I love the nature imagery used in this song. Here are examples; "all nature sings,"..."birds their carrols raise,"......"rustling grass I hear him pass,"....."rocks and trees,"......"skies and seas,"...," morning light, lily white,"....etc...
Spring is a beautiful time of year and there are so many reminders of God's goodness and power and love of beauty during these months.
This is my Father's world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas--
His hand the wonders wrought.
This is my Father's world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
He shines in all that's fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
This is my Father's world:
O let me ne'er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
The battle is not done,
Jesus who died shall be satisfied
And earth and Heaven be one.
I like to think of the last word as a homophone- one as in unity, and won as in conquered.
This Bible verse keeps popping in my mind when I sing the last line- "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15b) Handel's Hallelujah Chorus has this verse set to music and it plays in my memory when I read the words. It is so magnificent!
The wrong does oft seem so strong. I like the admonition to remember that God is the ruler yet. This part of the song makes me think of Psalm 73- "And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."
"Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end."
We are at the end of another year and it is time for me to share the Bible verses that I memorized through my church involvement this year. Once again I developed tunes to help me memorize these verses every month.
My favorite tune from this year is the one for June that I made to go with Ecclesiastes 12:10-14. I like it the best because it has a place at the end where you have to change registers. It is a fun little section to sing.
My least favorite tunes are from April and October. I just couldn't come up with nice melodies. The tunes worked to get me to memorize the verses, but they were disjointed and I didn't care for them too much.
My favorite verses from this year are from August: Romans 4:1-5. Justification by faith. So sweet to my ears! "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Amen!
Maybe my tunes can help others. Keep in mind I have never had any voice lessons. I may slip off key, miss high notes, not use the right projection techniques, etc.... Also, I only had a cell phone to record these with in my garage. So there's that.
January/February 2025
Matthew 5:1-11
[1] And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: [2] And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, [3] Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. [10] Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
March 2025
Matthew 5:12-16
[12] Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
[13] 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.
[14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
[15] 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.
[16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
April 2025
John 6:25-29
25] And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?
[26] Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.
[27] Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
[28] Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
[29] Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
May 2025
Psalm 119:19-24
[9] Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
[10] With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. [11] Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. [12] Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. [13] With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
June 2025
Ecc. 12:10-14
[10] The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
[11] The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
[12] And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
[13] Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
[14] For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
July 2025
Titus 1:7-11
[7] For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
[8] But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
[9] Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
[10] For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
[11] Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake.
August 2025
Romas 4:1-5
[1] What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
[2] For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
[3] For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
September 2025
Genesis 50:17-22
[17] So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
[18] And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
[19] And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
[20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
[21] Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
October 2025
Proverbs 11:27-31
[27] He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
[28] He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
[29] He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
[30] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
[31] Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
November 2025
Philippians 3:17-21
[17] Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
[18] (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
[19] Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
[20] For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
[21] Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
December 2025
Proverbs 25:9:13
[9] Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
[10] Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
[11] A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
[12] As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
[13] As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
So many things are happening in nature this time of year. These flowers all popped open over night. I see these flowers on my walk in the morning. I'm not sure what type of shrub this is, but it's flowers sure are pretty.
I found my Bleeding Hearts! I was so happy to see them. I have been looking for them for a couple weeks. This morning I was looking again and gave up. I figured they must have been too trampled during the summer and frozen solid in the ice over winter. As I straightened up and turned to leave, my eyes landed right where they are coming up! I had been looking in the wrong place all along.
The Lilac buds are forming. I am looking forward to their sweet, sweet perfume.
The Daffodils are going to town! Pretty blossoms and more infant buds coming up still.
I took this picture while out walking on the morning of February 1st. The frost was so pretty that morning. I was hoping for a good photo opportunity. This picture turned out better than I could have imagined. The sun rays must have pasted through some ice crystals and split into colors just as I snapped my shot.
The verse is from a memory passage that was part of the five-a-month verses that our church does. This was actually from the first month we began attending back in May of 2023. I had some heavy things on my heart at the time. When I looked up the memory verses after the first service that we attended I was so amazed at how well they articulate what I wanted to say to the LORD. I was able to put them to a tune and commit them to memory within a day or two.
Here is the resulting Bible verse song. Perhaps it will be a blessing to you.
I want to highlight one of the ways that being a part of a local church has blessed my life. Our church does five-a-month for Bible memory verses. During the announcement portion of every service our pastor asks if anyone has recited the verses for the month and he adds new names to the list of individuals. Names of those who have joined in memorizing the five verses for the month are printed in the bulletin every week.
Some may make the point that memorizing Bible verses to be recognized is the wrong motivation. I can see the point. We are supposed to let our alms giving be done in secret and our heavenly Father will reward us openly.
I don't see Bible verse memorizing equal to alms giving, though, so I wouldn't apply Jesus' instructions in Matthew 6. My view on the subject is that seeing other's names on the list can be encouraging or even convicting. Like, if these people can do it than I can, too, or, I should, too. I think myself memorizing the five-a-month and publicly proclaiming the fact has encouraged my friends to join in. And I know that I have been inspired by those members of our church who memorize the verses every month.
I think this is one of the types of things that Jesus established the church to accomplish. I know that I wouldn't be memorizing these verses if I was a lone ranger Christian. If I didn't go to church, I wouldn't have the will to memorize this much Bible. The local Church is ment to equip believers and be a purifying force in their life. By having a five-a-month club and publicly displaying those names I am being provoked to work on my spiritual walk. These verses that I have memorized this year have been so good for my spiritual walk. I have understood God in ways that just reading my Bible hasn't accomplished. (I still have a long way to go!) The amount of meditation that memorizing takes produces a better effect than only Bible reading.
My church is a huge blessing in my life. Bible memory is just one of the ways that my church has formed me into a better, more Christ honoring, believer. I hope that every believer can be joined to a local body. That is the way God planned for Christianity to work.
To close this post I will add the memory verses from this year and explain my memory technique.
For long term memory storage I have always had success with using tunes. I come up with a tune for each set of verses. I use an audio recording app on my phone to help me work on each tune. I add to the tune slowly. I will chant the first part of the verse to a tune that comes to mind. Once I feel confident with that small section I record it so that I can leave off from working on it. I move to the next section and come up with a tune. I chant the second section to the tune until I feel confident with it. Then I will put the two parts together and sing them conjoined until I feel confident with them together. I make a new recording with the two sections together. Then I come up with a tune for the next section. And so forth and so on..... I just keep adding to my song little by little with the words of the Bible verses.
Sometimes I draw pictographs and little symbols to help me memorize the words. If I have to work without the audio recording app I write out the verses and draw little lines and dashes to indicate whether the notes in my tune go up or down, long or short. That is the only way I used to work before I had an app.
Are songs the best way to memorize Bible verses? That depends on your goals. Songs are the best way for me and my aims. I am not memorizing these verses to quote to other people in conversation. I am memorizing these verses for my own connection with God and for long term storage. I want these verses to be in my mind for the rest of my life. Music is special in that way. I have read about Alzheimer patients that can sing their part in a singing group even after they have lost the ability to recognize close family members. I also think of being in a place where owning a Bible becomes a crime or being in a place where I won't have access to a Bible. In scenarios like that I will want my memory verses to be solid and long lasting as only I have found them to be in song.
Here are my Bible verse songs from this year. Maybe they can be helpful for someone else. Forgive me if I slip off key in these recordings, or don't keep steady tempo, or miss my high notes...... I am just putting these out there in case they may be a help to anyone.
January
1 Corinthians 12:14-18 For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
February
Nehemiah 8:8-12 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy; neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
March
Ephesians 5:17-21 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
April
Matthew 28:5-9 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
May
Romans 8:22-26 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
June
John 7:5-9 For neither did his brethren believe in him. Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast: for my time is not yet full come. When he had said these words unto them, he abode still in Galilee.
July
Mark 11:22-26 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
August
1 Corinthians 15:54-58 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
September
2 Timothy 4:1-5 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
October
Acts 13:1-5 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.
November
Revelation 22:17-21 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
December (Our pastor only picked out 2 verses to memorize in December.)
Isaiah 9:6+7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
My mother-in-law bought me a sketch kit for my birthday this week. I was so excited to use it that I started as soon as I opened the package. I made these two drawings for a double baby shower today. I made the cards from these drawings. One of the families is expecting a boy. The other one is expecting a girl. And their due dates are a week apart, I believe. They are going to be close cousins!
I hope you all have a lovely weekend and get to enjoy fellowship with believers tomorrow.
Hebrews 10:24+25
And let us consider one another
to provoke unto love and to good works:
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together,
I have some beautiful zinnias growing so I cut myself a bouquet today. I had some hostas to put in this bouquet, too. The hosta flowers have such a heavenly fragrance!
So, I have bouquet and a verse to share this week.
Nehemiah 9:6
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone;
thou hast made heaven,
the heaven of heavens, with all their host,
the earth, and all things that are therein,
the seas, and all that is therein,
and thou preservest them all;
and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.
I hope you are having a happy day wherever you are and I hope that you can see God's greatness from your vantage point.
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
This phrase stood out to me, "sacrifice of praise." Praising God is a New Testament sacrifice. Does that not give so much more purpose and meaning to singing hymns of praise?
I love music and I love to sing. In some ways I have wondered if I should feel any kind of guilt for the attention I receive for really putting my all into the singing service at Church. It does stroke my ego to hear compliments and that can lead to a pride problem. So I had this moral dilemma on my hands. Should I hold back so that I don't draw attention?
This verse set me free. I am bringing a sacrifice to God with my singing. It is for the Lord and I am going to offer him by best. I sing whole heartedly with gusto and joy!
Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do,
do it with thy might;
Have you ever wanted to offer something really special to the Lord? Look no further! If you have a voice, you can offer the Lord a sacrifice; the sacrifice of praise.
The part of the verse that says, "the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." makes me think of the many instances that the firstfruits were offered to the Lord in the Old Testament.
Exodus 23:19a
The first of the firstfruits of thy land
thou shalt bring into the house of
the LORD thy God.
Proverbs 3:9
Honour the LORD with thy substance,
and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
Giving thanks is the fruit of our lips. Let us offer to God the firstfruits. In the morning why not let the first thing I say be praise to the Lord? I can wake up with a song on my lips.
I just want to encourage you all to praise the Lord. We know He is worthy!
Not only is He our Creator and Sustainor, He is our Saviour! He is God Almighty holding the Universe in His hand and yet He cares for us and loved us enough to die in our place!
I have a home in Heaven and that right there should keep me singing as the days go by. Amen!
I've been drying some of summer's bounty the last couple months.
The children and I picked pineapple weed all throughout June. We were able to collect almost a full quart jar of dried pineapple weed flowers. I blended them with mint and lemon balm for tea.
The rest of the herbs and flowers from my yard, that can be used for herbal infusions, I have been collecting and blending together.
There is a little borage, calendula, mint, lemon balm, lavender, and rose petals. I added some anise seed and ginger. I'm calling this Yard Blend Tea. :)
From our neighborhood community garden I have all this basil to dry.
These hot banana peppers are from my garden. I did not feel like pickling them. I decided to hang them and once they're dry maybe I can grind them into some kind of chili powder. ? I have never done anything like that before. Have any of you ever dried banana peppers? I could use some advice!
Psalms 104:14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle,
These beautiful flowers made up a bouquet that I put together a few weeks ago.
I love being able to have fresh flowers to beautify our home! I was not always so, though. As a teenager I thought pretty things were just a vanity. I considered growing flowers a waste of soil that would be much better utilized for growing vegetables: food for people to eat. I had a very practical mindset. Putting effort into being pretty was a frivolous waste of time and resources.
I grew up. I learned to appreciate beautiful things. I realized there is value in beauty. God made beautiful flowers, and sunsets, and rainbows and mountain ranges. He made them beautiful for more than practical reasons. Imagine if he made all the flowers the same color. They would work. They would attract pollinator insects. They would be able to develop seeds and reproduce. The flowers could have been all the same. But God showed us that He values beauty and variety.
This is a random day in my life post. Here is how it went:
I heated up leftover oatmeal for breakfast at 9am. This morning I served it with diced bananas, cinnamon and a hunk of butter.
I start our school day with "Church Practice" at 10am. The baby usually falls asleep for his morning nap sometime within the hour.
Baby's morning nap gives me an opportunity to work in the kitchen, usually.
This morning's To Do List:
Make Muffins
Start Pizza Dough
Shred Mozzarella
Make Pizza Sauce
Can you guess my dinner plan? :)
I made the muffins. Someone had given me this baby food puree. I have used it to make muffins and they turn out fine. I just replace the bananas in my Extra Banana, Banana Bread with the puree. (Recipe)
I taught the first grader and the kindergartener their school. Or, finished them up, rather.
Quiet time from 2-4pm.
I let the house go and did some reading.
The baby didn't fall asleep again until 4pm.
Back to the To Do List!
The boys wanted to help shred the cheese. I did the bulk of the shredding and then cut two chunks for each of them to have a piece to shred.
You can see some school leftovers still on the table and an onion I am about to dice up for pizza sauce.
I let the children each make their own individual pizzas after I finished the sauce. It was pretty easy this night because our only topping was cheese.
The oven was preheating and caused the smoke detector to go off.......waking the baby. I still had yet to prepare a pizza for Mr. In the Mid-west.
Ggggggrrr! I hate smoke detectors. :/
I said a prayer for patience.
I had been up tight and pretty edgy most of the day. I had tried adjusting my attitude, but it wasn't until I prayed out loud for patience that it came.
You know, there really is power in the blood. Funny, that is one of our "Church Practice" songs for this week.
"Would you be free from your passion and pride? There's power in the blood! Power in the blood! Come for a cleansing to Calvary's tide; There's wonderful power in the blood."
The pizzas turned out great!
We finished dinner and got ourselves ready to go to mid-week service at Church.
That was my day.
Maybe tomorrow I can catch up on the house work
that I have been letting pile up. :)
Hebrews 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them
I believe everyone needs to make time for a creative outlet. It doesn't have to be a lot of time, either. Just 15 minutes can be refreshing. You can try writing, art, sewing, calligraphy, wood burning, cooking, building a model, scrapbooking, embroidery, playing an instrument, ect.......
I rotate through several creative endeavors. Recently I spent some time with my watercolors. I made several pieces of art for birthday cards and the like.
I also have been doing a little paper crafting with stamps.
A few months ago Mr. In The Mid-west called me on the phone. He was at a thrift store and found some Stamp'n Up stamps. He wanted to know if I used stamps.
"Yes, I have a handful of stamps and I use them. If there are some nice stamps for a good price I would be happy to have them!" I replied.
He bought them all! Now I have 8 gallon size ziplock bags full of Stamp'n Up stamp collections. Yay!
I have used a few to make some birthday cards.
Is having a creative outlet important to you? What do you do with your creative energy?
I will miss her! I would say she died too young, but, I trust God knows best. He called her home. She is in the presence of Jesus now. I didn't want my time with her to be over. At least, I have the comfort of knowing that I will see her again.
1 Thessalonians 4:13+14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
This verse doesn't says, "preserve my life from the enemy." No, it says, "preserve my life from fear of the enemy."
Isn't that interesting?
Fear is often worse than the threat.
>Fear will keep us from obeying Christ.<
Acts 5:29
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Had Peter and the other apostles feared what man could do unto them they would have obeyed men rather than God.
Luke 12:4
And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
The apostles were not governed by fear, therefore, they were able to make the right choice: to obey God rather than men.
Psalms 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
When you live in obedience to God you know the LORD is on your side. And, when the LORD is on your side, you can say, "what can man do unto me?"
Fear has no place.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
In fact, fear is a lack of faith.
What are you afraid of?
Are you afraid of your financial situation?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Are you afraid of illness?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Are you afraid of death?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Are you afraid of censorship, the government, the media?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Are you afraid of storms?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Are you afraid of failure?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Are you afraid of pain?
Trust God. He will take care of you.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
To please God you must have faith.
>Fear is a failure to have faith.<
How many times does the Bible command, "Fear not," "Be not afraid," "Have no fear," or any variant of that phrase?
By my reckoning, at least 120 times!
There is someone that we are commanded to fear, and that someone is God himself.
1 Peter 2:17
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
The fear of God will actually keep you from sin.
Exodus 20:20
And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
Take a look at the testimony of the Hebrew midwives.
Exodus 1:17
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
They feared God. That is what the Bible says. They feared God and that caused them to do what was right in His sight.
When we fear God we won't be afraid of other things. If we fear God, we are going to obey Him. He commands us to not be afraid of anything beside Himself.
Deuteronomy 13:4
Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
If we fear God, we will believe Him. He says He will take care of us. We must believe that He will take care of us.
Deuteronomy 31:8
And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.
Again, take a look at the testimony of the Hebrew midwives.
Exodus 1:21
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
Do you see how God took care of them? God provided houses for the midwives. They had a safe dwelling because they were not afraid of the king.
God is able to take care of our needs, both physical and spiritual.
What can possibly cause us to fear? It is when we take our eyes off the LORD that we become afraid.
Matthew 14:30
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
"Dear Lord,
Save us from fear.
Help us trust and obey you.
Amen."
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
