Showing posts with label Soli Deo Gloria(Finding Heaven). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Soli Deo Gloria(Finding Heaven). 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, June 3, 2013

"Cultivating Contentment" - Do Not Complain

Yes, we have all done it from time to time. Things don’t go our way and we are complaining about this and whining about that. We make excuses. Yet the Bible clearly says that complaining is a sin. It shows an attitude that you are ungrateful and bitter. It often tests God’s patience.

 1 Corinthians 10:10 - And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. (NIV)

Our ladies Bible study group has been studying the book, "Cultivating Contentment" by Thomas Nelson. Our recent focus has been on complaining and what God says about it. Here are some excerpts from the book.

". . .in the morning you will see the Glory of God. Yes, he’s listened to your complaints against him. You haven’t been complaining against us, you know, but against God.” Exodus 16:7
  • When we lash out because we don't like our lives, our complaints are heard in heaven. In a sense, we are telling God He's not doing things right, and we want Him to d things our way.

After reading this, I had to ask myself, "Am I testing God, whenever I complain?"
"You must not test the Lord your God as you did when you complained. . ." Deut. 6:16 NLT

So once more the people complained against Moses. “Give us water to drink!” they demanded.
“Quiet!” Moses replied. “Why are you complaining against me? And why are you testing the Lord?” Exodus 17:2 NLT
  • Selfish, ungrateful, forgetful, cantankerous, rebellious, argumentative. . .
  • How could (can) God's children complain?  We are His chosen ones. He knows us. He loves us. Look at all He has done for us! He cares for us. He died for us. He has given us an eternal hope! No matter what inconvenience we face on this earth, we are assured of living "happily ever after".
  • The complaining we exhibit reveals the childishness of our hearts.
Things will go wrong in our lives. A pop quiz. A long term paper. A break up. A fight with a friend. These things happen. We can spend our time complaining, taking our eyes off of God, or we can find a way to make things better. We can remember all the other things God has provided. Not only will we be happier, but we will be a positive Christian example to everyone around us.


Ephesians 4:29 - "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." (NIV)
 I'm reminded, once again, even complaining about the small things that irritate me in life show my lack of trust and maturity in my relationship with God.

Continuing to count my blessings, one by one at  
1,356 - A beautiful, warm, sunny spring day.
1,357 - My knee feeling good enough to walk some trails with my friend.
1,358 - The sweet aroma of a field full of wild phlox.
1,359 - The pretty lavender color, spread across a field in the middle of the woods.
1,360 - God leads and directs our paths...
"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
– Psalm 119:105 (NIV
1,361 -  An entwined, knotty tree, with many branches that form a frame for the wild phlox...God's perfect frame of His beauty!
 
1,362 - The goodness of God, as he reminds me, over and over, of His great love and how He blesses me every day!
1,363 -  The beauty and stoic look of a blue heron, standing on my neighbor's pier.



1,364 - Even when I'm feeling frustrated by other's unkindness or untruthfulness, that God provides me with patience and a kind spirit to the other person.
1,365 - A Cardinal, stopping briefly at the feeder to look my way.
1,366 - Finally getting to see my sweet, 2 month old great-niece!!
1,367 - The peacefulness of a sleeping baby.
1,368 - My aunt, the little one's great, great-aunt, also getting to see her for the first time!
1,369 - Adorable expressions!
May you find many blessings, through Christ, in the coming week!


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