Leaning

What a fellowship, what a joy divine - leaning on the everlasting arms.  What a blessedness, what a peace is mine - leaning on the everlasting arms.

Chorus:
Leaning, leaning
Safe and secure from all alarm.
Leaning, leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way - leaning on the everlasting arms.  Oh how bright the path grows from day to day - leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear - leaning on the everlasting arms?  I have blessed peace with my Lord so near - leaning on the everlasting arms.

I heart Proverbs!!!

Proverbs 15

15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

² The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
³ The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
⁴ A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
⁵ A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
⁶ In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
⁷ The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
⁹ The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
¹⁰ Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
¹¹ Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
¹² A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
¹³ A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
¹⁴ The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.
¹⁷ Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
¹⁸ A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
¹⁹ The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
²⁰ A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
²¹ Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
²² Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
²³ A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
²⁴ The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
²⁵ The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
²⁷ He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
²⁸ The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
²⁹ The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
³⁰ The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
³¹ The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
³² He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
³³ The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

On Sunday night...

On Sunday night, instead of our normal Bible study, we sang favorites out of our very-soon-to-be-replaced hymnals.  :)

I've always been fond of Charles Weekly's hymn "Amazing Love."  We sang the first and last stanzas but one of the verses in-between caught my attention...

He left His Father's throne above, so free, so infinite His grace;  Emptied Himself of all but love, and bled for Adam's helpless race.  'Tis mercy all, immense and free! For, O my God, it found out me.

Chorus:
Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God shouldest die for me.

Something to remember...

"God may not provide us 

with a perfectly ordered life, 

but what He does provide is Himself.  

His presence, 

and open doors 

that bring us 

closer to being productive, 

positive, and realistic."  

~ Judith Briles

Day 35

"Job trusted God on the day of testing because Job trusted God before the day of testing.  God had already proven Himself trustworthy long before the test. The truth remains:  Job may have been confused about the circumstances,  but he was never confused about his God."

Wow!!!!  This was sooooooo encouraging!!!

Choir Special

This was yesterday's choir special.  



Every promise we can make
Every prayer and step of faith
Every difference we can make
Is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb
Every ray of hope we shine
Every blessing left behind
Is only by His grace

Chorus:
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach
Every heart we hope to teach
Everywhere we share His peace
Is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say
Every tear we wipe away
Every sorrow turned to praise
Is only by His grace. 

Chorus:
Grace alone Which God supplies
Strength unknown He will provide
Christ in us, our cornerstone
We will go forth in grace alone.

©1998 Maranatha! Music.
Words and Music by Scott Wesley Brown, Jeff Nelson

Today's hymn...

This morning I spent my commute listening to the Getty's singing a hymn about having compassion.  It spoke to my heart.  Here are the lyrics...

Compassion Hymn

There is an everlasting kindness You lavished on us

When the radiance of heaven came to rescue the lost

You called the sheep without a shepherd to leave their distress

For your streams are forgiveness and the shade of your rest.

And with compassion for the hurting, Your reached out Your hand.

As the lame ran to meet You and the dead breathed again

You saw behind the eyes of sorrow and shared in our tears

Heard the sigh of the weary, let the children draw near.

What boundless love, what fathomless grace

You have shown on us, oh God of compassion

Each day we live an offering of praise

As we show to the world your compassion.

We stood beneath the cross of Calvary and gazed on Your face

At the thorns of oppression and wounds of disgrace

For surely You have borne our suffering and carried our grief

As you pardoned the scoffer and showed grace to the thief.

What boundless love, what fathomless grace

You have shown on us, oh God of compassion

Each day we live an offering of praise

As we show to the world your compassion.

How beautiful the feet that carry this Gospel of peace

To the fields of injustice and the valleys of need

To be a voice of hope and healing, to answer the cries

Of the hungry and helpless with the mercy of Christ

What boundless love, what fathomless grace

You have shown on us, oh God of compassion

Each day we live an offering of praise

As we show to the world your compassion.

I need to be reminded of the truths in this hymn...

Today My Hope is in The Lord was playing on my phone.  {I like having Pandora on my phone.}  My hope truly is in the Lord.  And I want to remember that this hymn echoed the cry of my heart today (and hopefully for always :))...

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Him-self for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Cal-va-ry.
CHORUS: For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He free-ly gives.
VERSE 2:
No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus' righteousness
(REPEAT CHORUS)
VERSE 3:
And now for me He stands
Before the Father's throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own
(REPEAT CHORUS)
VERSE 4:
His grace has planned it all
'Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive

Day 9

"God is not good because He gives us what we want -- He is good because He gives us what is best."  ~ p. 9

Sand Castles

Today I was contemplating the beach.  I'm pretty sure it's because of the glorious Midwest winter that we are experiencing.  Snow, ice and bitter cold temps.....  Today I was thinking about warmth and sand and coconut lotion.  {Sigh.}  A girl can dream, right?

Anyway.......you know how at the beach you can spend hours building sandcastles and in the matter of seconds, a huge wave can crash down on your beautiful work of sand art and BAM!!! the walls come tumbling down.

I spent my childhood creating a figurative sand castle and now in my adult years, I see the waves ascending....and I have to confess ~ it's scary.  I know God is good and He is in control.  He is in-charge of the ebbs and flows of this fabulous life I am currently living...and for His unfailing love and care, I am thankful beyond words.

Two very special notes....

After returning from vacation, I was blessed {& encouraged} with two very special notes in my mailbox.