beanscot

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

My God of Level Paths

Psalm 27:11

English Standard Version (ESV)

11 Teach me your way, O Lord,

and lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

This is a wise statement for those who are moving such as we. I am out of the little house under the weeping willow tree into the house of a level path. Moving is such hard work that it makes me wonder if the Jews were 70 years in Babylonian captivity because nobody had the heart or strength to move. When Cyrus the Great released them to return to Jerusalem, how many husbands declared things were really not that bad so why move?
Even so God moves us along. Rheumatoid arthritis meant that I needed a house with easier accessibility and He has provided. The walk to my new front door is straight and smooth with no steps to negotiate, and I am grateful. God was with me under the willow tree when I mourned my foreclosure loss and He continues to be faithful as I battle my new enemy, this illness. I've seen my Egypt and my Babylon, I'll not turn back.

"So You Want to Go Back to Egypt" - Keith Green

This Made Me Smile...

This also makes me thankful for E-readers.

The New Kid

"Nativity" Mary Cicely Barker

"There's A New Kid in Town" - Kathy Mattea

Monday, December 10, 2012

Scripture For A Weary Day

Psalm 43:5

New International Version (NIV)

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God,

for I will yet praise him,

my Savior and my God.

Sunday, December 9, 2012

A Charlie Brown Christmas

I'm old enough to remember when "A Charlie Brown Christmas" was a new Christmas special. It's still special this many years later. I pray that I will always remember the true meaning of Christmas that was explained so well by Linus and his blanket.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Mary, My God's Choice

Luke 1:26-33

New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

While I don't worship or venerate Mary, the mother of Jesus, this is the time of year where my admiration for her grows. What was about her young life that caused God to find favor with her? I don't believe I'll know until I meet her in Heaven. She does seem to have been a brave and courageous woman, pure and devoted. I'm thankful for her and her role in delivering my Savior.

"Mary Sweet Mary" - Selah and Plumb

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Each Child, Still Knows

Cisely Mary Barker, artist

"Christmas Canon" - Trans Siberian Orchestra

Merry Christmas

(The joy that he brings)

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

(The joy that he brings)

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

(The joy that he brings)

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas

(The joy that he brings)

Merry Christmas

This night, we pray

Our lives, will show

This dream, he had

Each child, still knows

This night, we pray

Our lives, will show

This dream, he had

Each child, still knows

(He had)

This night, we pray

(Our lives)

Our lives, will show

(He had)

This dream, he had

(Our lives)

Each child, still knows

(He had)

This night, we pray

(Our lives)

Our lives, will show

(He had)

This dream, he had

(Our lives)

Each child, still knows

(He had)

This night