He loves us

He died for me and for you

Rock of Ages

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy wounded side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save from wrath and make me pure.

remember this

He's got the whole world in His hands...

A song for little ones with a message that adults need to remember.  

What is wrong with this world?

Wars, terriosts, geonicides, abuse, beheadings, poverty, murders, homosexual marriages, abortions, rapes, destruction, racism, violence...

What can I do about it?  What can you do about it?

Stand up and boldly share the message of God. Pray. Love. Live my life in the will of God. Don't miss opportunities which God puts in front of me.......

quick quotes

God uses chronic pain and weakness, along with other afflictions, as His chisel for sculpting our lives. Felt weakness deepens dependence on Christ for strength each day. The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow spiritually, even while our bodies waste away. To live with your ‘thorn’ uncomplainingly — that is, sweet, patient, and free in heart to love and help others, even though every day you feel weak — is true sanctification. It is true healing for the spirit. It is a supreme victory of grace.
J.I. Packer

 Wait on the Lord" is a constant refrain in the Psalms, and it is a necessary word, for God often keeps us waiting. He is not in such a hurry as we are, and it is not His way to give more light on the future than we need for action in the present, or to guide us more than one step at a time. When in doubt, do nothing, but continue to wait on God. When action is needed, light will come.”
J.I. Packer, Knowing God

wise words

feather facts

the Brown-headed Nuthatch: 

I began feeding birds several years ago, and it quickly became my favorite hobby.  I’m not that great at photography, and I use a point-and-shoot camera, but I do get lucky sometimes and get a great, focused shot.

I recently stopped by one of my favorite stores, Wild Birds Unlimited.  (http://.wbu.com/)  I love to browse, look at all kinds of neat stuff, and if I’m lucky, I get to rub the store cat.  The slogan of Wild Birds Unlimited is ‘Saving the World One Bird at a Time’.  I like to think I do my part.

Anyway, I talked with one of the owners of WBU about a new, first time ever, perky little bird that has hung around my backyard.  It has a squeaky song that sounds like a rubber duck toy.  I ended up buying a nesting box (birdhouse) specifically for these little Brown-headed Nuthatches.  I nailed it on our fence, in a quiet corner, that I can see from our bedroom window.  As it turns out, my new, first time ever, visitor is in need of kind, human hands. 

*A message from the Audubon Society:

Brown-headed Nuthatches are losing the pinewoods and dead trees they need for food and nest cavities due to urbanization and deforestation. This loss of habitat has caused the Brown-headed Nuthatch to decline in the Piedmont region. The North Carolina Audubon Society is asking for our help to put up 10,000 new Brown-headed Nuthatch homes in North Carolina by 2015.

*(http://nc.audubon.org/make-little-room-brown-headed-nuthatch)

The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace.

Psalm 29:11 NLT

Peace

Peace will come when people live
In friendship, side by side,
And cherish understanding
More than hatred, greed and pride.

Peace will come when people see
All people as the same,
And no one has to live in fear,
In ignorance, or shame.

Peace will come when people
Who are needy can reach out
For shelter, food, or love,
And no has to do without.

Peace will come when people
Learn to listen and to care
About the rights and dignity
Of people everywhere.

Peace will come when love and trust
And kindness know rebirth,
And on that day all people
Will rejoice in peace on earth.

-Amanda Bradley-

quick quotes

Adrian Rogers quotes

I believe that a great number of people are going to die and go to hell because they're counting on their religiosity in the church instead of their relationship with Jesus to get them to heaven. They give lip service to repentance and faith, but they've never been born again.

He came the first time to die; He is coming again to raise the dead. When He came the first time, they questioned whether He was King; the next time the world will know that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. The first time He wore a crown of thorns; the next time He will be wearing a crown of glory. The first time He came in poverty; the next time He is coming in power. The first time He had an escort of angels; the next time He will come with ten thousands of His saints. The first time He came in meekness; He is coming again in majesty.

The day of judgment will be a day when the skeletons come out of the closets! And each of us will be standing there to face the record.

making memories

who is He?

Out of every narration hubs has done at our church, my personal favorite is the 'Names of Jesus'.  He delivers these words with ease, with clarity, and with passion.

In GENESIS Jesus is the Ram at Abraham’s altar

In EXODUS He’s the Passover Lamb

In LEVITICUS He’s the High Priest

In NUMBERS He’s the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night

In DEUTERONOMY He’s the City of our refuge

In JOSHUA He’s the Scarlet Thread out Rahab’s window

In JUDGES He is our Judge

In RUTH He is our Kinsman Redeemer

In 1st & 2nd SAMUEL He’s our Trusted Prophet

In KINGS and CHRONICLES He’s our Reigning King

In EZRA He is our Faithful Scribe

In NEHEMIAH He’s the Rebuilder of everything that is broken

In ESTHER He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate

In JOB He’s our Redeemer that ever liveth

In PSALMS He is my Shepherd and I shall not want

In PROVERBS and ECCLESIASTES He’s our Wisdom

In the SONG OF SOLOMON He’s the Beautiful Bridegroom

In ISAIAH He’s the Suffering Servant

In JEREMIAH and LAMENTATIONS it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet

In EZEKIEL He’s the Wonderful Four-Faced Man

In DANIEL He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace

In HOSEA He is my Love that is forever faithful

In JOEL He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit

In AMOS He’s our Burden Bearer

In OBADIAH our Savior

In JONAH He is the Great Foreign Missionary that takes the Word of God into all of the world

In MICAH He is the Messenger with beautiful feet

In NAHUM He is the Avenger

In HABAKKUK He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival

In ZEPHANIAH He is the Lord mighty to save

In HAGGAI He is the Restorer of our lost heritage

In ZECHARIAH He is our Fountain

In MALACHI He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings

In MATTHEW Thou art the Christ the Son of the Living God

In MARK He is the Miracle Worker

In LUKE He’s the Son of Man

In JOHN He is the Door by which everyone of us must enter

In ACTS He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus

In ROMANS He is our Justifier

In 1st CORINTHIANS our Resurrection

In 2nd CORINTHIANS our Sin Bearer

In GALATIANS He redeems us from the law

In EPHESIANS He is our Unsearchable Riches

In PHILIPPIANS He supplies our every need

In COLOSSIANS He’s the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily

In 1st and 2nd THESSALONIANS He is our Soon Coming King

In 1st and 2nd TIMOTHY He is the Mediator between God and man

In TITUS He is our Blessed Hope

In PHILEMON He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother

In HEBREWS He’s the Blood of the everlasting covenant

In JAMES it is the Lord that heals the sick

In 1st and 2nd PETER He is the Chief Shepherd

In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd JOHN it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love

In JUDE He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints

And in REVELATION, lift up your eyes, Church, for your redemption draweth nigh, He is King of kings and Lord of lords

worship

This hymn often comes to mind when I have the fullness of worship in my heart. The words may be few, but the message is Holy.  When I'm quite, the words repeat in my heart in song.  I believe there is no word, not one, that can capture the essence of His Holiness.


His name is Wonderful, His name is Wonderful,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus my Lord;

He is the mighty King, master of everything,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.

He's the great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages,
Almighty God is He;

Bow down before Him, love and adore Him,
His name is Wonderful, Jesus, my Lord.

recollections

My crocus blooms are looking tired.  Their bright yellow color announced it wouldn’t be much longer – be patient.  Over the weekend, I walked around the yard looking for signs of spring. I found buds on trees and shrubs, shiny new growth [emerging] immerging, and azaleas preparing to burst into color. The narcissus and daylilies and gladiolus and tiger lilies and peonies and hyacinths and irises were pushing thru the soil. 

I discovered an egg sac clinging to a thin limb on the butterfly bush.  I wondered what was hidden inside.  Maybe praying mantises?  I’ve seen them around for a number of years.

Now that I’ve mentioned praying mantises, I have to tell you a story – circa late 1960s... 

One afternoon, I sat down on the bench of our old upright piano.  It was time to practice my lessons.  I grew tired, but continued on to cross the finish line.  However, I didn’t finish.  Not at all.

It may have been that the room was warm.  It may have been the vibration of the piano keys.  It may have been that it was just time.  Suddenly, I saw bunches of tiny little alien things cascading from a glass vase sitting on the top shelf.  I screamed.  Very loudly.  My Dad came running, saw what was happening, and told me not to hurt them!  Okay – I didn’t.  (They are a must-have for gardens!) 

I got out of the way and watched him attempt to gather up the tiny babies!  Emphasis on attempt.  There were at least a hundred or so.  Literally.  He got what he could and ran outside then back inside then back outside... It was a hilarious sight!  One which is forever etched into my memory.  I wonder what happened to the ones that escaped into the house.  I wonder if he ever did that again...

And every time I see a praying mantis, I smile.

thoughts...

Many years ago, I came across Susan Polis Schutz thru her greeting cards with BlueMountain Arts.  Much later, I found we had something in common: depression.  Everyone is different, but one can relate to another at many levels.  She has written several books on the subject. 

 

These are a few of her quotes:

# It's often difficult for those who are lucky enough to have never experienced what true depression is to imagine a life of complete hopelessness, emptiness and fear.

# Through my own struggles with depression, I discovered that knowledge, therapy, medication and education can provide the strength to get through it in one piece.

# Getting better from depression demands a lifelong commitment. I've made that commitment for my life's sake and for the sake of those who love me.

# My own life was filled with so much love and joy that when depression struck, it was like a prison door slamming shut and I was being placed in an isolation cell. No one else could possibly be feeling what I was. I hated my depression and all of its symptoms.

# Spreading the word about depression is my mission. I am working to build awareness, educate people about the symptoms, and change public opinion and individual attitudes about depression.

snow

Taken just before dawn.  Love the 'blueish' tint.

quick quotes

(1761-1834)  William Carey was an English Baptist missionary and a Particular Baptist minister, known as the "father of modern missions”.  Carey was one of the founders of the Baptist Missionary Society. As a missionary in the Danish colony, Serampore, he translated the Bible into Bengali, Sanskrit, and several other languages and dialects. Carey was a central figure in the modernization of India.

(the church I attended from birth to marriage was named for Carey)

To know the will of God, we need an open Bible and an open map.

We have only to keep the end in view, and have our hearts thoroughly engaged in the pursuit of it, and means will not be very difficult.

The most glorious works of grace that have ever took place, have been in answer to prayer; and it is in this way, we have the greatest reason to suppose, that the glorious out-pouring of the Spirit, which we expect at last, will be bestowed.

come be a nobody for Christ

He must become greater; I must become less.

John 3:30

(I came across this on a Desiring God – John Piper blog.  Very good – I’d like to share...)

But I believe that Jesus is calling for people to be a nobody for Him – people who would forsake the “American dream” to be a part of bringing gospel hope to the nations. People who don’t mind if they are not recognized, respected, praised, or promoted – as long as the name of Jesus is cherished, exalted, and adored. People who understand that Jesus didn’t come to this world and die on a cross so that we could have a comfortable suburban life and enjoy going to our local church's corporate gathering on Sundays. 

John Piper reminds us that we have three choices – go, send, or disobey. And it’s my hope and prayer that the very best of this generation will go – young people who could be somebody in this world choosing to be nobodies for Jesus.

And that doesn’t mean that you have to be a preacher.  There's hardly a job or profession that you can have in America that you can’t do in the mission field.  You can be a musician, a physician, a professor, a dog catcher, a secretary, an actuary, a mixed martial arts fighter (it doesn't matter). My point is that missions is simply doing what the Lord has gifted and called you to do – where there are few or no Christians – so that those who cannot be saved without believing in the gospel would hear the life-giving good news of Jesus through you.
It’s choosing to forsake the comforts and glory of the American dream to live in any foreign land, and speaking in a foreign tongue, choosing to be slightly uncomfortable and really need God so that He might have the glory He is worthy to receive.

✞ holiness

Take my Life (Holiness)

Holiness, holiness... is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, holiness
Is what You want from me

Take my heart... and mold it
Take my mind... transform it
Take my will... conform it
To Yours, to Yours, Oh Lord

Righteousness, righteousness... is what I long for
Righteousness is what I need
Righteousness, righteousness
Is what You want from me

Brokenness, brokenness... is what I long for
Brokenness is what I need

Brokenness, brokenness

Is what You want for me

(Mercy Me)

beautiful blinding blue

And when he sings to you,
Though you're deep in blue, 
You will see a ray of light creep through,
And so remember this, life is no abyss, 
Somewhere there's a bluebird of happiness. 
Life is sweet, tender and complete, when you find the bluebird of happiness.
- Bluebird of Happiness, lyrics by Edward Heyman & Harry Parr Davies, 1934



 
Be like the bluebird who never is blue,
For he knows from his upbringing what singing can do
- Cole Porter, Be Like the Bluebird, 1934

 The bluebird carries the sky on his back. - Henry David Thoreau, Journal, April 3, 1852 

 
The bluebird is well named, for he wears a coat of the purest, richest, and most gorgeous blue on back, wings, and tail; no North American bird better deserves the name, for no other flashes before our admiring eyes so much brilliant blue.

 - Arthur C. Bent, 1949



Blue skies 
Smiling at me
Nothing but blue skies 
Do I see
Bluebirds 
Singing a song
Nothing but bluebirds 
All day long
- Irving Berlin, Blue Skies, 1927 

quick quotes

what's the difference? ~ reprise

Today, for some reason, He directed me back to this previous post:

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 NAS

So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 NAS

Concern? Yes, I’ve had concerns, I have concerns, and I will have concerns. There are things or people or events that have an effect on me, that I’m involved with, that are important to me, that get my attention, that I am somehow, in some way, connected with.

Worry? Yes, I’ve worried. And, I’ll worry again. I’ve worried due to or because of fear, troubles, injustice, disasters, distress, anger, pain, danger, crime.

Is there a difference between concern and worry? Yes, there is a difference, a big difference.

* Concern tries to solve problems, looks for solutions, and faces challenges.

* Worry causes problems and worry is the problem. Worry is a waste of time, it’s pointless, and doesn’t help anything.

There are times it’s very hard not to worry. But, God says that we are not to worry. He’s very clear on the subject. He asks us to give our worries to Him.  And, not to pick them up again.  I'm guilty.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:6-8 NAS

This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. A Greg Laurie study summarizes these verses into three steps for keeping worry from our lives.

1- Right praying (verse 6-7). To be free of worry, we have to pray.

2- Right thinking (verse 8). Having peace involves both the heart and mind. The peace of God will guard our thinking.

3- Right living (verse 9). The way we act depends on our attitude. We are to think about things that are praiseworthy.

If Jesus is our personal savior, there’s no need to worry. God is in control of your life. You may not know what tomorrow holds, but you know who holds tomorrow.

I close with these quotes:

“Worry is like a rocking chair - it gives you something to do but it doesn't get you anywhere.”
Unknown

“There is a great difference between worry and concern. A worried person sees a problem, and a concerned person solves a problem. “
Harold Stephens

"Only one kind of worry is proper: to worry because you worry too much."
Unknown

“Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He's going to be up all night anyway.”
Mary C. Crowley