Category: Praise

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Music, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Yield

Like Water

I have always liked flowing water. In Hinds’ Feet on High Places Hannah Hurnard wrote “The Water Song.”

Come, oh come! let us away - 
Lower, lower every day, 
Oh, what joy it is to race
Down to find the lowest place.
This the dearest law we know - 
"It is happy to go low."
Sweetest urge and sweetest will,
"Let us go down lower still."
Hear the summons night and day
Calling us to come away.
From the heights we leap and flow
To the alleys down below.
Always answering the call,
To the lowest place of all.
Sweetest urge and sweetest pain, 
To go low and rise again.

Later in the book she wrote. 
"From the heights we leap and go
to the valleys down below,
Always answering the call,
to the lowest place of all.

Why am I quoting this now? I have been following a few lessons from a musician on the app Insight Timer. She recently did a sabbatical with her cello and studied the qualities of water. She leads a meditation and then has about 15 minutes of water and cello music blended together. Hearing the first lesson I immediately thought of Hind’s Feet. The lesson about going low is throughout the book. The Shepherd calls us to humility. The way of water is the path of least resistance.

Towards the end of the book Hurnard writes, “(They) saw that the great waterfall quite close at hand was leaping down to the Valley too, with the tumultuous, joyful noise of many waters, singing as they poured themselves down over the rock lip:

For the heights we leap and flow
To the valleys down below.
Sweetest urge and sweetest will,
To go lower, lower still.

Such a wonderful image for the call upon our lives. If we are to serve well we must desire the humility of our Risen Lord. The Almighty calls us to go lower still, just as Jesus did when he came to earth for us.

Listening to the meditations on water with the cello presented by “The Wong Janice” is helping me as I serve Bob during his recovery. When I am tired I remind myself to go low, take the path of least resistance, be like water.

We have a dearth of water in Ohio right now. Some counties have been declared drought areas. The farmer’s tomatoes have tough skins. The garden soil in my back yard is cracked. This is unusual as a natural spring flows on the back edge of our property. Anyone trying to grow anything around here is needing to drag the hose around and provide water to the plants. Yards are brittle and dry. I am surprised there are not more fires along the roadways. While trying to be like water I am praying for water, pleading with the Lord to let it rain here. We occasionally have a one to two minute sprinkle, not nearly enough to saturate the ground. I realize some areas of the country are flooded. There is nothing here but sunny days and dry air for the last six weeks of so.

We choose to go lower, lower still.

 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    he humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 NIV

Posted on in Challenge, Collection of Quotes, Faith, Focus, Just do it, Listen, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship, Yield

Using the Lectio 365 App

Bob pointed out this meditation to me. I missed reading it on the day it actually posted, the feast day of Bernard of Clairvaux, August 20. Bernard was a Cistercian monk.

Bernard of Clairvaux died 1153

Writing about the importance of meditation, Bernard said that ‘our meditations on the Word who is the Bridegroom, on his glory, his elegance, power and majesty, become in a sense his way of speaking to us. And not only that, but when with eager minds we examine his rulings, the decrees from his own mouth; when we meditate on his law day and night, let us be assured that the Bridegroom is present, and that he speaks his message of happiness to us lest our trials should prove more than we can bear.’**

Sometimes, I approach the Bible in a utilitarian manner. I want to skim through it quickly to find something helpful which I can use, but Bernard reminds me that the Bible is primarily given for meditation and conversation with God, rather than information about him. In Lectio Divina , I read slowly, prayerfully, and with imagination as a conversation-starter with the Lord who has a ‘message of happiness’ for me today..

Do I study the Bible or pray the Bible?  Do I read the scriptures, or am I read by the scriptures? Do I attempt to master them, or do I allow them to master me?  How expectant am I as I open God’s word today?

*** Bernard of Clairvaux, Intimacy in Prayer: Wisdom from Bernard of Clairvaux (Pauline Books and Media: Kindle Edition).

Bob focused on the question “Do I study the Bible or pray the Bible?” How about you?

Is your Bible time for ‘finding something helpful you can use,’ or allowing conversation with God? Do you even read the scriptures or just occupy your meditation time with devotionals from other people.

When you read the Bible do you turn what you read into prayer? “Do I study the Bible or pray the Bible?” That is a leap from just doing a daily reading or covering a certain number of pages or chapters. Study , prayer, conversation and of course, yielding to the Word of God.

I do all and none of the above. I desire for every time of reading to be prayer time and conversation with God. I do not always succeed. Perhaps we can change our time for devotions into one or more of the actions Bernard calls us to try.

Be expectant as you open God’s word today!

Posted on in Aging, Faith, Praise, Prayer, Thanks

Surgery Day

Please pray for us today as Bob has his knee replacement surgery at 7AM eastern time. He will come home shortly afterwards. Neither of us has had a joint replacement prior to this. We are grateful for this surgical feat as he has been walking bone-on-bone, i.e. no cushioning remains in his knee. Ice machine is ready. Furniture is arranged for easy access. Throw rugs are taken up.

Medication chart is printed out and we are as ready as can be. Not certain how much writing I will get done in the next couple weeks. I will try to keep you posted. All prayers are most appreciated!

He will be using assistance devices for a few weeks. And PT will be his most common destination. I am the chauffeur for at least a month.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Faith, Listen, Look, Music, Nature, Praise, Spiritual growth, Thanks

Open The Window

The weather has been too awful to keep a window open at night. The sound of the crickets this morning had me opening the window. And poof the cricket symphony poured in! Sweet, sweet sound. Then I noticed the twittering song of hummingbirds fighting over the feeder. The air was cooler than the house. The breeze pouring in through the open window was refreshing. Not a huge wind, just a tiny movement among the leaves.

And I noticed the thrasher was here again.

Once he found the berries on the spice bush he has been a regular customer. This is also called lipstick bush. Remember the tiny lipstick samples that Avon used to produce and give away? These berries are a bright red and just about that size.

They must be difficult to get into as he spends a long time pecking each one as he picks it and takes it to the mulch. He is so camouflaged that Bob had some difficulty seeing the bird.

“It can be tricky to glimpse a Brown Thrasher in a tangled mass of shrubbery, and once you do you may wonder how such a boldly patterned, gangly bird could stay so hidden. Brown Thrashers wear a somewhat severe expression thanks to their heavy, slightly downcurved bill and staring yellow eyes.

“Brown Thrashers may come to backyards if food is offered. Sometimes they visit feeders or the ground below to pick up fallen seed. There is a better chance they will visit if dense cover is close by. You can also attract them by planting shrubs that produce berries.” Cornell Lab https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Brown_Thrasher/overview

We have the shrub with berries and the dense cover is provided by neighbor. I first noticed the thrasher in the spice bush when I saw his long body along the branch.

Not a great photo but there he is!

I praise God from whom all blessings flow. I encourage all creatures here below to praise God, too!

Spice Bush berries 2024
Posted on in Amazing Creations, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Look, Nature, Praise, Prayer, Yield

Orange Sherbet

Yum. We have visited two different creamy whip places for orange sherbet mixed with vanilla ice cream. The place across town had the best. The local one called it creamsicle and the orange was mixed with vanilla. Not as tasty or refreshing. They also sell an orange/vanilla swirl. Across town is the most flavorful. Look far right. Yum!

Then there is my New Mexico rock that I think of as Orange Sherbet, actually called orange calcite. We bought it at a rock shop. I just love it! This morning as I looked out the window I realized it captures the brilliant orange of the nasturtiums.

The nasturtiums are lovely this year. Sadly the ones that were to bloom red did not prosper as far as a bloom. Rabbit found they were tasty. The others have me cutting, smelling them and trying to capture the differences in photos. I just noticed a few are out of focus. Drats.

Look at the accent lines in the back of the flower. Blotches of dark orange like flames!

I used to have 2 photos from National Geographic that showed how we see a flower and how a bee sees the same flower. Wish there was a program to do that! Wait, there just might be one out there!

Common Dandelion in both lights
The pale peachy colors amaze me.
Solid petals and deep accent lines.
The variety is glorious!

Flowers to rocks to frozen desserts. What a wonderful world we inhabit. Just as the orange colors can be amazing so can the variety of ways to see life. I pray you yield your eyes to the Lord of all Glory. May that same Lord open your eyes to see the power of the Almighty in the universe and in your heart.

Posted on in Book quotes, Challenge, Faith, Listen, Music, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Rest, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship, Yield

A Full Stop

Approaching a stop light have you ever struggled to come to a full stop before the light changes? Maybe going a bit too fast or not paying attention to the signals? More and more people around here seem to think the light signals do not apply to them. They make no attempt to slow down or stop. The other day one vehicle nearly collided with me and other cars when it went blazing through an intersection. Several of us laid on our horns to voice our displeasure. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

The full stop I am most thinking of is the difficulty I have at times to turn off the flood of thoughts and just stop. Have you struggled with that? At our house we sometimes call it mind racing. Yesterday afternoon it felt like the torrential floods after the monster rain storms that have been occurring. We mostly see videos on the news. Yep, that was my brain.

Even my meditation and devotions were a struggle this morning. Turn it all loose, Molly. Open your hands. If I clutch topics and people in my hands, I know I am not free to receive what the Lord wants to place in my hands next!

So far the month of August has been very, very tiring. I know that is a large part of the problem. How I could think that my concern about a situation could ever change or effect it? Well, in clear, more sane moments I realize that is just nonsense. The Gospels tell me point blank Do Not Be Anxious.

 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

Anxiety mentioned five times in just a few verses. Brother Lawrence taught me that useless thoughts spoil everything. Paul in 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells me I am to take every thought captive to Jesus. I read that as I am to turn every thought over to Jesus. I am not to try to wrestle that thought, tie it up and deliver it to Jesus. Just give it to him, the One whose thoughts are not my thoughts, Whose ways are not my ways. (Isaiah 55:9 NIV)

And even this moment my concentration is shattered, splintered. Like the dog on “Up” I holler, “Squirrel!”

So I closed the blind over my office window next to my computer. I have experiential knowledge that the Lord God Almighty will meet me in the stillness. I choose even now to be still. One moment at a time.

There was another praise chorus that came to me years ago. It says, “Spirit of God within me, rise up. Spirit of God within me rise up. Take ascendancy over my body. Take ascendancy over my mind.”

Steve Green sang a song that asked, “You want to. Now Will you?”

I had to struggle to remember Isaiah 30:15 in the night. “In returning and rest I am saved, in quietness and TRUST shall be my strength.” And the zinger at the end, “But you would not.” Lord, I do not want to be one of those who would not.

All of that is still true this bright, sunny, hot and humid morning. It was true in the night. It will be true tonight and tomorrow. I need to cling to the source of my life and rest. Just rest in the truth that is my Lord. Even so, Lord, come.

I have decided that if there is a struggle today, I will require every thought to stop and state their business. If the business is not of God, I will require a toll of singing praise to the Lord God Almighty. If there is refusal to sing those praises, then the offender can simply turn out in the lane provided for dismissal. Nope, not welcome to come at this campground. Time for some rest.

Posted on in Amazing Creations, Humor, Praise, Thanks

Humor on Weekend Drive

On either Saturday or Sunday we are likely to take a drive to a nearby town called Bethel. They have an creamy whip, ice cream shop called Legendairy. It is decorated with Bigfoot, the ultimate Legend around here. They do not put a much air in their soft serve as most places. That makes it rich and creamy. This week I tried strawberry layered with vanilla. Chocolate is my favorite.

There is one house we pass where an older lady is often sitting in the driveway or in the shade of the garage, reading and watching the traffic go past her house. We have not seen her in a while, but that could be due to the brutal heat and humidity here.

This past weekend we spotted a truly award winning scene. This is especially for our friends, Dan and Betty Cooksey!

Here is the scene from a distance.

A sidecar is always interesting!

Look closer and it looks almost like a Chris Craft boat! And quite some blonde hair. Can you hear me asking Bob to get closer?

I do believe that sidecar has a dog in it!! I wonder if he wear goggles?

We caught up at the stoplight that thankfully was red!!

I see no goggles on that golden retriever head!!

I believe it was granddad driving, possibly grandgirl riding and favorite canine in the sidecar!

I swear the dog knew to lean around the corner?!? What a fun treasure in plain sight! Keep finding humor all around you. It will lighten the burdens of your soul!

Posted on in Aging, Art, Challenge, Faith, Focus, Memories, Music, Nature, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Surrender, Thanks, Yield

A Place

Grateful Living posted Thomas Merton wrote, “In a world of noise, confusion and conflict, it is necessary that there is a place of inner silence and peace; not the peace of mere relaxation but the peace of inner clarity and love.”

Remember my post about where daughters go to die? I shared it with a new friend. She is quite talented with poetry, photography and music. She took my barely understandable tune on staff paper and sent me an audio file through messages where she sang it back to me. (Ain’t technology grand?”) I mean it. This was unthinkable a decade ago! She was at the farm in Adams County at the time. There are cicadas and crickets in the background. I am absolutely delighted. I played it often these past few days to keep myself centered in surrender and the Presence of God.

When she returned home she sent me an audio file with the piano added.

I am trying to learn how to upload these so each of you can hear it. Not making much progress with Sound Cloud which WordPress says I should use. Grrr – old dog, new tricks. I finally found another way to convert it.

And the piano chords? Well, only the singing loaded so far. On to other writing and stay tuned for updates!

Thank you, Joan. Sincerely, thank you!!

Posted on in Faith, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender, Worship

Last Sunday

During the summer one of our Sunday church services is held outdoors as long as there is no rain or lightning. (Recently we wondered if it should be held indoors because of the awful heat and humidity, but we made it!) This past Sunday the weather was perfect and the worship was delightful.

Here is part of the prayer before communion:

“It is truly right, and good and joyful to give you thanks, all holy God, source of life and fountain of mercy. You have filled us and all creation with your blessing and fed us with your constant love; you have redeemed us in Jesus Christ and knit us into one body. Through your Spirit you replenish us and call us to fullness of life.”

That just about knocked my socks off. Perhaps part of the impact is I have been studying Michael Card’s book Inexpressible Hesed and the Mystery of God’s Lovingkindness. Being reminded of the Holy One having constant love at that point in the worship certainly got my attention.

One of the first pages in his book after the dedication lists the many ways hesed is translated. Here are a few. LOVE, LOVINGKINDNESS, MERCIFUL LOVE LOYAL LOVE, SURE LOVE, RELENTLESS LOVE, ENDURING LOVE, EXTRAVAGANT LOVE, AFFECTIONATE SATISFACTION, LOVE IN ACTION, DEPENDABLE LOVE, STEADY LOVE, TRUE LOVE, FUNDAMENTAL LOVE, MIRACLE LOVE, GENEROUS LOVE, DEEP LOVE, WONDERFUL LOVE, GREAT LOVE, INCREDIBLE LOVE, MARVELOUS LOVE, GRACIOUS LOVE, LOYAL IN LOVE, STEADFAST LOVE, EXPRESSION OF LOVE. This is less than a third of the list!

Card explains that hesed is a word that draws adjectives to itself. There is no easy, one way to translate it into English. In his Preface he calls it “the untranslatable defining the inexpressible.”

I am certain to have more to write about hesed as I continue to study it and read about it. May you experience the hesed of God in your life this very day!

Posted on in Aging, Challenge, Faith, Illness and Health, Obedience, Praise, Prayer, Spiritual discipline, Spiritual growth, Surrender

Our Age Group

I am entering my mid-70s. Bob is two years older. We are finding that what his mother told us once is too true. As we age more and more of our friends are falling ill and some die. She said eventually she got to the point where she knew very few people anymore. She was not one to try to make new friends as she proved when it was necessary for her to move into assisted living. She went to a few meals, but basically isolated herself.

There are two we know of who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. Another one died of same disease in the last five years. One is undergoing cancer treatment for the second time. One died from cancer recently and one a few months ago.

The woman down the street was in a treatment center with Alzheimer’s disease. She passed after a couple years there. The other neighbor lady with Alzheimer’s and heart disease passed about the same time. Another friend died from early onset Alzheimer’s.

One man has heart issues. He also suffers from allergy or asthma? Some sort of breathing difficulty. Now they say he needs back surgery.

Suffering, diseases and death. How can we keep our faith fresh and lively in the midst of all that? One verse says, “My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth.” Another verse “even to old age and gray hairs you are with me.”

Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4 NIV

There is so much turmoil here that some of us are willing to openly express that we are looking forward to graduation into the arms of God.

Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:16 NIV

Revelation says there is no more death there, or suffering or crying.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:4-5 NRSVUE

Yes, there is great value in accepting aging and the limitations that can arrive with that aging. We are told to keep our faith strong and ready. We are to be sober, vigilant, and aware that our enemy prowls about like a roaring lion seeking the ones he can devour. I do not want to be one caught in those evil jaws. These admonishments seem to take on more significance the older I get. As I tire more easily it would be easy to just relinquish hold of those precious promises and quit. I pray for strength to fix my eyes upon the author and FINISHER of my faith. I do want Jesus to find faith on the earth when he returns. Even if mine is the only faith to find.

Tough stuff, but we need to cling to the positives and stay as cheerful as possible.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore. Psalm 121 NRSVUE

Do you part to cling right to the very last breath!