john 10:27

the redwoods

I love nature. Sometimes I get curious enough about something and will look it up.  Redwoods.  I wanted to know more about redwoods.  And, now I do.

We had to have a large pine tree cut down.  It made me sick.  It had provided me shade for years.  One of the guys explained how pine tree roots behaved.  Then he asked me if I knew how deep redwood roots were.  I knew they were tall, tall, tall.  I guessed they were about a half mile.  Wrong answer.

This is what I learned:  Redwoods have no tap root and the other roots are only 6 to 12 feet deep.  Considering their enormous height, that’s some shallow roots. The major roots are about an inch in diameter and they typically spread out 50 to 80 feet. The California redwoods are the tallest trees on earth.  They can reach 350 feet high, can weigh as much as 500 tons, and live between 500 to 700 years. 

How do these giants stand for so many years? Their shallow roots, seriously.  Redwoods grow close together and their root systems intermingle and intertwine and entangle and interweave and interlock, resulting in strong support for each tree. 

Working together for the common good.

Author – the Redwoods

sunday songs

The song and the story:

‘Jesus Loves Me’

Anna Bartlett Warner (1827-1915)

Anna and her sister loved writing hymns, novels, and children’s books.  Among the 18 books they wrote together was Say and Seal (1859).  This book included ‘Jesus Loves Me’, written by Anna. In the story, one of the characters comforted a dying child by singing ‘Jesus Loves Me’.  The stanza based on the dying child isn’t commonly found in hymnals:

‘Jesus loves me! Loves me still
Tho' I'm very weak and ill
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.’

Anna published ‘Jesus Loves Me’ in her first hymnbook, Original Hymns.  In 1861, William Bradbury put the song to music and added the chorus, ‘Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!’ The joyful tune and simple words soon became favorites around the world.  In 1971, the song was once again revised by David R. McGuire.  He rewrote stanzas two and three to reflect Matthew 19:13-14, where Jesus gathers the children around him:

‘Jesus loves me! This I know
As He loved so long ago
Taking children on His knee
Saying, Let them come to Me.’

I had no idea this children’s song had such an interesting history.

?

I wonder if anyone reads my blog.  But, I suppose it really doesn’t matter.  After a long break from blogging, I finally decided to continue.  It’s a good way I can take part of my day and focus on something or another...  It’s a way for me to ‘speak’ my thoughts and beliefs and experiences and humor and quotes and songs and photos and ponders and memories.

always faithful

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV

I’ve read this verse many times.  It has been used in devotions and sermons and lessons.  Today, I studied it my quiet time.  I thought how each word applied to my life in one way or another.

me:

Strong – Am I weak? Am I useless? Powerless?

Courageous – Am I unsure? Uncomfortable? Shy? Unwilling?

Afraid or Terrified – Am I scared? Am I a coward? Cautious? Uneasy?

God:

never leave, nor forsake – He’s always and forever in me.  He’s staying here and He’s not going anywhere.

He supports and defends and keeps and helps and protects and strengthens and sustains and cares and holds.  He does all of this for me. His child.

Just remember one thing, God is with you and will make everything beautiful at the right place and at the right time.

He is always faithful.  Always.

quick quotes

God has given us...

eyes, not to insult but to look beyond situations
mouths, not to criticize but to speak for the truth
hands, not to punish sinners but to give a helping hand
ears, not to be insensitive but to hear voice in pain

everything has its own purpose, we should use it well 

~unknown

Never underestimate the pain of a person, because in all honesty,
everyone is struggling with something. Some people are better
at hiding it than others.
~unknown

sunday songs

I would guess a gazillion million people, both past and present, have heard or sung ‘Just As I Am’.  This hymn was written around 1835 by the poet and composer Charlotte Elliott (1789-1871).  This hymn became the invitational song of the Billy Graham Crusades, and many came forward and accepted Jesus as their Savior while the words were song and the music was played.

I don’t know where I read this about Charlotte Elliott, but the story is so precious:

When this poet was 46 years old, an elderly man approached her at a dinner party and asked if she was a Christian. She considered him rude and unkind, and that his question was inappropriate. After the man walked away, Charlotte could not get his question out of her mind so she went to find the man, and to ask how to become a Christian. That night she received Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Soon thereafter she wrote ‘Just As I Am’ as a testimony to her newfound faith, and as a tribute to the man who had told her that she could come to Christ, 'just as she was'. Over the remainder of her life Charlotte wrote 150 hymns.

‘Just As I Am’

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come..................

something to think about...

did you know i’m adopted?

Being adopted makes me feel incredibly...um...I can’t think of the right word to describe the feeling I have.  I’m amazed at the fact that there is someone who sees past my sins, but loves me anyway.  Someone who teaches me how to live and how to love.  I mean real love to everyone. 

I know I can be angry and hateful and impatient and picky and irritable and inconsiderate and awful and irritating and rude and thoughtless and defiant and finicky and obnoxious and persnickety and mean and selfish and harsh and offensive and... Good grief!  This list is way too extensive!

I also can be moody and hurt and discouraged and upset and heavyhearted and sad and gloomy and emotional and depressed and weary and upset and unhappy and bothered and stressed and overwhelmed and troubled and burdened and distressed. Ok!  That’s enough!

Somewhere in between, I’d like to think I’m not such a bad person.  I do have some good qualities: I love and I care and I’m helpful and polite and kind.  Let’s just stop this list.  I realize I’ll never be good enough.

I also can be moody and hurt and discouraged and upset and heavyhearted and sad and gloomy and

Back to my adoption.  God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit.  That’s who adopted me.  I gave my life over to God and became His child.  Life is pretty awesome, isn’t it?

But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

Galatians 4:4-6 NAS

 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

Romans 8:14-16 NAS

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,

John 1:12 NAS

Yes, life is awesome!

quick quotes

May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God's presence and not a moment without the entire surrender of my self as a vessel for Him to fill full of His Spirit and His love. 

The only humility that is really ours is not that which we try to show before God in prayer, but that which we carry with us in our daily conduct.

Nowhere can we get to know the holiness of God, and come under His influence and power, except in the inner chamber. It has been well said: No man can expect to make progress in holiness who is not often and long alone with God.

~Andrew Murray

sunday songs

Yesterday, my two oldest grandkids sang ‘This Little Light of Mine’ to me (Nana) and their Pop.  Later, I realized I was humming the song, and wondered about the story behind it.  It’s a children’s gospel song, one of the best known and loved, written by Harry Dixon Loes (1895-1965) around 1920. 

The lyrics sing about the joy of God's perfect love, about the challenges we face, about the importance of trusting God when we’re troubled, about how each of us can stand together when faced with hardships, about how we face our struggles, and about how each of us has a light that can shine in the darkness.

I’m glad I was curious about ‘This Little Light of Mine’.  I’d never thought about how such a simple children’s song had such a powerful message.

nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:15-16 NAS

No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light.

Luke 11:33 NAS

This Little Light of Mine

This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine,
This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine,
This little light o' mine, I'm goin' let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm goin' let it shine,
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm goin' let it shine,
Won't let Satan blow it out, I'm goin' let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, oh no! I'm goin' let it shine,
Hide it under a bushel, oh no! I'm goin'let it shine,
Hide it under a bushel, oh no! I'm goin' let it shine,
Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

pause 'n ponder

fibromyalgia

Rainbow of Hope

I sit staring out my window again
Stuck in this room
By an illness that won’t let me free
I look out at the rain
And feel
Blue with sadness for
All that was, is and never will be
Red with frustration and anger
Hating the pain and endless days
Green with envy
Because everyone’s life has moved on
While I am stopped here since that fateful day
Yellow with fear
That this is the way
It will always be
Then he calls
Come look out this window
And I see
A rainbow stretched across the sky
The colors transform
Into Hope

Submitted by: Stacey Yount 2009, butyoudontlooksick.com

pause ‘n ponder

gifts

I know I deserve not even one of the wonderful things the Lord has given (gives) me.    

"The LORD gives wisdom" - Proverbs 2:6 NAS

For the LORD gives wisdom;

From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

"The LORD gives grace and glory" - Psalm 84:11 NAS

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The

LORD gives grace and glory;

No good thing does He withhold from

those who walk uprightly.

"The LORD gives strength to his people" - Psalm 29:11 NAS

The LORD will give strength to His people;

The LORD will bless His people with peace.

I’ve never sat down and made a list of what God has provided and given me.  These are a sampling of things that popped into my mind, in no particular order.

• God loves me
• He gave me life
• He saved me with grace
• He has forgiven me
• He shows compassion
• He gives me strength
• He gives me hope
• He supplies my needs
• He guides me
• He blesses me
• He gives me mercy
• He comforts me
• He gives me peace
• He protects me
• He have given my life a purpose

:)

sunday songs

Great is Thy Faithfulness, The Song and the Story

Thomas Obadiah Chisolm (1866-1960) had bad health and at times, he was bedridden. When he was able, he pushed himself to work hard just to make ends meet.  He became a Christian at 27, and found great comfort in God’s word, especially that God was faithful and gave him strength and met his needs.  One of his favorite verses was 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. Lamentations 3:22-23. 

When he was away on a mission trip, he wrote to a good friend, William Runyan (a relatively unknown musician).  Several poems that Chisolm wrote were sent with his letters. Runyan found one of Williams' poems so moving that he decided to compose a musical score to accompany the lyrics. ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’ was published in 1923. 

In 1945, George Beverly Shea began to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness at Billy Graham crusades.

I love this song...

‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

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.

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.

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!