on a dark night...

today the backyard exploded into blue

i love his expressions!

precious little hands...

something about my Dad

One of my Dad’s favorite hymns was ‘The Old Rugged Cross’.  I remember he was also fond of ‘How Great Thou Art’.  This post was going to be about this song, but while reading the lyrics, my mind went traveling back in time.  It was the second verse of ‘How Great Thou Art’ that sent me smiling down memory lane.

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Dad and I shared a great love of the outdoors.  I have sweet memories of the times we enjoyed it together.

He loved rocks.  Just like me.  He re-homed trunk loads of ‘interesting’ rocks and fossils from the farm in Tennessee where my Mom grew up.  The majority of those awesome fossils were re-homed with me.  (Confession: I have also re-homed a bunch of river rocks from my favorite place in the mountains.)

He loved creeks and streams and rivers and waterfalls.  Just like me.  He loved growing things.  Just like me.  He grew veggies and blackberries and bunches of other things.  I think he loved getting his hands dirty.  (My hands have also seen their share of dirt.)  He loved growing flowers.  I remember the time he grew all kinds in a greenhouse he built.  That’s why the smell of geraniums still makes me smile.

He loved raising animals - cows, chickens, bunnies.  (Confession: I have seen a cow gutted and a chicken running around without a head.)  That’s nasty, but also a part of life.

When I look thru the thousands of pictures I’ve taken, I will come across one I know he would like, and I smile.  I know his view in heaven is no comparison to the world outside my door.    

You can hear the song here, lyrics below.

http://faithtap.com/402/how-great-thou-art/#t/402/

'How Great Thou Art'

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
Refrain:
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

foto favs

Grandkids are the gifts of yesterday, 

the pride of today, 

and the joy of tomorrow...

journey, my journey

journey to the summit... is the name I chose for my blog back in 2007.  When I decidedto dive in, I had no idea what it entailed.  I haven’t written anything earth-shattering, no amazing jewels of wisdom, quite a few ramblings, things that make me wonder, some devotional posts, lots of pictures from the world outside my door, anything about the wonderful creation of God, stories from my childhood, the things I learn from nature, about my amazing grandkids, songs that are special to me, subjects that cause me to ponder, some of my favorite photos,  Bible verses and what they mean to me, memories that are mine, quotes that are meaningful to me...

There have been many hiatuses.  Times I just don’t have anything worth writing about.  I’ll keep on writing, if only for myself.  My journey to the summit continues... 

Joy in the Journey 

There is a joy in the journey
There's a Light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

And all those who seek it shall find it
A pardon for all who believe
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind
To all who've been born of the Spirit
And who share incarnation with Him
Who belong to eternity stranded in time
And weary of struggling with sin

Forget not the Hope that's before you
And never stop counting the cost
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost

There is a joy in the journey
There's a Light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey
And freedom for those who obey

(Michael Card, John Thompson)

pause 'n ponder

OPEN MY EYES, LORD

I WANT TO SEE JESUS

TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM

AND SAY THAT I LOVE HIM

OPEN MY EARS, LORD

AND HELP ME TO LISTEN

OPEN MY EYES, LORD

I WANT TO SEE JESUS

obedience

In God’s Word, there’s a lot about obedience.  Somewhere I read that Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sums up obedience as ‘Obey and you’ll be blessed.  Disobey and you’ll be cursed.’  Well said..

Jesus said the Christian life is a life of obedience.  If I don’t do His will, I can’t obey.  If I don’t trust, I can’t obey.  If I don’t believe, I can’t obey.  If I don’t have faith, I can’t obey.   If I don’t love, I can’t obey.  If I don’t repent, I can’t obey.  If I don’t forgive, I can’t obey.  

I believe it all begins with ‘If I don’t do His will, I can’t obey’.  I have this link bookmarked:  It’s well written. (Better than I could do.)

http://www.cru.org/training-and-growth/classics/10-basic-steps/6-obedience/

The greatest discovery I have ever made concerning how to know the will of God involves the following:

• Fully surrendering my life to the Lordship of Christ
• Living a life of obedience in the power of the Holy Spirit
• Maintaining my first love for our Lord

Many Christians are trying so hard to discover the will of God that they lose the joy of the Lord and leave their first love for Him.

But all we need to do is abide in Christ, maintain our first love for Him, and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, and we will be in the will of God. So as you continue to walk in the Spirit, He will guide you in making the most important decisions of life. He will also guide you in the daily, moment-by-moment decisions and actions of your life.

Speaking of the Holy Spirit, Jesus says, "When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth...and he will tell you what is yet to come" (John 16:13). So the key to knowing God's will is to be obedient to the guidance of the Holy Spirit of truth. If you are willing to trust and obey God and live a holy life, God will reveal Himself to you and direct your steps as a way of life.

reflective reads

''The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life’,  A.W. Tozer, (1897-1963)

What Tozer calls ''personal heart religion'' can grow only from reverent meditation on God. And Tozer's own bestselling classic, The Knowledge of the Holy, is immensely encouraging. In straightforward and readable language, Tozer describes the attributes of God and shows how understanding them (''knowing the holy'') can help you grow in the Christian life. An excellent book for personal devotions and for preachers.

http://www.christianbook.com/the-knowledge-of-the-holy/a-w-tozer/9780060698652/pd/69865?event=AAI)

*Yet if we would know God and for other's sake tell what we know we must try to speak of his love. All Christians have tried but none has ever done it very well. I can no more do justice to that awesome and wonder-filled theme than a child can grasp a star. Still by reaching toward the star the child may call attention to it and even indicate the direction one must look to see it. So as I stretch my heart toward the high shining love of God someone who has not before known about it may be encouraged to look up and have hope.

*What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

Sunday songs

There’s a Christmas song, 'Sweet Little Jesus Boy', I haven’t listened to in a number of years.  The first time I heard it, I loved the way it told the story of Jesus’ birth.  I found it on YouTube sung by Kenny Rogers, Casting Crowns, Gladys Knight, Rebecca St James, Larnelle Harris, and Mahalia Jackson.

According to William Simon, editor of the Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook, Robert MacGimsey composed this song after walking past crowded speakeasies in New York City on Christmas Eve, 1932.  It was published in 1934, its style similar to African-American spirituals.  Intended as an art song, it became one of many spiritual songs. Most recordings take liberties with the lyrics, some adding entire verses. The initial 1934 copyright was allowed to lapse. 

'Sweet Little Jesus Boy'

Sweet Little Jesus Boy

They made You be born in a manger.

Sweet little Holy Child,

We didn’t know who You was.

Didn’t know You come to save us, Lord;

To take our sins away

Our eyes were blind, we couldn’t see,

We didn’t know who You was.

Long time ago, You was born.

Born in a manager low.

Sweet little Jesus boy.

The world treat You mean, Lord;

Treat me mean, too.

But that’s how things is done down here,

We didn’t know ‘twas You.

You done showed us how,

We is trying.

Master, You done showed us how,

Even when You’s dying.

Just seem like we can’t do right,

Look how we treated You.

But please, sir, forgive us Lord,

We didn’t know ‘twas You.

Sweet little Jesus Boy

Born long time ago.

Sweet little Holy Child,

And we didn’t know who You was….

obedience is as obedience does

Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.

~Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Now is the moment for the Spirit of Christmas…

The joy of giving, the smiles of children, the music of bells,

The twinkle of lights in crisp evening air,

Warmth and love of family and friends, sharing of special memories…

The gentle Spirit of Love that falls quietly upon all of mankind,

Seeking the single day of celebration bringing Peace upon the world.

Merry Christmas… and may God bless us, everyone.

Liz S (1990)

Christians speak up!

I posted this on Facebook today:
 
I am a Christian. I believe in the Holy Bible. I believe every single page, and every single word is the Word of God Almighty. I believe every single word is absolutely accurate and true. Every single word. Period. 

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
2 Timothy 3:16 (NASB)
 
Phil Robertson has it right! And, Satan doesn't like it one bit.

♥

I could have no greater joy than to hear that my children are following the truth.

3 John 1:4 NLT

Sunday songs

The author and composer of ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’, Helen H. Lemmel, relates that one day, in 1918, a missionary friend gave her a tract entitled “Focused.”  The pamphlet contained these words—

“So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

These words made a deep impression upon Helen Lemmel. She could not dismiss them from her mind. She recalls this experience following the reading of that tract:

“Suddenly, as if commanded to stop and listen, I stood still, and singing in my soul and spirit was the chorus, with not one conscious moment of putting word to word to make rhyme, or note to note to make melody. The verses were written the same week, after the usual manner of composition, but none the less dictated by the Holy Spirit.”

(Adapted from Kenneth Osbeck)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This has always been a favorite hymn of mine.  When times are tough, I only have to turn my heart and my soul and my eyes to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and I will feel His comfort and peace.  (And then I will hum this song over and over and over and over again.) 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

'Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’ 

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of Earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Oh soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness to see
There's a light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Refrain

His words shall not fail you, He promised
Believe Him and all will be well
Then go to a world that is dying
His perfect salvation to tell

Refrain

Oh soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness to see
There's a light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

☆•*¨**•.¸¸

When you go through deep waters,
    I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
    you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
    you will not be burned up;
    the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2 NLT

quick quotes

~Patrick Henry~

It can not be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions, but on the gospel of Jesus Christ!

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government 

to restrain  the people, it is an instrument for the people 

to restrain the government - lest it come to 

dominate our lives and interests.

The Bible is worth all the other books 
which have ever been printed.

*¨**•.¸¸♪♫•*¨*•.¸¸♥

This morning, as I lay on the couch, staring out the door, I found myself deep in thought.  So deep, I wasn’t sure where I’d gone.   Maybe in the mountains, in a cozy cabin, warm fire burning, with the love of my life.  Maybe in the world outside my door.

It’s a very gray day.  Dreary.  It’s wet and soggy from the rain.  The trees are almost naked as the last of the leaves float down to the yard, joining the carpet beneath. Squirrels are up to their usual antics, curling their bushy tails as they dance and prance about snatching every bird seed they can.  They fly from deck to rail to limb to arbor.  But they will never know how much I enjoy them.   

Birds are pecking away at the feeders, devouring both seed and suet. They are skirting across the deck, hopping around, flying to a shrub and back again, looking for a free spot at the table.  (Thankfully, they seem oblivious to the chatter and the swooshing tail of the cat inside.  Or sometimes at the kitchen sink.) They sing, they chirp, they speak, they call, they tweet, they squeak, they chat, and yes, they twitter.  They gather around and flap about in the bird bath.  But they will never know how much I enjoy them.

I’m fascinated.  Make no mistake. The world outside my door is enchanting.   I take many pictures, trying to capture the unmistakable beauty of the world outside my door.  

On this misty, gray, dreary day, I’m actually quite content.

who was lottie moon?

I have attended a Southern Baptist Church all of my life.  I grew up knowing about Lottie Moon - the namesake of the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions.  She was much like today's missionaries. Lottie was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.  

Lottie wrote many letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater missions involvement and support. One of those letters triggered the first Southern Baptists' Christmas offering for international missions.  By 1888, Southern Baptist women had organized and helped collect $3,315, enough to send three new missionaries to China.  In 1912, a severe famine came to China.  People everywhere were starving and Lottie gave her food to the people.  Lottie became sick and boarded a ship to the States to recover.  She died on that ship on Christmas Eve, 1912.  On Christmas Eve.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

In 1918, Woman's Missionary Union (WMU) named the annual Christmas offering for international missions after the woman who had urged them to start it. 

*** ONE HUNDRED PERCENT!***

In 2013 Southern Baptists celebrated 125 years of annual giving to support international missionaries. More than 3.5 billion has been given to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, whose namesake inspired the first collection of gifts in 1888 so the world might know Christ. Then, as now, every penny you give to Lottie Moon supports missionaries as they share the Gospel overseas.   

June 5, 2013 RICHMOND, Va (Erich Bridges)  —Southern Baptists gave $149.3 million to the 2012 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

The 2012 Lottie Moon offering, finalized June 5, totaled $149,276,303.72. It surpassed last year’s offering of $146.8 million by more than $2.4 million and marked the third-highest amount given in the offering’s 124-year history.