More Love to Thee, O Christ

More love to Thee,O Christ, more love to Thee!

Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee.

This is my earnest plea:

More love, O Christ, to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Once earthly joy I craved,

sought peace and rest;

Now Thee alone I seek,

give what is best.

This all my prayer shall be:

More love, O Christ to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise;

This be the parting cry my heart shall raise;

Still all my prayer shall be:

More love, O Christ to Thee;

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

More love to Thee, more love to Thee!

*

(My favorite compilation of this hymn is by Fernando Ortega)

Heaven is Gonna be GREAT!

Benjamin (age 5) while riding in the car:

"I can't wait to go to heaben"

Smiling I reply,

"What is the first thing you are going to do when you get there?"

Looking out the window, he pauses and thinks.....

"Play Wii."

Hope Unseen (part 2)

Hope Unseen is the title of a book that is being written about Scotty Smiley's trials and what God has done in his life each step of the way. Here is the next chapter in his life.

http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57837

Hope Unseen (part 1)

I have a very dear friend who knows most intimate things about me. I will never forget the day we met. Like an old friend that I had known a lifetime. Over the course of the last several years, we have shared and grown in our friendship and our relationships with the LORD. Laughing, crying, encouraging, praying, and pouring over God's Word. We even share the exact same birthday (I kid you not). She comes from a family of nine. They are an amazingly close family who love the Lord dearly.

This is the story of one of her brothers, Scott M. Smiley.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_DfeAa-ueJM

"Blessed is the man who perserves under trial,

for when he has stood the test,

he will receive the crown of life."

James 1:12

"Jehovah is near all those who call on Him,

all those who call on Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;

He also will hear their cry, and will save them."

Psalm 145:18-19

The Answer is Always the Same

With a heart full of anxious request,

Which my Father in heaven bestowed,

I wandered, alone and distressed,

In search of a quiet abode;

Astray and distracted I cried,

“Lord, where would Thou have me to be?”

And the voice of the Lamb that had died

Said, “Come, My beloved, to Me.”

I went—for He mightily wins

Weary souls to His peaceful retreat—

And He gave me forgiveness of sins,

And songs that I love to repeat;

And oft as my enemies came,

My views of His glory to dim,

He taught me to trust in His name—

To triumph by leaning on Him.

Made pure by the blood that He shed,

My heart in His presence was free;

I was hungry and thirsty—He fed;

I was sick, and He comforted me;

He gave me the blessing complete—

The hope that is with me today—

And a quiet abode at His feet

That shall not be taken away.

"The Blessing Bestowed" By: Anna L. Waring (1863)

Hold Lightly to Earthly Things

Man . . . is few of days and full of trouble. Job 14:1

***

It may be of great service to us, to remember this mournful fact, for it may lead us to hold lightly to earthly things. There is nothing very pleasant in the recollection that we are not above the arrows of adversity, but it may humble us and prevent us from boasting like the psalmist that our mountain stands firm, that we shall never be moved. It may prevent us from making our roots too deep in this soil from which we are so soon to be transplanted into the heavenly garden.

Let us keep in mind the frail tenure upon which we hold our temporal mercies. If we remember that all the trees of earth are marked for the woodman's axe, we will not be so ready to build our nests in them. We should love, but we should love with the love that expects death, and that reckons upon separations. Our dear relations are simply loaned to us, and the hour when we must return them to the lender's hand may be sooner than we think.

This is also true of our worldly goods. Do not riches take to themselves wings and fly away? Our health is equally precarious. Frail flowers of the field, we must not reckon upon blooming forever. There is a time appointed for weakness and sickness, when we will have to glorify God by suffering and not by earnest activity.

There is no single point in which we can hope to escape from the sharp arrows of affliction; out of our few days there is not one secure from sorrow. Man's life is a cask full of bitter wine; he who looks for joy in it would be better looking for honey in a salty ocean. Beloved reader, do not set your affections upon things of earth, but seek those things that are above, for here the moth devours, and the thief steals, but there all joys are perpetual and eternal. The path of trouble is the
way home. Lord, make this thought a pillow for many a weary head!

***

I saw the title of this devotion in my husband's inbox yesturday,

and the Lord pricked my heart and said,

"That is for you."

***

It is stormy outside this morning. Overcast and grey.

As I sit here and think, I know the Lord spoke truth to me.

I trust Him. I trust His intentions. I trust His purity. I trust His Word to me.

Although, it is hard to hear correction from Him at times, and it is difficult to confess that it is true, I know, it is for my good.

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded that he is able to keep

that which I have committed unto him against that day.
2 Timothy 1:12

Finally Posting Again

Well, this one will be short. I guess I am a binge blogger. :) There are so many things the Lord is urging in me for some time now. I have to say, I know He is doing some changes in me, preparing me, and touching my heart in stronger ways. Without being certain of exactly what it is, I will be vague for now. However, I am praying for stronger faith, wisdom, clarity, and for sure refining. Oh how the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. It is my desire to give everything to Jesus, to live each day by His voice.

*

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“ This is the way, walk in it,”

Whenever you turn to the right hand

Or whenever you turn to the left.

Isaiah 30:21

*

Oh Lord, grant me ears to hear what you would say to me today, and a heart that trusts You as you guide my way.

This is How Two People Communicate after 10 Years of Marriage

***

Dear Sir,

It is with my deepest regret that I write this letter to you. Due to the increase of canine activity in the latter evenings, and the lack of ability to obey a simple command, I am writing to tell you that I am unable to maintain the workload associated with this behavior.

These careless activities add much demand on my daily responsibilities, of which I cannot with good conscience say that I am efficient in my job and serving as unto the Lord, using the time He has given me to the best of His Glory. In desiring to be the best steward of my time and resources, I regret to inform you that I will be resigning from daily morning vacuuming of all canine fur of the entire first floor. Consider this my official, written resignation.

Furthermore, if you intend to continue to invite guests into our home who were not invited, prior to the original contract, you will have no choice but to perform the above duties thoroughly prior to retiring into your sleeping quarters. Should you have any questions please contact me for clarity.

Thank you for understanding in this manner.


Mrs. Happy to Serve You in All Ways Except This Capacity

p.s. I am serious

***

RE: sincere regret

Dear Mrs. Happy to Serve You in All Ways Except This Capacity,

Under the circumstances and current work load, I accept your written resignation. I have three understudies that would be willing to take turnover from you as you transition from this task. However, like any good employee, and as you can imagine with the scope of this work, please provide two-weeks notice for proper turnover and training. This will maintain your "good standing" with the company, and also provide for a pleasurable written recommendation in your departure. As with any task you perform, I'm sure your training of the trainee will be thorough enough for a smooth transition and not disrupt the current cleanliness standards.

I want to thank-you for your service, and wish you well in your new endeavors.

Sincerely,


Luckiest Husband in the World

***

I Have an Itch

Well, winter seems to be tapering off around here. For the last several weeks I can see my perennials beginning to grow. The corkscrew willows have buds on them large enough to see from my dining room window. Strawberries and chives are peeking through last years growth. And looking really closely, I could find faint little baby buds peeking out on my raspberry plants.

I love it.

There is much to do to get the garden ready. And I am so anxious to get out there and begin creating. Last fall my husband covered our back patio, and the project will need finishing this spring. So that will have to take priority. But in the mean time, I will be digging up and moving our raspberries to give them more room. I found some old salvaged handmade bricks on craigslist, that I would like to border some beds with and hopefully make a meandering path from the patio to the garden. I will need to fence the garden this year, due to a small 160lb pony we have living in our backyard, that, well, seems to always find something to do in my garden (even if it is laying in my strawberry bed).

All this being said, I must keep my focus on what the Lord has given me today. My heart, my roots, would love to be on a rural peony farm, watching them rise from the wet ground a few weeks from now. I would love to be cultivating with my children all our food from hard work, learning and teaching all that we have learned to those who want to learn as well.

To have a root cellar, and a compost bin, and a large clothesline outside. To wake up with my cup of coffee and not hear and see my neighbor's roaring engine, and to sit on my front porch in my pajamas and watch the sun come up in peace, being sure, that no one will be driving by to see my crazy hair (there I said it).

For now, for some reason, this is where God has us right now, and today I will rejoice in Him. Discontent comes so naturally. Even Paul, whom the Lord broke many times over, had to learn to be content.

"I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. I might be here at this address a very long time.

Jesus Washes the Disciples’ Feet

Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him,

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God,

rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him,

“Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him,

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”

For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them,

“Do you know what I have done to you?"

You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am.

If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

John 13:1-15

*

When I read this passage of scripture, there are so many things that get my mind thinking. But the most quieting thing is the heart of Jesus towards his friends. He knew that His hour had come, to die a gruesome death, to bear the sins of the whole world on himself, to be separated from the Father, to be accused of many things that He had never done, to experience physical death (which was never designed to be), and to leave those that He considered His dearest friends. He had perfectly executed all things that the Father had given Him to do, and was going back to the Father, leaving those that He had poured His truths into day after day.

He rose up from an intimate meal with them, and began to wash their feet; all of their feet, even Judas Iscariots' feet.

This example that He gave He said they would not understand right now, but later they would understand.

I think about how hard it is to receive from the Lord sometimes. How my pride takes it's place on the throne of my heart and says, "I don't need to be cleansed".

I think about Jesus' desire to cleanse me, to give me the grace I so desperately need.

And how I am like Peter in how I respond.

He is my teacher, and my Lord, may I sit at His feet and receive from Him, the grace I don't deserve.

May it cost me something to give that grace away.

There is a Pattern Here

Often while I am cleaning, or cooking, or schooling, or whatever comes next . . . I can hear the stomping and clomping of little feet in not so little shoes making their rounds from room to room. Today he is sporting a really good shiner on his left eye. Tomorrow I am sure it will be paired with my rubber boots.

Your Grace is Enough

Clearly, I have been neglecting my computer, and the journaling of my thoughts for all to see. It is partly due to a time factor for I have been disciplining myself to get up way before the kids to get my morning java, read, pray, organize my day and thoughts.....
We have finally penned down a morning chore system for the kids. We have always had morning chores, however, I get weary in telling them what I expect them to do every day. Especially when it doesn't change. So now, the chart does the talking, and I just point to the chart with a smile (well, most days). :) I love it. The kids have enjoyed the tangible list, and have rose to the occasion, and it has actually limited much complaining. You may think that a long list of things to do every day would discourage a little ones heart, but when the chores are age appropriate, and when they can see what they have done, they love it.
A dear friend of mine showed me her incentive and I quickly adopted it in our home.
She took two mason jars, one empty and one full of marbles (I use large wooden beads), as the morning chores and duties get completed properly, timely, with a happy heart and without complaining, each child gets to put one marble in the empty jar. If the child does not do it properly, or without being told, or with grumbling, they must remove a marble from the jar in which they are filling. When the jar is full, the whole family gets to pick something fun to go do together.
She even puts a fun bell that they get to "ding" when they put their marble in the jar. I am not quite that fun, but I do have fun pinwheels in the jar they are filling....
In addition, I am also disciplining myself to do school first thing without interruptions from the outside world.

The second reason I have been absent....well, I haven't been able to put into words what has been on my heart lately. The Lord has been opening my eyes, showing me a fresh measure of His abounding grace, and honestly, I have just been talking with Him instead.
I am seeing on a whole new level, how undeserving I am, how powerless I am, and how faithful and loving He is. How there is nothing I can do to earn His favor, rather to just respond to all that He has done, and is doing to draw me near, to increase my love for Him and those He loves, and that in myself there is no good thing. My service to Him is only to be from a heart of gratefulness for all He has done for me.
He is so very real to me right now, and it humbles me.

Lord, by Your grace, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart of faith and love to respond to You this day. That Your name may be well spoken of. Amen.

From the house

We have all been quietly submitting to the seasonal flu. Mounds of soiled bedding and towels. Piles of books. Horseopoly. Observing the changing creation. And of course, rest. So not much to speak of in our neck of the woods. Just enjoying the quiet snowfall....from the house.

One wants out. The other wants in. Go figure.

Merry Christmas...

A change of plans again

I came down with a migraine last night and was up until 6 a.m. I had to reschedule our breakfast quiche with my dad. Bummed. I guess I just need some rest and relaxation. I love you dad.

He is Ever with Me

I am quite reflective today. No, not shiny. Just deep in thought. About life. Burdens. Responsibilities. People who matter most.

My little Benjamin is anemic. He was quite sick last week. We are driving around back and forth to doctor's appointments and blood draws (three so far), no answers as of yet. He is handling it with courage. My sweetie has been gone for most of the season working overtime, and getting little recovery before he is back at it again. Although we have managed to enjoy a few crafts, many of the traditions that I do with my children each year for Thanksgiving and Advent have been passed by. Watching the days come and go have been frustrating to say the least, and I slowly came to the acceptance that this year would have to be different. Hard for me to let go. And hard for my family to watch it I am sure.

However......My kids are smiling and singing loudly. My husband is lovingly working hard for us. And My Lord and God, He is ever here with me.

Isa 41:10 Do not fear; for I am with you; be not dismayed; for I am your God. I will make you strong; yes, I will help you; yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness.

Thank you Lord, that you never change. You are always the same. Yesturday, today, and forever.

Finally 6!!

This little mechanical mind has always kept me on my toes.

Full of smiles. A lot of heart. Boundless energy. Thoughtful prayers. A true love of serving.

It was pure torture counting the days til his birthday. It just couldn't come quick enough.

Happy Birthday, Clayton. You make me proud.

I can't wait to see all that God will do in you.

Big Boy

Sam received a much needed haircut the other day. I began with scissors, but a 20 month old will only sit for so long (like maybe 2 seconds). So, out came the clippers for the first time on his virgin head. Curls were gone, and we were covered in hair. Now he is a big boy.

Must be time for potty training....

25 Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I love being outside.
2. When I was little, I chipped my front tooth on a tether ball pole.
3. I have played soccer most all of my life.
4. My favorite color is green.
5. My dog weighs more than I do.
6. I should have been born in a small rural village in Europe with cobblestone streets and fresh markets. Surrounded by generations of smiles.
7. I couldn't figure out what the big thing was with chocolate and women until I was pregnant with my fourth child.
8. I love vintage and french decor and clothing.
9. I am very patriotic and I cry at the drop of a hat in gratefulness for the sacrifices made for our freedom.
10. I have a very hard working husband who NEVER complains and is good at everything he does.
11. I miss sleep and it misses me.
12. My weakness...homemade bread with lots of butter, real butter.
13. I get extremely frustrated while playing Wii tennis.
14. I live next door to my grandparents and love it.
15. A good book is a close friend to me.
16. I learned to ride a 2-wheeler when I was 5 yrs old and I refused to let anyone help me. I was going to do it on my own no matter how many fits I threw. (I had to keep up with the neighborhood boys)
17. I like to sweep my floors not vacuum.
18. The one thing that always needs cleaning in my house is the back slider door.
19. I have a strong conscience. I can't even drive the wrong way in a parking lot without feeling guilty.
20. I love old hymns and the stories of the people behind them, Bebo Norman, and I love Amos Lee. My favorite artists are those with heavy soul, acoustic, romance, and heart.
21. Fun shoes, great jeans.
22. Would love to live self-sufficient some day.
23. Something I admire most in others is a grateful heart.
24. God created peonies for me.
25. I pray to live more compassionate to those around me, more tender to my sweetie, more sacrificially to my children, and more surrendered to my Lord.

A New Song

I was just reading my evening devotion and shutting down the computer for the night. I thought I might share a word. This makes me think of Psalm 103.

“O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men.”
- Psa_107:8

If we complained less, and praised more, we should be happier, and God would be more glorified. Let us daily praise God for common mercies-common as we frequently call them, and yet so priceless, that when deprived of them we are ready to perish. Let us bless God for the eyes with which we behold the sun, for the health and strength to walk abroad, for the bread we eat, for the raiment we wear. Let us praise him that we are not cast out among the hopeless, or confined amongst the guilty; let us thank him for liberty, for friends, for family associations and comforts; let us praise him, in fact, for everything which we receive from his bounteous hand, for we deserve little, and yet are most plenteously endowed. But, beloved, the sweetest and the loudest note in our songs of praise should be of redeeming love. God’s redeeming acts towards his chosen are for ever the favourite themes of their praise. If we know what redemption means, let us not withhold our sonnets of thanksgiving. We have been redeemed from the power of our corruptions, uplifted from the depth of sin in which we were naturally plunged. We have been led to the cross of Christ-our shackles of guilt have been broken off; we are no longer slaves, but children of the living God, and can antedate the period when we shall be presented before the throne without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Even now by faith we wave the palm-branch and wrap ourselves about with the fair linen which is to be our everlasting array, and shall we not unceasingly give thanks to the Lord our Redeemer? Child of God, canst thou be silent? Awake, awake, ye inheritors of glory, and lead your captivity captive, as ye cry with David, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”

Let the new month begin with new songs.