Faith is a bluebird
You see from afar
It's for real
And as sure as the first evening star
You can't touch it
Or buy it or wrap it up tight
But it's there just the same
Making things turn out right
Friday, July 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Story, part 3
"Stories tend to get out of hand, and this one has taken an unexpected turn." J.R.R. Tolkien
This is one of my favorite quotes about stories. As someone who tries to write stories, I can personally attest that often you think you know how the plot is going to go, how the characters are going to react. And then, right in the middle of everything, you notice that things aren't going as you thought they would.
You have two choices. You can become frustrated, and try to make the story go back to the way you thought it was going. Sometimes you might succeed. Sometimes it might even be the right thing to do. The other choice is to go down the unexpected road to see where it might lead you. If you don't like the ending, you can always go back and start over.
Now, in life the going back and starting over bit is a tad more difficult. Nonetheless, I would like to challenge us all to try choosing the second path. Try being open to the twists and turns we didn't forsee and didn't plan.
Who knows? They might just change our lives.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Inscription of Hope
Hello all!! Yes I know I said I would have a post for you when I came home from camp but we ended up with unexpected company and I've barely been home at all!! I have a post it's just not edited yet so you will have to wait till next week. But here is a song to get you through.
I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love
even when there's no one there
And I believe in God
even when He is silent
I believe through any trial
there is always a way.
But sometimes in this suffering
and hopeless despair
My heart cries for shelter
to know someone's there
But a voice rises within me saying
'hold on my child'
I'll give you hope
I'll give you strength
Just stay a little while
I believe in the sun
even when it is not shining
And I believe in love
even when there's no one there
And I believe in God
even when He is silent
I believe through any trial
There is always a way
May there someday be sunshine
May there someday be happiness
May there someday be love
May there someday be peace.
This lyrics to this song were found written on a basement wall in Nazi Germany Jewish refugees had been hiding from agents of the Holocaust.
Read more...
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Story, part 2
[Note: My apologies for the lack of posting the last two weeks. I was insanely busy and then out of town. Here is part two, and part three will be up on time next week.]
"Story is seldom true if we try to control it, manipulate it, make it go where we want to go, rather than where the story itself wants to go." Madeleine L'Engle
If we take our stories seriously, we must also take them humbly. What do I mean by that? Very simply, I mean losing a sense of undue proprietariness. Many writers talk about the stories they write as choosing them, rather than the reverse. Obviously for a writer there is a sense of pride in a well-told story, a job done properly. But if we remember that in some way the story exists outside of us, that we do not own it, we can be humble. Rather than stamping our feet and shouting "Mine! Mine!", we have a sense of wonder and joy at this thing which has graced us.
How does all of this relate to real life? In the same way, if we remember that the story of our lives here are parts of something bigger, something which we do not own or control, our tendency to kick and scream is reduced. Rather than flouncing and saying "It's my life!", we can live it, shaping it as best we can. At the same time we can feel that sense of joy and wonder which comes from being trusted with something we do not own.
It is only when we stop trying to control our stories and start trying to listen that we can really begin to tell them as they ought to be.
Part 1 here.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Hello all!!!
Sorry I've been quiet the last two weeks. Our church does organizes and puts on a Bible summer camp every year. We are leaving Sunday and it's major crunch time. I can't tell you what it's about because we keep as much a secret as we can :) What I can give you is a bit from the presentation the choir will be doing this year. (I'm the choir director)
1Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
When God will not use thee in one kind, yet He will in another. A soul that desires to serve and honour Him shall never want opportunity to do it; nor must thou so limit the Holy One of Israel, as to think He hath but one way in which He can glorify Himself by thee. He can do it by thy silence as well by thy preaching; thy laying aside as well as thy continuance in thy work." - Elizabeth Gaskell
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
"If we did all the things we were capable of doing, We would literally astound ourselves.”
~ Thomas Edison
Luke 18:27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Mat 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Read more...
Friday, July 2, 2010
Stir Me!
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, I care not how,
But stir my heart in passion for the world,
Stir me to give, to go, but most to pray;
Stir till the blood-red banner be unfurled
O'er lands that still in heathen darkness lie,
O'er deserts where no cross is lifted high.
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, till all my heart
Is filled with strong compassion for these-souls;
Till Thy compelling word drives me to pray;
Till Thy constraining love reach to the poles
Far north and south, in burning deep desire,
Till east and west are caught in love's great fire.
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, till prayer is pain,
Till prayer is joy, till prayer turns into praise;
Stir me, till heart and will and mind, yea, all
Is wholly Thine to use through all the days.
Stir, till I learn to pray exceedingly;
Stir, till I learn to wait expectantly.
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, Thy heart was stirred
By love's intensest fire, till Thou didst give
Thine only Son, Thy best beloved One,
E'en to the dreadful cross, that I might live.
Stir me to give myself so back to Thee,
That Thou canst give Thyself again through me.
Stir me, oh, stir me, Lord, for I can see
Thy glorious triumph-day begin to break;
The dawn already gilds the eastern sky;
Oh, Church of Christ, arise, awake, awake.
Oh! stir us, Lord, as heralds of that day.
For night is past, the King is on His way.
~Bessie Porter Head
Read more...
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Story, part 1
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs
The idea of Story is intensely powerful, even today. Though many have turned away from the story of the universe as the story of God's creation, we can still feel its power, however diluted. For Christians especially, Story is an amazing thing--that is, a thing which amazes us. The Bible itself is a story, just as it is also the truth. Think of all the emotional dramas, all the epic tales contained in just the Old Testament. Moses, David, Gideon, for example. And the Story itself continues beyound the Bible. All of us are part of it and our small stories help to make up the wonderful pattern which is the Story.
For the next few weeks, I would like to talk about stories and about Story, and about the ways in which the smaller stories interact with the larger. Feel free to respond, to agree or disagree, as we go along.
Friday, June 25, 2010
"To observe nature closely is to follow the finger of God."
~Thomas Cole
Thankfully for those of us who are a little dense God makes it very obvious. This picture was taken last Friday, outside our house by my sister Stephanie.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Twelve LAST WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Acts 6:8 thru Acts 16:37
Acts 16:38 through Acts 28:16
Acts 28:17 thru Romans 14:23
Romans 15:1 thru 1 Corinthians 14:40
1 Corinthians 15:1 thru Galatians 3:25
Galations 3:26 thru Col. 4:18
1 Thess 1:1 thru Philemon 25
Heb 1:1 through James 3:12
James 3:13 through 3 John 14
Jude 1 through Revelation 22:21
You're done!!! Great job!!!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Update!
Hello All!!!
No, we haven't deserted you. We've just had a busy spring. Some of the girls have gotten full time jobs, graduated, or moved across the county, or in my case, their keyboard has gone wacko....
Rebecca is out with our Mom so I thought I would take the opportunity to borrow her laptop and give you all an update.
We are planning, God willing, to be back almost full time this summer. We're hoping to get back into the swing of things and have posts every week for you to read.
In the meantime let's have some discussion!
1) Are there any specific topics you would like to see us write about? Now is your chance! Speak or forever hold your peace :)
2) I was thinking about how the Bible instructes us to encourage, edify, and exhort one another. So, what verse do you hold onto when things are rough, the verse that encourages you the most? Or what is your favorite verse.
As a musician, songs tend to help me more than words but the chapter that always encourages me is Psalm 42.
To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar.
Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.
Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.
I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Read more...
Sunday, June 13, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Eleven
Matthew 26:57 thru Mark 9:13
Mark 9:14 thru Luke 1:80
Luke 2:1 thru Luke 9:62
Luke 10:1 thru Luke 20:19
Luke 20:20 thru John 5:47
John 6:1 thru John 15:17
John 15:19 thru Acts 6:7
You're in the homestretch!!!!
How is everyone doing??
Sunday, June 6, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Ten
Daniel 9:1 thru Hosea 13:6
Hos 13:7 thru Amos 9:10
Amos 9:11 thru Nahum 3:19
Hab 1:1 thru Zechariah 10:12
Zec 11:1 thru Matthew 4:25
Matthew 5:1 thru Matt 15:39
Matt 16:1 thru Matt 26:56
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Stand still
I've had this article bouncing around in my head for a few weeks... I can't put it together exactly... so bear with me. Here are my thoughts...
1) Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. ~ 2 Chronicles 20:17
And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. ~ Exodus 14:13
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
3) Final thoughts... God asks us to trust him to believe that he is with us. And from personal experience I can tell you He is. So in those times when you wonder if He's deserted you or you get to the point where you say I can't stand anymore God! Remember His grace is sufficient and "it was then that I carried you". When you feel like you can't go on, know that all you have to do is stand your ground and you will see the salvation of God.
Read more...
Sunday, May 30, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Nine
Jer 33:23 thru Jer 47:7
Jer 48:1 thru Lamentations 1:22
La 2:1 thru Ezekiel 12:20
Eze 12:21 thru Eze 23:19
Eze 23:20 thru Eze 35:15
Eze 36:1 thru Eze 47:12
Eze 47:13 thru Daniel 8:27
You made it through the toughest reading of all. It will get easier from here on out, and the books are much shorter which is encouraging!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Count all things but loss
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
~Jim Elliot
But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ~Philippians 3:8
The Gift of Singleness
The Lord has been teaching me much these past crazy, amazing, life-changing months. I haven't been posting regularly here on the blog, obviously, but it's been in my thoughts. Someday soon, I hope, I will take the time to sit down and talk to you about some hard and wonderful lessons I've learned. The core of some of them comes down to... the topic of this video. I hope you are encouraged by it.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Eight
Isa 14:1 thru Isa 28:29
Isa 29:1 thru Isa 41:18
Isa 41:19 thru Isa 52:12
Isa 52:13 thru Isa 66:18
Isa 66:19 thru Jer 10:13
Jer 10:14 thru Jer 23:8
Jer 23:9 thru Jer 33:22
Sunday, May 16, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Seven
Psalm 89:14 thru Psalm 108:13
Psalm 89:14 thru Psalm 108:13
Psalm 109:1 thru Psalm 134:13
Psalm 135:1 thru Prov 6:35
Prov 7:1 thru Prov 20:21
Prov 20:22 thru Ecc 2:26
Ecc 3:1 thru Song of Solomon 8:14
Friday, May 14, 2010
FAITH
Have you ever seen the movie "The City of Ember"? You haven't?!?!?! Well, watch it!
The story follows the adventures of young teens Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow as they discover that their home is rapidly self destructing and do everything in their power to save themselves and their loved ones from peril. Lina is a responsible girl who is raising her adorable younger sister, Poppy, and caring for her dying grandmother. Doon is the driven "jack-of-all-trades" who fights to fix everything. What Lina and Doon don't know (but we do) is that the town they have grown up in and known as "the only light in a dark world" is really an underground city created to preserve life for 200 years while the world above is destroyed through nuclear war.
War rages above. Life thrives below. For 200 years.
Until the electricity starts to run out. And the food starts to run out. And the massive generator that powers the entire city keeps breaking down leaving the entire "world" in complete darkness.
Lina and Doon must entertain the idea that there might be more to the world than this. Armed with incomplete instructions and no knowledge of anything but Ember they must venture into the unknown and darkness to save the entire city.
The world is coming to the earth. But faith remains steadfast. The people often say the builders will come. The builders will save us. They have great faith, amidst massive blackouts and no light at the end of the tunnel. Lina and Doon take off to find the provision they believe the builders left for their survival.
We re-watched The City of Ember recently and I came away really thinking about the faith that the Emberites, Emberians,.... the people of Ember possessed. Do I have faith like that? Faith that no matter what life throws my way and no matter how tough things are I still trust that God has everything in control and has a provision in it. Faith is such a powerful thing.
If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. ~ Matthew 17:20b
Sunday, May 9, 2010
90 Day Bible Challenge, Week Six
Monday: Nehemiah 13:15 thru Job 7:21
Tuesday: Job 8:1 thru Job 24:25
Wednesday: Job 25:1 thru Job 41:34
Thursday: Job 42:1 through Psalm 24:10
Friday: Psalm 25:1 thru Psalm 45:14
Saturday: Psalm 45:15 thru Psalm 69:21
Sunday: Psalm 69:22 through Psalm 89:13
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