Showing posts with label Hear It/Use It. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hear It/Use It. Show all posts

Monday, July 1, 2013

God's Amazing Grace

 
In church on Sunday, we sang Chris Tomlin's version of "Amazing Grace, My Chains Are Gone." But we sang the original lyrics, which I didn't realize he had changed in his version of the song. 

Of course the first few verses most of us know:
Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I'm found.
Was blind, but now, I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
 
Then the original lyrics are:
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come
'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far
And grace will lead me home
(I love this!! There have been many dangers in my life and especially in my son's life this past week. Someone had broken into his apartment and stole some of his roommates things. Nothing of his was taken and he was not at home. He also had a couple of accidents, one at work and one at home, that weren't serious, but could have been. Through all these situations, God brought my son "safe thus far", just as this verse says. I am so very thankful for His care and protection!)

When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we first be- gun

I also love this verse, which Tomlin changes in his version. I think of heaven and no time limits and pure sun! My favorite time of year is summer and I love it when the sun is shining, so this gives me great comfort.

I like the lyrics that Tomlin wrote, especially the chorus. . .
 My chains are gone, I've been set free.
My God, my Savior has ransomed me.
And like a flood, His mercy rains.
Unending love, amazing grace.
 
But I wish he had kept the original verses. They have such true meaning and depth for me. 

As we go through the week and many of us celebrate the independence of our nation, may we remember His wonderful grace upon us!! Where would we be without it?
 
Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at   "Multitude on Mondays".
1,391 - An awesome day with my best friend from college days.
1,392 - My ladies Bible study group. Such lovely, fun women!
1,393 - Some very gloomy, rainy weather for several days.
1,394 - A few rough days, but the Lord got me through.
1,395 - Attending a 2-day Christian music festival.
 1,396 - Being blessed by musicians, like Kari Jobe and TobyMac.
1,397 - Fresh strawberries that made a delicious shortcake.
1,398 -  Catching a 16 inch bass off of our pier!
1,399 -  A nice, relaxing weekend.  
1,400 - God, protecting my son from any great harm this past week.
1,401 - A great sermon on the subject of grace at church this past Sunday.

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Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Capture and Savor Each Moment

"I'm convinced that the whole world is better when we,
as individuals,
capture and savor each moment as the gift that it is,
embrace the challenge or joy of it,
and thereby transform it
with the magic of creative posibility.
Life, for the most part, is what we make of it.
We have been given a responsibility
to live it fully, joyfully, completely,
and richly
in whatever span of time God grants us
on this earth."
(Luci Swindoll)
Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at   "Multitude on Mondays".
1,381 - The moments I find to take a picture almost every day of God's creation.
1,382 - Enjoying all the different animals that I get to see daily, now that we are living on a lake.
1,383 - Fishing has been good.
1,384 - The weather has been, for the most part, really nice, too!
1,385 - Learning to not let daily occurrences get me down, but, just like the Luci Swindoll quote above, remember that "Life, for the most part, is what we make of it."
1,386 - Watching my dog chase the neighborhood squirrel up a tree, and then the squirrel getting bold and chattering down at him.

1,387 - It almost looks like they are carrying on a conversation (maybe more of an argument)!


1,388 - Finally, my dog hears me calling him and gives up the fight to "get the squirrel." Looks like the squirrel won! LOL!!

1,389 - A wonderful new coffee shop opening up near my house!!
1,390 - We FINALLY officially can drive our new pontoon boat out on the water! We purchased it before Memorial Day, but have had many issues! I definitely learned patience the past few weeks!




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Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Love, Joy, Peace

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,"
Galatians 5:22
http://th03.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/i/2010/340/7/1/love_joy_peace_watercolor_by_jesserayus-d34cfnk.jpg
 I remember singing a song in Sunday School as a child. The song is called "Peace Like a River." Do you remember that song? It's simple, with just a few change in words with each verse. I guess that's why they sang it in the children's programs. 
But I started thinking about what it means to have:
Peace like a river,
Love like an ocean,
and
Joy like a fountain  

When I think of a river, I think about the sound of water, slowly flowing over the rocks. I think of how the sunlight glistens on the current. Even the thought gives me a relaxed and unhurried feeling. What a wonderful description of what true peacefulness is like!

 Love, God's love, is endless and deep! So is the ocean! Another great correlation of two different, but similar things. I also think of how in the storm, the ocean can be rough and scary, but God's love covers all, and in Him we have nothing to fear!

 And joy!!! When I think of a fountain, spraying and spouting up and out, I think of how it makes me smile and want to jump into it! The water from a fountain will spray drops of water on those close to it and it feels so refreshing on a hot, humid day!!
 The joy God puts in our hearts is like that...full and refreshing! Those around someone who is joyful can't help but find it contagious and uplifting.

 The animated video below is a unique version of the song.
May you enjoy the words and visuals!!  

As you go about your week, consider that out of all of the Fruits of the Spirit, the first three listed are
Love
Joy
Peace
 http://www.sunnykilogram.com/wp-content/themes/sk/images/other/love-peace-joy.gif
May you seek and find all of these and be blessed!
  
Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at   "Multitude on Mondays".

1,370 - Getting a cappuccino maker; the excitement coming from my son!!
1,371 - A day out in the boat with my two favorite guys.

1,372 - A delicious pizza for supper.
1,373 - Watching my two sweet dogs taking in the sights as we ride around the lake in our boat.

1,374 - Watching my son go fishing. He hasn't wanted to fish in years!
 1,375 - Hmmm. . .This may be the reason. (Love his expression!)

1,376 - A quiet, peaceful couple of days.
1,377 - That the Lord is teaching me to be more full of peace, love, and joy!
1,378 - My hubby, initiating prayer time together in the evenings!
1,379 - Wonderful memories of children's songs sung.
1,380 - 




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Monday, May 27, 2013

So Much to Be Thankful For.

The past few weeks had been kind of rough. . . with family issues to work out, important decisions needed to be made, a schedule that wouldn't quit, and weather that fluctuated every day, sometimes moment to moment. 
But it seems to me, even with the difficult and DOWN times, God provides the UP times, too. He gives us rest when we really need it. And He even blesses our lives in so many ways! All we have to do is look around us. . .

For some reason, I had been feeling down and a little neglected, lately. 
I missed my son, who lives 4 hours away.
I missed seeing my long-time friend, who lives 2 hours away.

 God knew that, even though time was short, all I needed was a small tidbit of time with my far away loved ones.
It almost wasn't going to happen, but then God provided!

What a blessed weekend I got to spend with family and friends!! I hope each of you, my bloggy friends, had a blessed weekend, as well!!
 Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at  
 
1,343 -  God has blessed me with an amazing, loving, kindhearted son. (at Lake Monroe, Bloomington, IN)
 1,344 - A loving hubby, who after some persuasion, was willing to go with me to spend a few hours with our son, even though the drive is very long.
 1,345 - A beautiful warm, sunny day and a gorgeous setting among nature and man-made structures...(Lake Monroe Dam in Bloomington, IN.)
 1,346 - Beautiful movement and power of water. It provides nourishment to man and nature, yet has strength when put under pressure.
 1,347 - Much needed time with my son.
   1,348 - That each step in life is a step of faith,  adventure, and hope in Christ...
 1,349 - Life can often be an uphill struggle...knowing that God walks with us every step...even when our legs ache from the steep climb up.
 1,350 - Sometimes life can seem so distant and vague, but we need to stand in faith in the moment, knowing God will help us get to the top of our hill.
1,351 - He helps us focus on what we truly need...what's important in this life...and where He directs us to go and what He calls us to do.
 1,352 - Ice cream and summertime!

1,353 - Best friends, who love you thru thick or thin!

1,354 - Just a little time with my best friend of 30+ years!(at her two son's graduation open house).
1,355 - This song that came to mind, as I look at this sweet picture of me and my best friend.

To see more great pictures and find out what other blessings I am so thankful for, head on over to my other blog post,
"Lake Living is Grand at Cairn Cottage"



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