Christmas Songs

Every year at Christmas time I look forward to many things, cards, decorating, baking, carols...and usually , for whatever reason there comes a song which becomes special to me ; provokes thoughts and feelings and at times enlightens me. Like I just heard it for the first time and I truly understand it.

This year the song that stands out for me is " I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, originally a poem.

!-- Copyright 1997-2007 The Cyber Hymnal --





I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.



I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.



And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."



Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."



Till, ringing singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!



In the original text Mr Longfellow, stanzas 4 & 5(usually omitted in hymnals and not printed here, sorry), pertain to the American civil war in which his son was injured. This was too much, after having over time, endured the death of both his first and second wife.



I find that this song reminds me of the psalms, and how even if David was forlorn and downtrodden in the beginning, the end is always a turning from circumstance and his focus returns to God, His salvation His truth, His Grace; that God is the Almighty and David's trust remains with Him.

In the song above the despair and pain is very clear in the beginning yet the phrase"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep",turns it all around like the fog had lifted , and although his pain was still very real, the realization of who God is , that He is in control surpassed the author's circumstances and one can almost feel the shift , the pain being lifted.



Praise be to God who sits on the throne forever and ever!



" God is not dead , nor doth He sleep!"



Amen and Amen!

A New Slant on "Me Time"

Recently I have found myself distracted, overwhelmed, annoyed and frustrated. Things weren't "going" like I had planned for the school year or anything for that matter. We were doing school work of course but I felt like I was missing something. Trying to do major cleaning...adding renovations and then trying to be an encouragement to my husband when I am already frazzled. Did I mention that my eight year old is dealing with insomnia to boot!?!! Ahhhhhhhh.....

But lo and behold, even though I was having family Bible study time , I realized I had devoted none of my personal time to God.....sporadic devotions , quick prayers , falling asleep before I finished. I wasn't in God's Word, I wasn't basking in His presence...I was spiritually starving!

At church this past Sunday at a book table laid out, I see a book, " A Place of Quiet Rest" by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. It sparked my interest but yet I was unsure because so many times before these devotion type books are either severely lacking in any sound doctrine or become some sort of equation to a "better life"; then I end up not finishing it due to disappointment! But my friend tells me that another friend, whose opinion I respect, really appreciates this author --- so I take it.

This book has been enlightening; proclaiming from the beginning not to be a typical'devotion' book, but rather a guide to intimacy with God.
The scripture that has truly affected me from the book thus far is Mark 1:35 " Now in the morning , having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed."

Wow......I am a night person ...I cannot do that...'before daylight'??? But I have set my alarm and have tried devoting at least an hour to study and prayer in the presence of God. I have to say it is hard but I do look forward to it( I did stay up too late last night making it somewhat difficult to rise and concentrate properly this morning!). I like that I am not interrupted...it is quiet and I pray that God would continue to place this desire to commune with Him daily! Perhaps I will set the alarm earlier...:-D

I am learning a lot and am truly appreciating the words of encouragement and wisdom from Ms DeMoss. I am seeking my God, not as a superficial answer to make my day better, but to be in His presence...just Jesus and me!

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 2

Gianna Jessen Abortion Survivor in Australia Part 1

Ponderings

As I continue plugging away cleaning , organizing and preparing for the school year to start, I have to sit back and ponder where all the time went! My oldest will be entering her twelfth year and my youngest will be doing grade three work! No more 'ABCs' and '123s'; this year has to be well thought out and organized. It has to be comprehensive and consistent...hmmmm I think I am beginning to feel somewhat overwhelmed! I want to do the very best I can at educating them and I always thank my God for giving me the strength to do this; to do what I feel we are called to do as a family, on the education front. People are often times telling me I must be 'Super Woman" or "I could never do that!". I know they mean well and perhaps want to compliment me or perhaps they do not know what to say; but I am only doing this by and through the grace and power of God. I am by no means and very far from "Super Woman"; and I could never do this without God!
So as I now go downstairs to continue planning and organizing I pray for the grace that I need. One day at a time, and I need to make each day count; to glorify my God in whatever I am doing .......we are never promised tomorrow so I must make it count!

John Piper :: "How will God respond to Atheism & Richard Dawkins?"

Really enjoyed this clip; truly worth watching, so I thought I would share!

Today........

" .....whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." James 4:14

So much sadness...as I ponder how I spend my time looking on the inside and "improving and doing ", with self and family, I have failed to look out; look out for lost souls. Saving , salvation , redemption is all God's working, however I feel like I have failed somehow today, as I watch my neighbor , suffer , once again , with loss. This time the loss of her husband.

I can only pray that I can be of some comfort to her, be there, listen, show the love of Jesus; mourn with she who mourns...as my heart breaks for her. May God prepare her to receive the only place of rest and comfort and peace that can come from only Him, through Christ.

I really don't know what to say.........let's not waste the day...."tomorrow is promised to no one..."

Standing Out...

Have you ever been in church in the midst of singing praises and something about a song, one that you have sung before ,stands out at you. It has meaning...significance ; something you didn't notice before.

Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me
Text by Augustus Toplady
(The musical score was somewhat different from the original score I believe, but the lyrics were the same.)

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
 let me hide myself in thee;
 let the water and the blood,
 from thy wounded side which flowed,
 be of sin the double cure;
 save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labors of my hands
 can fulfill thy law's commands;
 could my zeal no respite know,
 could my tears forever flow,
 all for sin could not atone;
 thou must save, and thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
 simply to the cross I cling;
 naked, come to thee for dress;
 helpless, look to thee for grace;
 foul, I to the fountain fly;
 wash me, Savior, or I die.

4. While I draw this fleeting breath,
 when mine eyes shall close in death,
 when I soar to worlds unknown,
 see thee on thy judgment throne,
 Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
 let me hide myself in thee.

   The  song sums up our very existence and the reason for it.
 Our natural state....sin and wickedness of heart....saved by 
the atoning blood of Christ on the Cross  through the grace and
 mercy of God Almighty.  There is absolutely NOTHING that we can 
bring or offer God; Redemption is from God , through God  with
 nary a thing from us.

        Isaiah 64:6 " For all of us have become like one who 
is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy
 garment; and all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities,
 like the wind, take us away."


   Then we have Ezekiel 36:26:
   
       "  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new 
spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from
 your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

   Regeneration...God doesn't  just "start" our heart again; it
never worked at all.  Rather He removes the stone heart for a 
flesh heart...a new heart.  One for Him; one that enables to see 
Him rendering us in a spirit of repentance and worship all at the
same time!  Then we find ourselves seeking Him alone and all that
He wants us to do to glorify Him! Then we await the moment in which
we will see our Redeemer! Oh glorious day to see the One that has 
us 'hid' in Him-fashioning us for heaven!

   Yes this song prompted me to shift my focus and why I am doing 
what I am doing:  being a wife, a mother, teaching the kids, etc.  
It's all for Him in the end, not to prove to anyone anything,
( I sometimes feel scrutinized  by others whereby it gives me the 
feeling that I should justify or prove myself), but to glorify the
name of God in what I am doing at all times.

   I hope to raise my children in the fear and admonishen of the
 Lord, to be a good wife and a person who is always able and ready
to give an answer for the Hope that lies within me!  

Everyday is not Just an Ordinary Day

Well it seems that the word to sum up my summer thus far would be "odd"...perhaps"bizarre' , the farthest from ordinary.
This summer , as a home school family, we have decided to do school through the summer months. I felt that as I was ill for a few months previous that insufficient schoolwork was carried out. The kids were not extremely pleased to say the least but have fallen into a routine now and are okay with it. But their extracurricular fun has been blotted out...our local pool will not open this summer and the camp we were going to help at is not running this summer due to lack of registration, thus causing the church to cancel. Both these activities are highlights of my kids summer and having them canceled was a downer added on to the work I am making them do! :-) Not to mention that anything we do do has to be scheduled around my oldest who is now working! I am hoping that at least the piano camp Jessica is going to works out as well as the home school camp in September...but sigh...summer will be over then.
The community we live in is in turmoil at the moment as well. Media and police continue to scour the area and it is very draining. Such a sad situation in all....a dagger to the heart of the community and we feel it. However seeing as we have only lived here 5 years , we feel it and see it in those that have lived here for a very long time., but we are still removed and on the outside and probably will remain so ...which is entirely understandable.
So our summer does not feel like summer, fun and carefree, it is weighed down with burden disappointment and sadness .

But as we plug through the summer, we continue our family Bible study and I continue with my devotions, we turn to God in prayer at all times and be thankful for all things, for God is always in control.

There are two quotes I wish to leave you with ,that I have found to be thought provoking .

"Wherefore , if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you will remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. " (Taken from 'The Imitation of Christ' by Thomas a Kempis).


"The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger." ('The Imitation of Christ' by Thomas a Kempis)

May I always walk humbly with my God!

Opinions....'To share or not to share?', that is the question!

This topic of late has been plaguing me. You see, I am very opinionated and I seem to feel the need to share and 'enlighten' those around me; whether they care to listen or not!
Well, I have been thwacked upside the head recently, by God, (a gentle yet ever so humbling thwack!) , one that I had needed .

I take comfort in the fact that God chastens whom He loves....."For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." Hebrews 12:6 (One could read verses 5 &6). It was needed.... but as Hebrews 12:11 says it indeed was not joyful at the present,"Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless,afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Ahhh been trained by it.......did I learn my lesson or do I need a bigger thump on the head!?! I do believe , and hope, and pray that I have learned. That I will seek more time before God and in His Word- that I am grounded in His Word . Not to rely on how I feel; not to trust emotions nor to think that I am always right.... I am most certainly not.

I will not bore you with the exact details of my 'training'...that is completely unnecessary. However, the next time I feel I should rant,or proclaim my opinion as right; I will remember that unless someone asks , and even then, I will consider.......do I really need to share what I think? Do they really care? No , truly they do not...not when done with a pompous attitude. I will remember to stop, shut my mouth , and listen...just listen.

I leave you now with a verse that I know and have known, yet now holds more meaning for me:
"For I say, through the grace given to me , to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." Romans 12:3