…that other thing. Think…all those awful things.

As the full weight of his body tore at his wounds, he sill loved me.

He knew that I’d be prone to wander even after knowing Him so well.

As his lungs filled with fluid and he began to drown, he sill hoped for me.

He knew I’d reject Him, that I’d want my own way, that I’d let the world rule me for so long.

He felt the full weight of my sin – my separation from the Father – in those awful final moments on the cross.

His cross.

It should have been my cross.

But no – He loves me too much.

Who can add to this? No one.

Who can take away? None – no one can snatch me from His hand.

How can there be another way? There can not.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for suffering for me so mightily. Thank you for loving me so thoroughly. Thank you for saving me so perfectly.

Written by Daiquiri from Call Her Blessed

“Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come.”

2 Corinthians 5:17

“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…”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

What if this were your child…your husband?

When you see news this devastating do you feel like you can’t do anything to help…do anything to make a difference?

Yes we can pray, thank God, but like it says in James 2:17 we need to add some action to our prayers.

“So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.” (NLT)

Jenny at  Simply Delightful Designs has made a easy way for all of us to add actions to our faith.

She has started a blog where you can buy raffle tickets to try to win wonderful donated prizes.  (Or if you have a business you can donate products.) All of the proceeds will be given to Compassion International and The Red Cross.

I have donated $40 worth of prints and have bought a few tickets as well.

You can help. Let’s work together and touch this nation with the love of Christ!

It’s a girl!!!

And she’s 89 years old.

This is our big news. My maternal Grandmother came to live with us last Saturday and we are so happy.  It has been a lot of work getting her things moved and settling everyone in.  But, all the hard work is worth it when I see her laughing with the children.  She is still doing great and is awesome at sweeping and cleaning the kitchen.  We are enjoying hearing stories of when she was little and eating our meals together as a family.

I will keep posting as I can, but I wanted you all to know what has been happening lately.  We are so happy to have our precious Gradmother here with us.

Thankfulness. Contentment. Peacefulness. Giving to others.

These are things I want my life to be full of.

The fun of getting will never compare to the thrill of giving!

We all have so much to be thankful for!  The very people considered poor in our Nation are rich compared to the families in other countries.

I have such a stirring in me to grow in gratitude, to simplify and prune off the dead wood in my life.  I have so much to be thankful for:  I am breathing.  I am loved. I have a husband and children. I have food and clothes.  A car and a house….and so much more.

Let’s not fall for the trap of advertising.

The goal of an ad is to make us unsatisfied with what we have, how we look, what we drive, where we live.

We all to often fall for the bait, thinking, “If I had….then I’d be happy!”  But, how many of us have houses overflowing with things we don’t even remember buying, things we don’t use or need?

What if we had what we needed, were content with that and had more resources to help take care of others?

Growing in thankfulness and being content with what I have…that Works For Me!

But godliness with contentment is great gain.

1 Timothy 6:6

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.”

Psalm 37:23

“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but (harsh) grievous words stir up anger.”

Proverbs 15:1

This has been my parenting scripture for most of this year!  I have been amazed at how many conflicts with my children have been defused by a soft answer.  I’m not talking about the syrupy sweet, ” Now sweetie pie, don’t you want to do what Mommy is telling you to do?”

I’m talking about being firm, but gentle.  No screaming allowed….by parents or children.

This article about genleness (from Teaching Daughters and Training Wives) has taught me so much. I think it will help you too!