I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1
Spring is my favorite time of year. I love the warmer weather, but most of all, I love to see the grass change before my eyes from a dreary brown to a lush beautiful green. I love to see the flowers that bloom on the trees, that were once stark and bare, and then the trees slowly becoming full and thick with leaves. And we get to see this year after year after year. Truly God's faithfulness shows even in this.
So, I sing....
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Lord of all to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the beauty of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale, and tree and flow'r, sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all to Thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. Colossians 3:23.
When I was teaching sixteen years ago in North Carolina, I had this verse on my classroom wall to remind my students that their work needed to be the best they could do because ultimately, they were doing it for God, not me.
After having my own children, it's a verse I've ingrained into them and say each morning to them before we start school (usually in our prayer, asking God to help us to remember that our work is for Him and that we do it to the best of our ability).
We also stress this verse and concept to our kids as they participate in activities like Scouts, 4-H, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Piano, & Guitar. In order to do well, they need to practice hard and give it their all. This verse in Colossians is a great motivator, as they are doing everything for God, not to impress us or anyone else. It also means that they don't do things half way, whether it's writing a paper or running down the soccer field. There is no slacking. This verse is a great reminder of that.
When I was teaching sixteen years ago in North Carolina, I had this verse on my classroom wall to remind my students that their work needed to be the best they could do because ultimately, they were doing it for God, not me.
After having my own children, it's a verse I've ingrained into them and say each morning to them before we start school (usually in our prayer, asking God to help us to remember that our work is for Him and that we do it to the best of our ability).
We also stress this verse and concept to our kids as they participate in activities like Scouts, 4-H, Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Piano, & Guitar. In order to do well, they need to practice hard and give it their all. This verse in Colossians is a great motivator, as they are doing everything for God, not to impress us or anyone else. It also means that they don't do things half way, whether it's writing a paper or running down the soccer field. There is no slacking. This verse is a great reminder of that.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
1 Peter 5:7
casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
What a comforting passage. As I begin another grad class, I have to put away my worries and anxieties, and pray for wisdom. I know God will give me the knowledge I need as I write page after page of my final paper. I'm so thankful He cares for me. I just need to remember to give my cares to Him, and not think I'm on my own in this.
What a comforting passage. As I begin another grad class, I have to put away my worries and anxieties, and pray for wisdom. I know God will give me the knowledge I need as I write page after page of my final paper. I'm so thankful He cares for me. I just need to remember to give my cares to Him, and not think I'm on my own in this.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
2 Timothy 1:12b
...for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. 2 Timothy 1:12b
I love that hymn, written in 1883 by Daniel W. Whittle, music by James McGranahan. After singing it one day, I kept thinking about "I know whom I have believed." Do I? I think so, but I'm learning more and more each day. From where? The Bible. If we don't read it, we won't know what we believe.
The first thing I do each morning is pray and read a chapter in the Bible. New things jump out each day, even if it's a passage I've read or heard hundreds of times.
My husband and I read the Bible to our children everyday after dinner and also at bedtime. I'm also encouraging them to read it on their own as well, to build up a daily habit of personal devotions. Thankfully, they are also being urged by our minister in their Wednesday Bible class, and rewarded with candy. Whatever it takes to establish that habit!
I love that hymn, written in 1883 by Daniel W. Whittle, music by James McGranahan. After singing it one day, I kept thinking about "I know whom I have believed." Do I? I think so, but I'm learning more and more each day. From where? The Bible. If we don't read it, we won't know what we believe.
The first thing I do each morning is pray and read a chapter in the Bible. New things jump out each day, even if it's a passage I've read or heard hundreds of times.
My husband and I read the Bible to our children everyday after dinner and also at bedtime. I'm also encouraging them to read it on their own as well, to build up a daily habit of personal devotions. Thankfully, they are also being urged by our minister in their Wednesday Bible class, and rewarded with candy. Whatever it takes to establish that habit!
Monday, March 22, 2010
1 Thessalonians 5:18
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thes. 5:18
Last Thursday, the kids were running around outside in shorts. It was in the 60's. (It's amazing how they think that is freezing cold in September, but are ready to go swimming with those temps in March).
On Friday, it was almost as good, in the upper 50's.
Saturday morning, we woke to half a foot of snow on the ground!! I had to keep reciting this verse over and over and over and over.
God sure does have a sense of humor.
1 Thes. 5:18
Last Thursday, the kids were running around outside in shorts. It was in the 60's. (It's amazing how they think that is freezing cold in September, but are ready to go swimming with those temps in March).
On Friday, it was almost as good, in the upper 50's.
Saturday morning, we woke to half a foot of snow on the ground!! I had to keep reciting this verse over and over and over and over.
God sure does have a sense of humor.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Ephesians 4:26
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath. ~Ephesians 4:26
The preceding verses talk about putting away our sinful ways, and putting on the new man, living in holiness. The notes in my Bible add, "from uncontrolled anger to self-control." (New Geneva Study Bible).
My husband and I were reminded of this Scripture text during our marriage counseling about sixteen years ago. Although it's not always been heeded, most of the time it has. And with each passing year, it does seem to get easier. However, applying this text to my children has been something quite different, especially when they are wound up at bedtime. I have three sons, whose ages are 13, 12, and 9. It gets worse. They share the same room. (Picture the Brady bunch boys' room).
It seems like every night my voice raises several decibals as I try to get them to settle down and to go to sleep. Just the other night, I happened to read this verse in Ephesians to them before bedtime and was struck by how much I didn't follow it. I typically leave them, angry, to fall asleep. I'm working on this now, to leave with "I love you" no matter how many times I have to return and address any misbehavior. I am also very thankful the Lord blessed me with a daughter (who's 10) who takes after her mother.
The preceding verses talk about putting away our sinful ways, and putting on the new man, living in holiness. The notes in my Bible add, "from uncontrolled anger to self-control." (New Geneva Study Bible).
My husband and I were reminded of this Scripture text during our marriage counseling about sixteen years ago. Although it's not always been heeded, most of the time it has. And with each passing year, it does seem to get easier. However, applying this text to my children has been something quite different, especially when they are wound up at bedtime. I have three sons, whose ages are 13, 12, and 9. It gets worse. They share the same room. (Picture the Brady bunch boys' room).
It seems like every night my voice raises several decibals as I try to get them to settle down and to go to sleep. Just the other night, I happened to read this verse in Ephesians to them before bedtime and was struck by how much I didn't follow it. I typically leave them, angry, to fall asleep. I'm working on this now, to leave with "I love you" no matter how many times I have to return and address any misbehavior. I am also very thankful the Lord blessed me with a daughter (who's 10) who takes after her mother.
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