The Blessing of God's Hand

Detail Rembrandt's Prodigal Son

..... the king gave him everything he asked for, because the gracious hand of the Lord his God was on him. Ezra 7:6

....for the gracious hand of his God was on him. Ezra 7:9

I felt encouraged because the gracious hand of the Lord my God was on me. Ezra 7:28

And the gracious hand of our God protected us.... Ezra 8:31

When I ponder reading through the book of Ezra, I look forward to reading these verses. So far, I haven't tired of them yet.

What they mean to me is 1) God can and will be involved in the affairs of our lives, and 2) The blessing of God makes all the difference.

I don't really think about how to "qualify" for these things, and it isn't my purpose to even explore that here. The main point to me is simply wanting these things, especially the latter. The blessing of God turns failure into success, meaningless into meaningful, futile into productive, trouble into protection, wasted into redeemed. And on and on you or I could go.

Ezra discerned that his effectiveness was due to God, and he "bothers" to point this out. No, he is all too glad to say he saw God at work. It wasn't a set of good coincidences, fate, luck or chance. God was blesser and he was the blessed. I want that all the time. Do you?

by beanscot's husband

Sidewalk Prophets - Prodigal (Official Music Video)

Tumbling Tumbleweeds

It's late and I should be sleeping, but it seems I got my sleeping done in church this morning.  Sigh.  It was nice, though, to sit as one of three sisters in a pew today bookended by husbands (my husband keeping me upright).  It is true that a three cord strand is not easily broken, but it also helps to have a husband to keep me from breaking ranks.  I've been too inundated with all things nuclear throughout the day for various reasons, (that same husband wanting me to watch with him an old Hollywood film about the making of the atom bomb), so I'm now listening to my Sons of the Pioneers songs for a change of pace.  They surprised me, though, slipping in the song, "Old Man Atom."  Sigh, again.   It's good that The Sons of the Pioneers mostly sing the old cowboy songs, because sometimes you just want to be a tumbling tumbleweed.  

Roy Rogers & Sons Of The Pioneers - Tumbling Tumbleweeds

It's Sunday!

We'll be looking for you!

Alison Krauss - There Is A Reason

If Today You've Sowed in Tears

“There is a sacredness in tears. They are not a mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love.”


― Washington Irving

Richard Smallwood & Vision~Sow in Tears

"Sow In Tears"

Darkness will fall and tears will come

For all of these things comes to everyone

But in God's Word, It's promised to us

If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

Tears are for cleansing, stress and relief

Created by God just to give us release

They're not in vain, for soon will come peace

If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

So don't be afraid to cry

He sees your tears, He hears your prayer

Your mourning, He'll turn to dancing,

This too will pass, your day is comin'

The tears may flow but don't let go

If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

So don't be afraid to cry

He sees your tears, He hears your prayer

Your mourning, He'll turn to dancing,

This too will pass, your day is comin'

The tears may flow but don't let go

[SPECIAL]

1. If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

2. If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

that's what the Word says

3. If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

4. If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

that's what the Word says

5. If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

6. If you sow in tears you'll reap in joy

Third Day - Victorious (Official Lyric Video)