Saturday, August 20, 2011

grace

There was a time in my life that I felt far removed from grace. This gift is never deserved, and it took a little faith before I could accept God’s grace for me. In this life, I'll never be worthy to receive God’s free gift of grace. So, just like I am, it’s okay to accept God’s grace.

God gives His grace freely, and it’s inseparable from His love. My life ought to be spent, every moment of it, in returning His love thru worship. And, thru shining His love into the lives of others. This giving back and sharing the love of Christ is achieved by my acceptance of God’s grace, and being saved by faith.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

hummmmm...


During the day, while doing this and that and the other, I realize from time to time that I’m humming a song and ‘singing’ the lyrics in my thoughts.  Actually, a hymn.  Why these particular hymns, I don’t know.  I haven’t sung them in church for years and years and years.  I listen to contemporary Christian music, so it’s doubtful that I’ve heard them recently.  Evidently, they have been pulled from somewhere in my subconscious mind.  (It’s amazing what’s stored there.)

I made mental notes to remember what I hummed.  That didn’t work, so I did it the old school way:  paper and pencil.  This is but a small sampling:


Send the Light
There's a call comes ringing over the restless wave
"Send the light! Send the light!"
There are souls to rescue there are souls to save
Send the light! Send the light!

Holy Holy Holy
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.












Battle Hymn of The Republic
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored,
He hath loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword
His truth is marching on.

Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Monday, August 8, 2011

quick quotes


The interior journey of the soul from the wilds of sin into the enjoyed presence of God is beautiful. Ransomed men need no longer pause in fear to the Holy of Holies. God wills that we should push on into His presence and live our whole life there.
AW Tozer

God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.
AW Tozer

Saturday, August 6, 2011

broken shell


The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 NAS

A dear lady from my church gave me a gift.  It was a book that held a special place in her heart, and she wanted to share it with me.  I’ve read this book many times, and it never fails to remind me of the hope and faith I have in God, and to feel His loving comfort.  I may be burdened, but He gives me rest.  I may be weak, but He gives me strength.  I may be hurting, but He gives me comfort.  I may be depressed, but He gives me hope.   

I may be broken, but I have the loving arms of my Lord holding me.


My Beautiful Broken Shell: Words of Hope to Refresh the Soul 
by Carol Hamblet Adams, D. Morgan (Illustrator)
‘Walking along a North Carolina beach one day, Carol Hamblet Adams picked up a scallop shell. It was broken. She threw it down. Then she picked it up again. In that moment, God spoke to her about her own brokeness, her own imperfections. The resulting reflections....’ 

*There are two other books by Carol Hamblet Adams that continue to speak of the rest and the hope and the healing touch of God: 
Waves of God's Healing: Finding Rest in the Storms of Life 
My Beautiful Sandcastle Moments: New Beginnings of Hope and Healing

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

this really isn't funny

Had to take Callie to the vet yesterday because she suddenly stopped eating.  She prescribed a small tablet once a day.  Who knew it would be this hard!


How to Give a Pill to a Cat
  1. Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.
  2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
  3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.
  4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.
  5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.
  6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.
  7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.
  8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.
  9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.
  10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.
  11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.
  12. Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.
  13. Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet mignon. Hold head vertically and pour ½ pint of water down throat to wash pill down.
  14. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture store on way home to order new table.
  15. (Unknown)

Monday, August 1, 2011