Sunday, November 30, 2008
Songs On Sunday
Over the skies of Bethlehem appeared a star
While angels sang to lowly shepherds
Three Wiseman seeking truth they traveled from afar
Hoping to find the child from heaven
Falling on their knees they bow before the humble Prince of Peace
We bring an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus may you receive the honor that you're due
O Lord I bring an offering to you
The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love
There is no shadow in your presence
No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne
Before the Holy One of heaven
It's only by Your blood
It's only through Your mercy
Lord, I come
I bring an offering of worship to my King
No one on earth deserves the praises that I sing
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due
O Lord, I bring an offering to you
We bring an offering to you
We are an offering to you
We are an offering to you, Jesus
We are an offering of worship to our King
No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due
O Lord, we bring an offering to you
O Lord, we bring an offering to you
We bring an offering to you
We are an offering to you
We are an offering to you
(by Paul Baloche, and on the new Casting Crowns Christmas album that I am impatiently waiting to arrive on my door step any minute!)
No Christmas or snow pictures so I hope you don't mind seeing the foxgloves from the Olympic Peninsula. They were growing wild and crazy this summer, more than I have ever seen. One day when I have my cottage garden, I will grow them. They remind me of my Grandma Hopkins.
1. Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.
2. Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.
(Charles Wesley)
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanks
Hubby, Boogie and Princess with a feast laden table
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wellness Wednesday
Sunday, November 23, 2008
The Simple Woman's Daybook
Church And Starbucks?
(hat tip to Miss Jocelyn)
I read a little bit on the website of the video producer and don't know much about them. The word "marketing" leaves a bad taste in my mouth. LOL Probably I'll step on some toes here, but I've never been for all the different "programs" and "goals" etc that various churches have to draw others in. Instead I would rather have the pastor and leaders in the congregation disciple me in how to live a REAL life so that others see Jesus in me.
Programs come and go but the Gospel is forever. I haven't arrived their yet, but one of the things that has been on my mind is that old phrase, "If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Honestly, I think I could be convicted of being a Christian, but it's the condition of my fruit that concerns me! Because of that, I have decided to study in the New Testament all the ways that Paul, James, Peter, John and others described that we should be living as Believers and evaluate whether I am applying those in my own life. Last night I started with Galatians after thinking about the Fruits of the Spirit. I'm looking forward to seeing what He has to say to me, even if some of it makes me cringe and say "OUCH!"
16I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Romans 1 NIV Biblegateway.com
Songs On Sunday And A Gold Country Adventure
This is a view across the field at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park in Coloma, California. It commemorates the site at Sutter's Mill where John Marshall discovered the gold that inspired the 1849 California Gold Rush. This last week we watched an episode of Little House on the Prairie where the children heard the expression "It's Sutter's Mill all over again!" which referred to the fighting and bickering, as well as murder that followed the finding of gold. So, when we looked for a place to get our noses into the fresh air this weekend, this state park seemed only fitting. Boogie, our son, is very interested in Laura Ingalls Wilder, though at the museum and park he was more interested in running around, climbing and jumping around! He is a normal 7 year old!
Another view of the buildings at the state park. In many ways, fall is like a second spring in California. It's my favorite season here. It's warm but you don't usually get burnt to a crisp, the air is fresher and crisp and the cooler temperatures accompanied by occasional rainfall, makes everything green again! No more brown!!! :o)
(Chris Tomlin)
Simple but powerful words that I have been pondering for a week now... oh let us not lift our souls to another. What kind of idols are in my life? Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? Am I humbled by the Spirit? Do I turn my eyes from evil things? Am I seeking Him?
Doesn't it look like horses should be grazing here?
I love when the trees make a bower. With the red bows, I could imagine it with snow and Percherons drawing a sleigh!
Day into night You can turn the dark into light
You can take a soul that was lost and turn it around
Lord on my own my heart can turn as hard as a stone
But You can make it tender again with Your love
Stir up a hunger
Stir up a hunger in my heart
Nothing will satisfy me
Nothing else will do
Stir up a hunger
A hunger in my heart
Stir up a hunger in my heart
For more of You
(Paul Baloche)
Lately I feel He is stirring up a hunger in my heart and it is making me restless during the waiting time when I don't know how to direct this hunger and energy.
Who says your yearly school picture has to be stuffy and boring. Each year I do the kids' pictures for school. Last years pictures were dull and uninspired, but I like how these turned out. My oldest, my son "Boogie" is 7 and in 2nd grade. He is serious and silly, all rolled into one with a HUGE obsession for Legos!
I like this even better of his face and cropped it out of a picture of him with his sisters.
You've already been introduced to my second child and oldest daughter, "Sunshine". She is 5 8/12 and in kindergarten. She is "Twin A" and most of the time would be considered the "dominant" twin even though she is introverted and shy.
All three songs for this weeks "Songs on Sunday" come from our service last week. Today, after all our big adventures, all five of us woke up sick. I think we've never gotten totally better from before. When we miss church fellowship, we "do church" at home together and it is a sweet time of fellowship with each other and the Lord. It is a joy to see Him working in their hearts.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Joy
I love this picture even though there isn't a single thing in focus! This is my oldest (by 2 minutes) daughter "Sunshine" who marches to the beat of her own drum. This can be frustrating for parenting and educating! She continually challenges me to bear the Fruits of the Spirit...
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Thanks On Thursday
Sorry it's hard to see the writing in low resolution. It says:
What a long day! I'm happy to sit down and write my list tonight.
1. Blogging friends - new and old!
2. Kids who helped me rearrange their room and our school area without complaining!
3. Food in the pantry even when the checkbook is almost empty.
4. Unexpected phone calls from far away friends.
5. My kitty Abbie who has sensed my stress and comes to sleep on my hip when I read in bed at night.
6. Books - I can't imagine life without them.
7. The heritage of thankfulness that Grandma Hopkins gave me.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Lonely?
If you are feeling lonely, please read Sally's post which is quite encouraging. She admonishes us to grab onto joy - He gives it freely.
What Happened To Wellness Wednesday?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Holiday Freebie From Sue Gregg
A Call To Prayer
As the kids and I read about the Pilgrims leaving Leiden and England to come to the New World, I cannot help but relate. I do not descend from the Mayflower Pilgrims but some of my ancestors were in Leiden, many of them were pastors persecuted by King James for preaching the Truth and many of them were Puritans who came across the Atlantic in the wave of immigration that followed the Puritans in the late 1620s-early 1630s. I don't know if that surge of passion I feel is genetically passed down or if it is unique and peculiar to my own personality, but lately I have been thinking, "God is it time for a New World? Where can we go to be safe to seek You and obey You?" Since the enemy is said to roam the whole earth, I guess it is safe to say that until death, there is no escaping his pranks, politics and tactics.
So, I have felt restless. I am caught in between the Now and the Not Yet. I don't expect everyone to agree with me (it's more important you agree with God than with me). But I have felt like I have walked in a spiritual no man's land where I am not accepted by many who find me too black and white and may even consider me "legalistic". On the other hand, many who might agree with much of what I think theologically do not accept me as equal because I don't dress appropriately, read the "correct" version of the Bible or do other things they deem necessary.
And here we are again, reduced down to Sadducees and Pharisees, arguing about jots and tittles, failing to praise and serve Him because we are afraid of losing out on our own agendas. I'm not suggesting we all hold hands and sing Kum Ba Ya! But I am saying that I am asking God to meet me in my loneliness and cleanse Me so that I will not be a "white washed sepulchre" and I am asking Him to show me where to focus my intensity, how to choose, how to worship and how to serve. I want Him to mold my heart so that it beats with His passion, NOT mine!
Whether or not you agree with me or with politics, whether you voted for and love who is coming into office or not, I think there is no time like the present, to gather and obey God's command to pray for our leaders! This is something that I have done off and on throughout my life, but something I would like to do more consistently now.
Last spring Precept Ministries sent out a Call To Prayer for our nation. In my opinion, the prayers should not end because the polls are closed. There is an interesting short video about the Fulton Street Revival, as well as a pdf document with information on praying. I'm inviting you, if you care to, to join me in praying for our country and for our newly elected President and for your state and local officials. Ask God to transform their hearts and lives and to hear His voice - not just what we want to have happen, but what HE wants for our officials and our neighborhoods and states and countries. For some time I have felt that it is time in America to pray for another great revival! While political causes can sometimes be good, let's not be remembered only for our positions on abortion, war, education and laws. Let's leave a Legacy of Faith that is a light to future generations. The "us" I refer to in "let's" is the Community of Faith, Believers in Jesus Christ across the nation and the World. In our efforts to lead people away from sin, let's lead them to a wonderful relationship with God.
I'm writing this, NOT because I feel I have all the world's answers. I have none. I'm writing this because sitting and moping in the darkness does nothing for me or for the people around me that the Lord loves and wants to bring into His Kingdom. Since the people who started this Call To Prayer began on Thursdays, I think I will choose that day to focus on these prayers. There is also more information at Presidential Prayer Team.
If you made it this far, thank you for listening to my heart.
Monday, November 17, 2008
The Simple Woman's Daybook
On several of my friend's blogs I have seen The Simple Woman's Daybook on Mondays, so I thought I would give it a try.
FOR TODAY November 17, 2008...
Outside my window... my neighbor's Golden Amber tree is flaming red.
I am thinking... I'm emotionally exhausted!
I am thankful for... my Husband who is working hard today and tonight at his 2nd job to take good care of us.
From the learning rooms... we are enjoying Heidi and Legos today since we are all sick.
From the kitchen... I made fresh ground whole wheat and spelt biscuits with organic peach jam. Nummy!
I am wearing... sweats, since I'm sick and cold.
I am creating... new designs for my blogs.
I am going... nowhere to spread my germs! :o)
I am reading... Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson (it's good!)
I am hoping... that my Hubby and kiddos will feel better ASAP!
I am hearing... the sounds of girly giggles as they are lost in their "twin world"
Around the house... it's a mess! :o)
One of my favorite things... the intense colors of autumn
A few plans for the rest of the week: School, Thanksgiving preparations, blog updating, household organizing
Here is picture thought I am sharing...