We lost a member of our church body this week, and I'm already missing him. Who will let the little children know they are dismissed for children's church? This was his calling, our church elder. He laboriously made his way to the pulpit, already miked so he could talk as he walked, in pain but with great cheer. His appearance meant the children could go to their own service. He then read Scripture and prayed for us, and I so appreciated him and his Godly wisdom. I know that someone will step up to pulpit in his place, as he would want it to be, bringing his own contribution to the body, but still we will miss him here on earth. He is yet part of the body, the part that's graduated and gone to Heaven. With great love, Jesus dismissed him to join them. Well done, faithful servant, you're home.
I pray that we who have left the miry clay for the solid rock will stay put. To my shame I know that I can return to wallow in the mud, until my gracious Jesus once again lifts me out and washes me off. Pigs wallow in the mud for a reason, regulating their body temperature and add a protective coat to their bodies. We children of God are not pigs. We are royalty in the Kingdom of our Lord. May the only reason we have to visit the pit is to help others out of it.
My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less - Deborah Liv Johnson
I think drawn to lullabies, because sleep is often elusive. Pain will disrupt it so that I can't recall the last time I slept like a baby. My God, who never sleeps, keeps watch over my nights, and I am thankful for his presence. Sleep well, beloved of God, He gives you a song in the night.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
1 Thessalonians 5:18New International Version (NIV)
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
…a great challenge to praise God in the storm. Still me must do so. We must also grieve for our neighbor's storms and give comfort as we can. I am reminded of this as someone dear to me has lost precious things which cannot be replaced, and I am very sorry that this has happened to her.
Praise You In This Storm - Casting Crowns
I was sure by now
God, You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining
16 But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.
I was enchanted with a tiny member of my husband's Swedish American family this week, so much so that I uploaded a song with her in mind. I wonder what she must think of me a person so unlike the rest of her family with my own much diluted ethnicity. Still after she presented me with a picture she had pasted and glued for me, I fell head over heels for her again. So she's the reason for the presence of blonde children in this Youtube upload of a JJ Heller song.
“We should be astonished at the goodness of God, stunned that He should bother to call us by name, our mouths wide open at His love, bewildered that at this very moment we are standing on holy ground.”
― Brennan Manning, The Ragamuffin Gospel: Good News for the Bedraggled, Beat-Up, and Burnt Out
My husband and I just finished watching the "Ragamuffin" movie, a biopic of Rich Mullins life. It was good…very good in fact, surprising good even to someone like me often jaded by the generally poor quality of Christian filmmaking. Yes, there were some problems, like characters who didn't age like they would in real life. I liked that movie wasn't afraid to show the artist's flaws as well as his strengths. He loved God and was deeply loved by God, reason enough to tell his life's story. "The Love of God" is a personal favorite of mine.
I just did a quick search of past blog posts and found a number of entries under Psalm 121. Well here's another one. I find in July that I am truly living in one of the most beautiful places on earth; and, if the tourists that descend on our town are any indication, I'm not the only one who feels that way. I'd have to go around town with my eyes closed not to see the splendor the the mountains that rise up behind this little city between the mountains and the sea. I only have to lift up my eyes to be reminded of the promises in this great Psalm, and I am comforted. I am thankful for the years of teaching first grade Sunday School, too, with the required memorization of the passage in it's curriculum. I pray that my former students are still lifting their eyes and remembering it also.
16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
your walls are ever before me.
Hebrews 8:12New King James Version (NKJV)
12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[a] I will remember no more.”[b]
James 1:12English Standard Version (ESV)
12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
I was chatting with my mother today. She told me her father had a photographic memory. He could read something once and remember it. He taught himself carpentry from reading and many other things. His children would make a game out of it and try to find something in a book that he didn't know, but he always did. My grandfather left his Nova Scotia home when he was 12 years old. somehow ending up in California, and would have gone hungry if it weren't for the abundant oranges. The story picks up again when he saw my grandmother waiting at the train station for her father. He declared then and there that he would marry that girl. So he did. He also never ate oranges again. This conversation came about because I had googled his name and found the 1940 census for his very large family. Only nine were listed, though, the older children having already left home.
There so many things that are counted yet still forgotten in this life, that it makes me thankful we have a God that we can count on in eternity. Consider what our Lord counts and what He doesn't. He, who has the true photographic memory, promises to forget our sins but remember our love. How wonderful is that?
I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous How Wonderful) - Gaither Tent Revival
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Psalm 34:18English Standard Version (ESV)
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
and saves the crushed in spirit.
Luke 19:41New International Version (NIV)
41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
The news this week has been so sad and tragedy so certain that one can imagine even the sunflowers wept over the evil men bestow upon one another. I know Jesus did.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Psalm 20:7New International Version (NIV)
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
Philippians 4:13New King James Version (NKJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.
Sometimes God calls upon us to be brave, braver than we ever thought we could be or ever want to be. Then we also asks us to trust Him, not ourselves, Him. It isn't easy when fear has been a life-long motivator. It's time toss all useless fear aside, put on the full armor of God, and soldier on. If you don't toss that fear far enough, toss it again and toss it again, if need be. You're braver than you believe you are. I liked this song by Mariah Peters, "Brave."
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Tonight I am thankful for strong, young men and their ability to muscle a transmission out of a car, but I'm also thankful for my older, graying man, who was wise enough to hold the flashlight and dispense advice. The young may glory in their strength but they don't have my old man's splendor. I'll claim this verse for myself too. I have gray hair, albeit colored, but it's all still there and it's mine. I may not do more than shine a light, but I'll stay in the fight until God calls me home. I'll look just splendid too.
Steve Green - He Who Began A Good Work In You [Official Music]
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Philippians 4:13 English Standard Version (ESV)
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Psalm 32:7New King James Version (NKJV)
7 You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
Rheumatoid arthritis has taught me to appreciate strong shoes, because uneven ground is not my friend. So I like this quote by Corrie Ten Boom. I am reminded that God gives me strong, spiritual shoes to walk the hard roads of life. God never called me to lead a comfortable life, as much as I would have liked it to be my calling. (You want me to stay three weeks in a plush Hawaiian resort? Here I am, Lord, send me.) We are all meted out a measure of suffering in this life but, thankfully, we are also given grace beyond measure.
Examining Lifebelts on Titanic, A photograph of a board of trade inspector examining lifebelts on Titanic at Southampton
Proverbs 14:12New King James Version (NKJV)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Psalm 127:1King James Version (KJV)
127 Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
Matthew 7:26New King James Version (NKJV)
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
Hebrews 2:3New King James Version (NKJV)
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
John 14:6New King James Version (NKJV)
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
I was astounded to see that there was a lifebelt inspector on the Titanic! I'm not sure why because it makes perfect sense; but hindsight allows me to see the near futility of his efforts, that he might have been better off taking a sick day. I've spent time myself inspecting lifebelts when I should have been watching out for icebergs. We're inspecting lifebelts too when we fail to heed God's instructions. We're hitting icebergs when we ignore so great a salvation. God sent His Son to save us and gave us His word to know Him. He is our compass. He is our lifebelt. He has charted our course and we are unsinkable.
2 Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.[b]
Philippians 4:8English Standard Version (ESV)
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Just add a few more kids to this picture and it would look much like my family back in the day. I grew up with television and still habitually watch it, even knowing there's much that isn't good on it. I just looked up Bible verses that would pertain to television watching and I couldn't find one that justified it. Sigh. I do like TV. My dad used to say that he didn't need a television guide because he had me. He probably knew that I had already looked up everything that was on TV that night and selectively told him what to watch, leaving out shows I didn't want to watch. These days I like watching "The Middle" and "Person of Interest," and because my husband likes it we also watch "Blue Bloods." Most other shows are optional. I write these things because we recently brought home a new TV. Watching digital programming on an old analog TV wasn't so great and I was happy to upgrade. It's amazing how much clearer things are, even things I shouldn't be watching. I turned on a movie that was supposed to be good but had to turn it off because it was just too ugly, as it depicted sin without moral judgments. I should never have turned it on in the first place. Oh, be careful little eyes what you see.
Norman Rockwell, The Peacecorps, JFK's bold legacy
Psalm 133:1King James Version (KJV)
133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
Hebrews 13:1English Standard Version (ESV)
13 Let brotherly love continue.
For the Fourth of July I uploaded a Peter, Paul & Mary song to Youtube, "Because All Men Are Brothers," and found myself thinking of my brother-in-law who served in The Peace Corp in the 1960's. Because he left us too soon, I'm wishing that I had asked him about his service, what he did and why. Was we driven to do good or was it a means to escape the draft? If I had asked, he likely would have answered truthfully. Regardless of his reasons, he served others as well as his country.
I cherish an evening spent in his home, when this very quiet man pulled out his guitar and began play and sing. He had a lovely voice and he honored us by sharing his gift. I could almost see the young man that he had been as he sang. In his honor, here's a song for all those who dream of peace.
Louis Zampereni, Olympian, World War II Hero, Survivor, Christian
2 Timothy 4:6-8King James Version (KJV)
6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
I woke up this morning to learn that Louis Zampereni went home after 97 years of life here on this side of eternity. I've been inspired by his life story, most recently told in the book, "Unbroken" by Laura Hillenbrand. A true American hero, he was unbroken in all things but for his need for a Savior. Christ calls sinners. Christ called Louis.
30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]
I like this new song by Colton Dixon, "More of You." It's wonderful when the young use their talents and gifts for the Lord and not for man. It's wonderful when the old do it too.
