Category: Praise

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Family, Listen, Look, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Thanks, Trust

Glorious Sunshine

I wanted to go out on the back deck to marvel at the sun and look to see if the Thumbelina daffodils had started to bloom yet. The dog was in front of the door. She could not decide if she wanted to go out or not. I slid open the door and growled at her “Go in or go out! I do not care!” After she moved I stepped outside. Before looking at the daffodil leaves I looked up and to my left sensing something looking at me. I saw this wonderful hawk in the nearby tree. It was not startled by my growling.

I texted Bob “Hawk on back deck.” knowing he would grab his camera and come see. His photos were much better than mine. Here was our visitor! He likely saw our feeder as a bait station. Like Sonic says, “You gotta eat!”

r m dutina
My favorite by r m dutina
r m dutina

“Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars
    and spreads its wings toward the south?
27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up
    and makes its nest on high? Job 39:26-27 NRSVUE

We often hear the hawks calling from high in the sky. Sometimes we can see them, sometimes not. We are always blessed when they come to close to us! God is in control of them, certainly not us!

Posted on in Aging, Art, Book quotes, Faith, Focus, Just do it, Obedience, Poetry, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Trust, Writing Life

Give or Take?

Listening to another podcast by John Mark Comer he quoted an author reminding us that the second half of life is about giving our life away. Well, duh! Shouldn’t those who read the New Testament know that? No, we do not always remember that! Especially as noted in the quote below.

In a culture that pushes us to focus not on what we can give, but on what we can take, what we tend to take is everything for granted. Andrea Gibson

That is so true. So sadly true of Americans.

Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back – given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Luke 6:38 Message

That is what I trying to do with getting music out of the file folders into the hands of others, printing books and poetry at the lowest cost I can. Giving my life away in texts, emails, personal relationships.

How are you doing this?

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap, for the measure you give will be the measure you get back. Luke 6: 38 NRSVUE

I am not looking for a reward in my giving, though there is a promise stated here. I have simply found that I cannot out give my God.

Poem by me Healed Wounds 1982

I have been told so many things
	and dealt so many blows
But now my heart begins to sing
	an old song, soft and low.

He’s taught me by His words and ways
	the first few miles of loving.
I’ve many lessons yet to learn
	but first I must begin.

Our culture and sophisticated ways 
	just keep us from each other.
Barriers come into play
	where open meadows belong.

My soul is crowded about
 	by specters of loneliness.
The risk of vulnerability has become
	more inviting than the haunt of isolation.

It is as though I am breaking out
	of an ancient inner prison.
I must get close to as many as will let me.
	The risk is not to be counted.

We’ve got to touch,
	we’re not so unalike.
We are all made in His image,
	but we are not our own.

Like calls unto like
	deep calls unto deep,
and the power of His Spirit
	is knitting us together.

The pleasures of His bounty
	are not to be hoarded – but shared.
How can we assume to participate in His Spirit
	behind a crumbling wall of self?
Jesus walks through walls.

In some ways I am scared
 	of investing my small bits
But I tremble at the thought of just
	burying them in Jesus’ name.

Father, You have called me to this.
	as I slowly crept out from that cave.
You alone can put me over,
	to you I belong.

Show me how to be Your child,
	how to represent You well.
I look for help to no other,
	teach me as You did Your Son.

You alone have made me worthy,
	You alone will see me through.
Help me with Your love and mercy,
	deep compassion, grace and truth.

Now I stand before You yielded,
	make me into something new.
You have plans, now please reveal them,
	train me how to touch and move.

Give me holy eyes to see with,
	holy ears and holy hands.
Help me learn to only speak when
	I have heard what You command.

Others may not understand,
	few will ever know.
I’m willing to live by Your plan.
	You are my final goal.

My intimacy with You
	will affect those in this realm.
I’m burdened by this bounty
	I’ve collected from Your stores.
Instruct me how to give it away
	so I can discover more.


MAKE IT A WAY OF LIFE!

Posted on in Challenge, Faith, Music, Praise, Thanks

My Praise Choruses

Many years ago I would occasionally hear a praise song in my mind. A melody, a set of words, and the next thing I knew I would be singing to the Lord.

I have never done anything with those praises except to write them down. This past year I made a new friend who wanted to put one on staff paper. She did it! And I am amazed.

We decided to pursue the rest of the songs. We have a priest who teaches us simple songs of faith. She is interested in these also, so that was a good impetus towards getting them to a state where they are ready to share.

So here is one melody. I recorded it while picking it out on a different friend’s electric keyboard that she loaned to me. My musical friend said she will likely put them in a key that is more singable. 

LYRICS: The Great I Am

I know the great I AM
The great I AM knows me
I am content in this
I know the great I AM



It took me a bit to learn how to record the melody. Then how to upload it to the blog. Below is the music for you if you are interested in pursuing this further.
Posted on in Faith, Focus, Look, Music, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Thanks, Yield

God’s Unquenchable Love

In the move to make worship easier for all our church uses a printed bulletin each week instead of the Book of Common Prayer and a hymnal. Last week in the Eucharistic prayer I was struck by these sentences.

Your redeeming work continued when through the Virgin Mary, you became incarnate in Jesus Christ, so that through him we might experience the depth and width of your unquenchable love.

No, I do not understand all of that language and do not presume to explain to you what I do believe about it. I do know that the love of God IS unquenchable and vast beyond our comprehension!

Have you tasted that unquenchable love in your life? Can you recall that moment and stay with it as the days of Lent unfold?

And again we prayed:

Send your Holy Spirit we pray, into these gifts of bread and wine and send your Holy Spirit into us, that we may RECOGNIZE each other as members of the same body, Christ’s hands and feet and heart, sent for the healing of the world.

Nothing is too difficult for our God. Help me Father to let you open my eyes to the wonders of your redeeming work. Help me recognize your people as members of the same body you have created for the healing of the world.

From one of my favorite artists

Posted on in Aging, Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Music, Obedience, Poetry, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender

Howard Thurman Quote

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive. Howard Thurman

This one made me think. Twice. Howard Thurman went to his rest in the Lord in 1981. He was “a nationally recognized theologian, distinguished religious leader, and prolific author of over twenty published books. His book Jesus and the Disinherited was considered his most indispensable work.” I read his Disinherited and was moved. He wrote, “It is a man’s reaction to things that determines their ability to exercise power over him.” So reminds me of Viktor Frankl.

There are a few things that make me come alive. Some have been sitting in a file folder for decades. When I was diagnosed with the heart aneurysm I got scared but I also got busy. There was poetry the world had never seen that I wanted to release to others. There was the urge to publish a book with some of these blog posts. The aneurysm is still there, but I have decided to let it be there. Was likely there for decades without my knowledge.

Now that a new year has begun, I am aware I will not live forever, with or without the aneurysm. My husband has a pacemaker and reminds me how many years are left on his battery. He assures me he has no intention to get the battery replaced when it stops working. That sort of knowledge keeps me on my toes. If and when he dies, (he thinks it will be before me), I am certain I will be knocked down for a couple months at least if not longer. Therefore, if I intend to get some of these things done, I better get them accomplished before that battery expires!

Last year a friend offered to take one of the praise choruses I heard and wrote down years ago and work with it. She put it on staff paper so people might have it to play and enjoy. Indeed, she did just that! This year I asked if she would be willing to take on the other 4 or 5. She again said yes! This afternoon I am going to her house to work on the timing on one of them. I hope to be able to post them on this blog for you to enjoy at home or in your local church. Truly an amazing and skill musical talent she possesses!

Dana and I are working at preparing my poetry for publication through Amazon Direct Publishing. This will include some of the newer works. I have a new appreciation for what an editor does. I have read every single one of my poems and found many errors that we printed previously. Yikes. There will be a few new photos in the new book, two by my musician friend mentioned above.

Stephen Ministry has been calling to me and I was commissioned last Sunday at church. I will eventually be assigned a care receiver to meet with. That person will need me about an hour a week. I will also be praying for that person and receiving supervision during their care. It is a ministry I feel compelled to give myself to. I, too, benefited from it when I recently felt overwhelmed.

The prayer team at church need leadership. That has been a call upon my life for decades. I did not say no. Please pray for me to hear just what the Lord desires as I try to arrange a meeting with them and provide leadership that will feed and encourage them.

What makes YOU come alive? Would you be willing to take that aliveness and let the world use it? None of us knows when the Lord will call us home. Please do not leave things left undone that you might be able to accomplish now, this month, this year!

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Journal, Just do it, Listen, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Surrender, Thanks, Trust, Worship, Yield

Recriminations and Breathing Room

For a week or perhaps 10 days, I got all complicated about my disciplines. We were having new flooring installed in the sitting/sewing room and in order to do that we basically dismantled the room. There was yarn and all manner of sewing things moved into the office. Writing in that space became more difficult as I could barely move my chair. Somehow that overflowed into my morning disciplines. Suffice it to say I lost my focus. It was easy to heap recriminations upon myself. But not productive!

The flooring is now installed. The contents of the room have been replaced and in their original order, sort of. I will have straightening to do for many hours in the future. When we moved the yarn holders (think cloth shoe pouches that hang from the closet pole) yarn and crochet thread went all over the place.

This morning, when I sat down in my prayer chair, I realized I’d left my tablet some place. Remembered I had used my iPad in the living room. I went to retrieve it and there was no charge left. Even the attached keyboard failed to have any power. So my approach to prayer centering was greatly disrupted. That was not all bad.

Looking for a way to firmly connect with the Spirit of God, I remembered all the times I did that without any electronic devices. Just me, the Book of Common Prayer, my Bible, perhaps a dictionary and a desire to know, and be known by my God. This was a masterful reset. I know I stepped away from my disciplines, not deliberately but a little shift here, a little shift there, a little anxiety here about Bob and the dog walking in icy weather, distraction by A B and C, and next thing I knew I was walking an unproductive path.

The meditation I listened to via my smart phone spoke about finding some breathing room. And that is what I have done this morning. I have some breathing room and a path forward to better union with the Trinity.

So hopefully, now I have regained some perspective. I once again have a renewed awareness of how easy it is to abandon the way of life that is so very good for me. I found myself stumbling about with the way of self in the world. It was not fulfilling. Just frustrating and like sawdust to my soul and spirit.

Father, thank you for showing me myself clearly. Help me above all else to hunger for and maintain my connection to you. You are the source of life. You are living water to me. Keep me and direct my ways to the glory of your name. Amen.

The Rule of Saint Benedict says, “Always, we begin again.”

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Book quotes, Faith, Look, Nature, Poetry, Praise, Thanks

Daily Quote

I receive daily quotes from several sources. The ones from Every Moment Holy tend to be from one publication for a week or more. Then they will choose a different volume of liturgies to quote from. They books they publish run along a theme for the liturgies in each volume.

Here is their website https://www.everymomentholy.com/ They offer several volumes for sale, free printable liturgies from various topics and other materials on the site.

Let me glimpse in growing things, some hint of your unseen kingdom. Let me shape here a living poetry that whispers words of grace to all who pause to listen. From A Liturgy for Yard Work 1 from Volume 3. I would love to quote more from this, but I have loaned my books to a Pastor at our church!

Last autumn my sister sent me flower arrangements from a company in California that prides itself on sustainable arrangements with little environmental damage from pesticides and fertilizers.

Notice the succulent in the center of each arrangement?

The instructions said after the flowers faded I was to remove the succulent from the water tube it was in and plant it in a pot of soil to get it rooting.

They arrived in early November. This is how they appear in early February! The base of the flower pot is small enough to fit in the large plastic pharmacy pill bottle top for a saucer!

No, they do not look quite as nice as when they first arrived, but they are still alive!! I am tempted to trim off those outer leaves, but I decided not to do that yet. If they shrivel and look unhealthy by late winter/spring I might.

“Let me glimpse in growing things, some hint of your unseen kingdom. Let me shape here a living poetry that whispers words of grace to all who pause to listen. ” Do you glimpse in these growing things some hint of the unseen kingdom? Does the photo come to your eyes as ‘living poetry that whispers of grace to all who pause to listen?’

Apple photos identified the plant as Echeveria. https://worldofsucculents.com/grow-care-echeveria/ has detail on how to grow it. “Thanks to their charming rosettes and gorgeous water-storing leaves, Echeverias are among the most popular succulent plants. Echeverias are one of the easiest succulents to propagate. They are usually propagated by offsets or leaves, but they can also be grown from stem cuttings and seeds. The best time to separate offsets and take cuttings is in the spring.

Guess I do not need to worry about those shriveled leaves, “Echeveria is self-pruning. All you may need to do is pick out the dead leaves or flowers. Removing dead leaves prevents rot or disease from taking over the plant.”Seems the shriveled leaves may have been due to lack of water. (This house is SO DRY this winter I am tempted to purchase a humidifier!)

May your find reflections of glory and glimmers of God’s presence wherever you look today!

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Focus, Joy, Look, Nature, Praise, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth

Winter Abounds in Wonders

O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. Psalm 77:13–14 (NLT)

I was not quite awake as I poured my coffee. Remembered there were snow flurries last night when I took the dog out. Flipped on porch light and looked at deck to see how much snow we received? Yikes!! The four inches that remained from the last storm is still there. This was not new snow but shook me up for a brief minute. No, I was not awake before but startled to reality now! Negligible snow in the night .

I do not remember the last time that snow lingered like this in our town. I just saw a forecast that calls for 1-3 inches of new snow tomorrow!

Our God of great wonders has blessed us with unusual weather this winter. I pray you can enjoy it?

We took a ride in the Sunday sunshine and Bob took photos of the snow and shadows. We knew a few older houses in downtown Batavia that would form icicles from the second story to the ground. Indeed, they did!

Our son took a vacation to Hocking Hills in the midst of this winter mayhem. Perhaps you are familiar with Old Man’s Cave?

photo by Jeff Dutina
photo by Jeff Dutina
photo by Jeff Dutina

Beauty from the Lord our God is every place we turn. Praying you will discover treasures in plain sight for yourself today!

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Nature, Praise, Worship

The Big Storm

The January almost nationwide storm swept through our area with bitter cold and wind. In total, we had about seven inches of snow, which for us is unusual. Grateful it was not the possible twelve inches, which would have been over the top of my boots! As it was when I had to walk through the ditch at the edge of the driveway where the snowplow had piled it even higher, I almost fell. Yes, Lucky still requires walking even in this weather. She is faster though at tending to her business. Bob did fall in that snow this morning while returning with her from her morning constitutional. Later this morning we plan to run the car over that pile a few times and salt it in hopes of diminishing the depth there!

There has been a feeding frenzy at the bird feeders. The starlings are doing their best to empty the mealworm feeder as fast as they can. I did fill it extra full this time and if I am writing at my computer I try to frighten them off. They are larger than the bluebirds and get food other places. And they are cowards. One tap on the window and they usually take off. The bluebirds seem to know they are welcome! Of course, when I am not sitting here writing the starlings help themselves unhindered. The slate colored Juncos were so amusing jumping about on the surface of the snow. I wondered why they did not scoop up the fallen meal worms. Must not be to their liking.

I made a huge pot of chicken tortilla soup on Thursday. It makes so much we have plenty to share with friends and neighbors. I just had a text message from another neighbor asking if we would like some chicken tortilla soup? Hilarious! That makes three of us on the same street who made the same soup! It is filling and certainly warms you up!

It is snowing again now. The snow plow did not come through until late on Sunday afternoon. The shovelers our HOA hires arrived after the plow. Then the shovelers evidently came again during the night to remove some of the snowplow depth at the end of driveways. I doubt we will see the shovelers again unless these flurries develop into 2-3 inches. Not likely. The surface of our road is still white.

I had to wonder when it was snowing really hard where the bluebirds take shelter? It is not as if we see them huddled in a particular tree or shrub. They are not known for digging tunnels for shelter. Where were they? As the wind whipped the wind chimes into a continuous winter chorus where was the even tinier Carolina Wren?

Here are a few answers from https://www.birdwatchingdaily.com/beginners/birding-faq/how-birds-survive-blizzards/

  • Birds hide in dense evergreens, shrubs, tree cavities, or human structures
  • Many species huddle together to share body heat
  • They enter torpor, a nightly mini-hibernation, to conserve energy
  • Birds fluff their feathers to trap warm air increasing insulation
  • They forage intensely before a storm to build fat reserves
  • Window ledges and backyard shelters become crucial hiding spots
  • Some birds stay perfectly still for hours to preserve energy

We do not have evergreens on our lot. There is space under the deck though. I like the idea of a flock of bluebirds sheltering under my deck during a winter storm! 🙂 Maybe if I give up the garden that runs across the back of our lot I will opt for evergreens to replace the many annuals I usually put out?

photo by r m dutina

I did notice the pesky squirrels did not appear on Sunday until late afternoon.

Glorify the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
In the firmament of his power, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, you angels and all powers of the Lord, *
    O heavens and all waters above the heavens.
Sun and moon and stars of the sky, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, every shower of rain and fall of dew, *
    all winds and fire and heat.
Winter and Summer, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O chill and cold, *
drops of dew and flakes of snow.
Frost and cold, ice and sleet, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.

Glorify the Lord, O nights and days, *
    O shining light and enfolding dark.
Storm clouds and thunderbolts, glorify the Lord, *
    praise him and highly exalt him for ever.
The Book of Common Prayer Canticle 12, Morning Prayer Rite II

So regardless of your situation this winter I hope you too are able to glorify the Lord. Our church along with most others was closed this past Sunday. we look forward to seeing our church family again soon!

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Memories, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Thanks, Worship, Yield

The Elements

Remember science class and the idea of four elements from the Greeks? Earth, water, air and fire? Water has been important to me most of my life. When I was a child, I was drawn during the springtime to the stream in the farmer’s field next to our apartment building. The ocean has held a fascination ever since I first saw it and on every subsequent visit. The Pigeon Forge River in the Smoky Mountains is a favorite place of mine.

Recently at church on the first Sunday after Epiphany when we celebrated the baptism of Jesus and renewed our own baptismal vows. I was struck by the prayer “Thanksgiving over the Water.” It goes as follows.

We thank you, Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the beginning of creation. Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into the land of promise. In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection, from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.

We thank you, God, for the water of Baptism. In it we are buried with Christ in his death. By it we share in his resurrection. Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit….

Now sanctify this water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit, that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior.

To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.

{I wanted to highlight that in blue, but I reserve that color for Scripture!}

Water, the element so many in America take for granted.

I wrote a prayer once and used it for a month or more. We had found a pottery container in a shop in Tennessee that was pinched at the top. The pinch formed two ‘spouts’. I would put some water in it each morning and pray as I poured it into the sink. Here is the prayer:

"Jesus, I pour out this water
before the undivided Trinity:
Let my living be this day
an offering and thanksgiving.
This day caress me.
This day possess me.
Open my ears and eyes
to Your Love for us."

Like water, the Trinity cannot be divided. As we become more aware of the love bestowed upon us from on high, we cannot help but love others better. Our very bodies are more than 50% water!

Jesus offered the woman in John 4 Living Water. He mentions it again in John 7. There are many mentions of the river of the water of life in Revelation 21 and 22.

What do you think of when you imagine water? Could you make taking a drink of water a prayer to the Trinity? Perhaps a time to remind yourself how we need God and each other?

Water is essential to our living. Can we be grateful daily and remember what an enormous gift water it to us? Will you give thanks as you bathe, wash, cook and clean today for the blessed gift of water? I pray so!