Thursday, September 24, 2009

Comforting Words


Sing everyday!
Whether it is simple as Jesus Loves Me
or as rich as this hymn, lift up your voice in praise!

Day by Day

Day by day and with each passing moment, strength I find to meet my trials here,
trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,I've no cause for worry or for fear,
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure gives unto each day what HE DEEMS BEST-
LOVINGLY, its part of pain and pleasure, mingling toil with peace and REST.

Every day the LORD himself is near me with a special mercy for each hour;
all my cares he fain would bear, and cheer me, He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure is a charge that on himself he laid,
"As your days, your strength shall be in measure," this the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation so to trust your promises,O LORD,
that I lose not faith's sweet consolation offered me within your holy Word.
Help me, LORD,when toil and trouble meeting, e'er to take, as from a Father's hand,
one by one, the days, the moments fleeting, till I reach the promised land.


by Carolina Sandell Berg

When we go through various trials, it helps to sing truth to remind ourselves of God's love and faithfulness.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Eternal Hope


Our pastor spoke on the passage from John 11 today, where Lazarus is raised from the dead.
He pointed us to I Corinthians 15 that Jesus' resurrection is the first fruits of the dead so we can have hope of eternal life as we put our trust in Him.
Death is ruthless and inevitable, yet we can have hope in our trials and in our final future.
"Only because Jesus' triumphant death and resurrection are we free to hurt with hope." 

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Here, Take This


I attended a women's meeting Thursday night where we went around the room and each person was given 90 seconds to "network" with the group by sharing your own personal passion.
When it was my turn, I spoke of working as a foster mother for Bethany Christian Services and the National Memorial for the Unborn.  I held up the book, EMPTY ARMS, which Ann Caldwell and I had the privilege of compiling the letters from people who regret their abortions and stories of foster babies who are adopted into Christian homes.

After the evening was over, a woman came up to me and asked if I thought the book would help her daughter.  She explained that her daughter had two abortions and now she thought she was going to hell.

I handed her the book.  She handed it back and asked me to write a note to her daughter.
"To ------
 May you realize that Jesus will forgive you and give you His peace."
"His love never ends" Jeremiah 31:3" and then I signed my name.

"Here take this book to your daughter," I said. " I know it will help, because we have heard that response many times before."

Ann and I are very thankful to have the opportunity to work with the National Memorial for the Unborn and see lives changed. 

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Henry, the preacher



We were honored that the Union Chapel ( known affectionately as the Little Brown Church) invited Henry to preach for Homecoming Sunday, which is the last Sunday of the season.

The building,located on the back of Signal Mountain is not heated and cooled by fans, so it operates only Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Henry's text was from I Peter 4:7, "The end of all things is near." It was a inspiring talk laced with sweet memories of growing up in Summertown and the truth of being clear minded so we can pray. It is an act of service we all can participate in no matter our status. Henry shared that he encouraged some of his bedridden patients to consider prayer their gift to further God's kingdom.

Both of our parents kindly blessed us with their ongoing prayers.
Living a life that is drenched in prayers gives us a rich dimension we often forget to be thankful for as we face each new day.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The End of Summer


As I chopped potatoes for some yummy potato salad, I realized how quickly the summer has flown by and sadly the fresh tomatoes and other seasonal dishes will disappear.

Henry preaches at the Little Brown Church's Homecoming Sunday tomorrow.  This old family tradition of heading up Signal Mountain to worship with lots of cousins in the woods has taken on a sweetness now that I have lived in Tennessee longer than I lived in Minnesota.

Singing old time hymns together is a wonderful bonding experience, especially with the wooden chairs scraping backwards as everyone stands to belt out "Nothing But the Blood of Jesus".

How thankful both Henry and I are to have the simple testimony of parents who loved the Lord and taught it to us as young children!  In Miss Olive's three year old Sunday School department I learned to sing and believe "For God so loved the world that He sent is only Son..."
Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

His Way is Perfect


Here's a comforting poem by an unknown author. My husband's partner's son had a very serious accident this past weekend. He is in our thoughts and prayers. So is my brother, who's birthday is today.

His Way is Perfect

I asked the LORD for quietness
The lightening flashed, the thunder roared,
The earthquake and the fire and threatening waves
Overwhelmed my soul.
And then, even in the center of the storm
He made a place of calm,
And in my heart there came a hush,
A stillness double sweet
Because the roar was still about
But could not touch me.

I asked the LORD for joy;
The treasures of my heart were swept away,
And sorrow followed woe
Till naught remained.
And then He came and filled my cup
With healing potions rare.
He touched my lips with heavenly song,
And comforted my soul.
He brought me to the banquet house -
His banner over me was love!

I had not known the LORD if joys on earth had stayed;
I had not seen Him as my All-in-All
Had He allowed my heart to rest in transient loves
That dimmed the vision of His face.
Through fire and pain He took the veil away -
And lo! He filled all things;
The fairest of ten thousand,
The Prince of Peace, the Life of God!
I had not known Him thus except through death.

"I've been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me...and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

The couple in the photo are Pat and Mary Jane, the parents of my dear friend Kathy Thomas who was killed in a car wreck almost 5 years ago. She is in heaven with Jesus and her husband Rock and son, Morgan. I loved her, and remember her encouragement to me when she would often remind me of her favorite verse in Isaiah 61:3..He gives us beauty from ashes.