🎉Mark and Caroline are Getting Married 🎉

"Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 

This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.

Ephesians 5:31-32

My heart has been full for quite some time, but on Christmas Eve, it overflowed!! 

We are thrilled to share the news of our firstborn's proposal to his chosen bride, Caroline.

We have long awaited this day for him, for both of them!  My heart overflows with gratitude to the Lord for the way He has strengthened Mark through Caroline, and given them a sweet love and anxious joy to spend the rest of their days together. 😊

Mark pursued Caroline with confidence in April of 2015 after discovering her on a dating website.  She responded favorably to his interest, and over a period of a few months, their friendship blossomed and grew.  In September he traveled to GA to visit her and her parents in person.  A couple of months later, Caroline made a trip down to visit us. 💕

The Lord used a common interest each of them had in His Word to catapult Mark's interest in Caroline.  How could she have known how rewarding this would be to him?  The Lord knew!! 

Mark and I appreciate this being the way their friendship began and the way their relationship has continued to be nurtured.  It gives us joy to know they desire to build one another up in Christ, that they may better comuunicate and display a God-centered Gospel. 

In just the few days they've been engaged, wedding plans are already coming together, which is exciting.  

Mark and Caroline are getting married in August!!  🎉

I anticipate this new season will stretch me in ways I have never known, and challenge me to trust the Lord for the grace I'll need to release my beloved firstborn son who has been my heart for 27 years.  

I have already begun praying that this season will hold much more joy for knowing God is LOVE, and it's because of Him anyone of us can love at all.  He has providentially lead us to this very special place.  

❤️

I have found the website below to give very encouraging, Biblical counsel concerning the roles of men and women.  This is counsel everyone should know about and be grounded in.  As parents, we have sought to help our children to be rooted in the Scriptures, but we have come to realize, not all Christians are reading and securing their hearts on God's design for man and woman.  What they do not know and understand should not be left up to man's speculation and creative invention.  Anything other than God's way is soo very grievous and sad.  

I pray my family and as well, the readers of my blog, will find much comfort in securing their hearts and minds on what God intended for man when He created him.  Because God knew man would scheme his own way, He sent His Son into the world to give him life, abundant, that he may better know Him in the fullest, most satisfying way. 

Lord, may this truth become a reality in Mark and Caroline's marriage, hearts, and home to your praise and glory!  

http://cbmw.org/topics/marriage-public-square/jbmw-21-1-marriage-a-portrait-of-the-gospel-from-the-beginning/

"Doe the Next Thynge"

"An old Saxon legend, carved in an old English parson somewhere by the sea. I don’t know where this is. But this is a poem which was written about that legend. The legend is..

'Do the next thing.

And it’s spelled in what I suppose is Saxon spelling...

DOE the NEXT THYNGE

'Do it immediately, 

do it with prayer, 

do it reliantly, casting all care. 

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand who placed it before thee with earnest command. 

Stayed on omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing, leave all resultings, 

do the next thing.'"

Elisabeth Elliot

All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord

All praise to Thee, Eternal Lord,

Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood;

Choosing a manger for Thy throne,

While worlds on worlds are Thine alone.

Once did the skies before Thee bow;

A virgin’s arms contain Thee now,

While angels, who in Thee rejoice,

Now listen for Thine infant voice.

A little Child, Thou art our Guest,

That weary ones in Thee may rest;

Forlorn and lowly is Thy birth;

That we may rise to Heaven from earth.

Thou comest in the darksome night

To make us children of the light;

To make us, in the realms divine,

Like Thine own angels round Thee shine.

All this for us Thy love hath done;

By this to Thee our love is won;

For this we tune our cheerful lays,

And sing our thanks in ceaseless praise.

Words: Martin Luther, 1535

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 8:9

Yuletide "Tweety" Carols

Happy is the heart which finds 

its joy in the commands of God, and makes obedience its recreation! 

CHS

Our friends, the Smith family, connected with me this past week to ask if I'd be interested in adding another 'keet to our aviary.  Last year around this time, their neighbor found she had fallen into their pool and had almost drowned. They were really concerned she wouldn't survive, but...Yay, she did!!

They gave her special time and care and finally, "Tweety" began to show signs of recovery. 

They believe their other bird, "Sweetzie", singing from another cage, was helpful with stimulating her back to good health.  I agree.  

They brought her to us on Friday, and I'm happy to say, she is adjusting very well.  

I wasn't sure at first how I'd acclimate her, but Bagheera, quickly reminded me his playful interest would hinder me from keeping her in the kitchen on the counter.  Only Maple and Calvin have grown accustomed to living with birds inside, soo considering the chances of Bagheera and Daisy being too curious about her gave me reason to rethink and quickly act on a new plan. 

I am thankful our aviary is large enough that I could add her to it while she remained in her cage.  She actually didn't take very long to come out of it so she could greet our five (I believe) males:  

Popeye, Hi Ho Silver, Sugar Pie in the Sky, Star Bright, and Fiesty (given to us by another Smith family in August of 2015).  

When I uncovered the aviary this morning, I found she'd retreated back into it sometime during the night or early dawn hours. I peeked out many times to check on her yesterday and she still spent a good amount of time moving in and out of her cage.  So I'm guessing she's not yet ready to completely part with what she's claimed as her home.  However, I do not think it'll be long before she will abandon it, as she slowly accepts her new, much larger aviary as home.  

It was only a month or so ago that the Smiths were searching for their cat, Pippin, who'd strangely disappeared.  A couple of weeks later, someone found Pippin had died in their grandmother's adjacent backyard.  He appeared to have fought with another animal.  What a sad and grievous loss.  

Now that some time has passed, Deborah has decided she is ready to get another feline companion.  They believed it would be in Tweety's best interest to find another home for her to live, so before posting her availability on FB, they asked me if we'd like to have her.  I happily obliged!!  

Her presence in our aviary brings much 'sunshine' and special joy for me, and our five budgies.  It'll be interesting to watch how she transitions while her hormonal condition is peaked right now.  Our recent lost female, PJ, had only dropped a couple of eggs in the first year we had her.  After that, she never laid eggs again because she realized she didn't have a place to nest.  I'm hopeful the same will be true of Tweety.  However, if she is so inclined, she can nest in a number of places, though they are not ideal, since she does not have any privacy.

In a timely way, this special gift from the Smiths has caused me to slow down and consider the birds of the airy aviary out on our backporch.  Tweety's sunshiney presence is a joy, and watching each of our six budgies live happily together, so far, is a special yuletide treat!! 

God the All

July, 2016

O God Whose will conquers all,
There is no comfort in anything apart from
enjoying Thee and being engaged in Thy service;
Thou art All in all, and all enjoyments are what
to me Thou makest them, and no more.

I am well pleased with Thy will, whatever it is, or should be in all respects,
And if Thou bidst me decide for myself in any affair,
I would choose to refer all to Thee,
for Thou art infinitely wise and cannot do amiss, as I am in danger of doing.

I rejoice to think that all things are at Thy disposal,
and it delights me to leave them there.
Then prayer turns wholly into praise, and all I can do is to adore and bless Thee.

What shall I give Thee for all Thy benefits?
I am in a strait betwixt two, knowing not what to do;
I long to make some return, but have nothing to offer, and can only rejoice that Thou doest all,
that none in heaven or on earth shares Thy honour;

I can of myself do nothing to glorify Thy blessed name,
but I can through grace cheerfully surrender soul and body to Thee,
I know that Thou art the author and finisher of faith,
that the whole work of redemption is Thine alone,
that every good work or thought found in me
is the effect of Thy power and grace,
that Thy sole motive in working in me to will
and to do is for Thy good pleasure.

O God, it is amazing that men can talk so much
about man’s creaturely power and goodness,
when, if Thou didst not hold us back every
moment, we should be devils incarnate.
This, by bitter experience, Thou hast taught me concerning myself.

The Valley of Vision, God the All

Puritan Prayers and Devotions

Practicing the meditation I need... 

Love my new The Valley of Vision book, a collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions. 

I struggle to lay it aside so I can close my eyes for bedtime. 

Lord, please multiply Your grace to me that I may always submit my will to Yours, even when it's hard and requires a daily battle!  

The End of Mark's Bullitt

Yes, it's sad, but true... We learned yesterday that additional damage was found while Mark's Bullitt was at the service repair center these last few weeks.  Evidently as our friend, Joel, began to work on the car, he found the impact of the front driver's side had caused the torque box on the passenger side to buckle.  I know nothing about the torque box, but I understand the alignment of it is very important and the fact that it needs to be repaired or replaced will require more extensive, laborious work and time than the insurance company is willing to pay.   Therefore, SF has determined the Bullitt "Unsafe to Repair", and they have totaled it.  

This news was far from what we expected this week.  Soon after the Bullitt was taken to the repair center, Mark began receiving computer generated text messages to let him know what day he could anticipate the repair work to be completed.  The date given was Monday, December 12th.  Last Monday week, he received a text message saying in so many words that his car was on the last leg of the repair journey and the day for pick up was still Monday, December the 12. We were all excited about the car's return home. 

We weren't surprised when on Monday, he called the service repair center and was told it had not been cleared for pick up.  How disappointing that was, but Mark was nonetheless willing to endure the extra time required to ensure the Bullit was right.  

Then on Wednesday, that awful phone call came.  It was shocking!    I was suspicious, honestly, so I marked it down as a scam call, and continued on with my day, until my husband took the message to the service repair center and learned the news was true.  

How terribly disappointing it must have ben for them to not be able to share the news with us, while waiting for SF to call and let Mark know. 

Thank you to Steve Carey and Joel Ford for enduring the rock and the hard place you were in while waiting for SF to process and research the information, before connecting with Mark.  

We are still terribly disappointed, but we are also very much aware the Lord providentially allows things to happen outside of our choice and control, all of which is for our good.  Learning to accept this is hard, but we are purposed to trust Him.  We are sure we will look back on this set of circumstances one day and realize how long and gracious God's hand has been from that October day, the 22nd, until now, when someone hit the Bullitt and drove away.  This entire process has not been outside of His will for Mark.  

The Bullitt was a blessing to have, and Mark would no doubt tell you how thankful he was to have it. 

Though we look back with sorrow for the loss of Mark's awesome, first car, we look forward to see what God will do for him as he negotiates a check with SF, and then begins the process of looking for another car!  It will be a blessing to see what the Lord will do to provide for Mark next...

"Great is Thy Faithfulness!...

All I have needed thy hand has provided, 

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!"

Words: Thomas O. Chisholm

Jesus Came By Freeing Grace

Man was lost by free will, but the God-Man, Jesus Christ, came by freeing grace.  

See in Jesus Christ the freeing grace of God.

Augustine

A Remedy for Fear and Doubt: Remember and Rehearse What God Has Done

Doubts and fears proceed from the want and weakness of faith. 

Despondency and distrust under affliction, are too often the infirmities of believers, and, 

as such, are to be thought upon by us with sorrow and shame. 

When, unbelief is working in us, we must thus suppress its risings.

The remembrance of the works of God, will be a powerful remedy against distrust of his promise and goodness; for he is God, and changes not. God's way is in the sanctuary. 

We are sure that God is holy in all his works. God's ways are like the deep waters, which cannot be fathomed; like the way of a ship, which cannot be tracked. God brought Israel out of Egypt. This was typical of the great redemption to be wrought out in the fulness of time, both by price and power. 

If we have harboured doubtful thoughts, we should, without delay, turn our minds to meditate on that God, who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, that with him, he might freely give us all things.

Matthew Henry

Psalm 77 commentary

In the Day of Trouble I Seek the Lord

To the choirmaster: according to Jeduthun. A Psalm of Asaph.

 I cry aloud to God,
  aloud to God, and he will hear me.
 In the day of my trouble I seek the Lord;
  in the night my hand is stretched out without wearying;
  my soul refuses to be comforted.
 When I remember God, I moan;
  when I meditate, my spirit faints. Selah
 
 
 You hold my eyelids open;
  I am so troubled that I cannot speak.
 I consider the days of old,
  the years long ago.
 I said, “Let me remember my song in the night;
  let me meditate in my heart.”
  Then my spirit made a diligent search:
 “Will the Lord spurn forever,
  and never again be favorable?
 Has his steadfast love forever ceased?
  Are his promises at an end for all time?
 Has God forgotten to be gracious?
  Has he in anger shut up his compassion?” Selah
 
 
 Then I said, “I will appeal to this,
  to the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
 
 
 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
  yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
 I will ponder all your work,
  and meditate on your mighty deeds.
 Your way, O God, is holy.
  What god is great like our God?
 You are the God who works wonders;
  you have made known your might among the peoples.
 You with your arm redeemed your people,
  the children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
 
 
 When the waters saw you, O God,
  when the waters saw you, they were afraid;
  indeed, the deep trembled.
 The clouds poured out water;
  the skies gave forth thunder;
  your arrows flashed on every side.
 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
  your lightnings lighted up the world;
  the earth trembled and shook.
 Your way was through the sea,
  your path through the great waters;
  yet your footprints were unseen.
 You led your people like a flock
  by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
 
(Psalm 77 ESV)

J-esus O-thers Y-ou

"Adam and Eve weren't just after God's forbidden fruit; they were after God's position. 

This is what sin does to us all. 

At a deep and often unnoticed level, sin replaces worship of God with worship of self. 

It replaces submission with self-rule...

it replaces faith with self-reliance. 

It replaces a rest in God's sovereignty with a quest for personal control. 

We live for our glory. 

We set up our rules. 

We ask others to serve our agenda." 

- Paul David Tripp, Awe, pg. 55

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 

2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 

7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:1-11

Photo:  Mark Stephen made this ornament for his Meme approximately 17 years ago.  He's always enjoyed working with his hands.  I found and hung it on Meme's tree last Saturday when we joined our family for her annual Christmas decorating party.  I treasure the memory of Mark making it when he was approximately 8 years old. I remember the time and effort required of him for every intricate stitch, just so he could give it to his Meme. 

I am thankful for the JOY we know because Jesus humbly submitted His will to His Father that He would win mine; that He would win Mark's. 

I want to know Him, and this JOY by thinking and practicing His example in the way I approach and relate to others... I pray that this example would be emulated in the lives of each one in my family.  I pray we would not shudder to experience suffering when we have to die to self that we might love others the way Jesus loved us, sacrificially.  

Lord, help us to live to know You through faith and sacrifice, that we may also know this...

J-esus

O-thers

Y-ou

A Prayer: The Dawn of Another Day

Compassionate Lord, 

Thy mercies have brought me to the dawn of another day, vain will be its gift unless I grow in grace, 

increase in knowledge, 

ripen for spiritual harvest. 

Let me this day know Thee as thou Art, 

love Thee supremely, 

serve Thee wholly, 

admire Thee fully. 

Through grace let my will respond to Thee, knowing that power to obey is not in me, but that Thy free love alone enables me to serve Thee.

Here then is my empty heart, overflow it with the choicest gifts; 

here is my blind understanding, chase away it's mists of ignorance. 

Oh ever watchful Shepherd lead, guide, tend me this day; 

without Thy restraining rod I ere and stray; 

hedge up my path lest I wander into unwholesome pleasure, and drink it's poisonous streams; 

direct my feet that I may not be entangled in Satan's secret snares, nor fall into his hidden traps. 

Defend me from assailing foes, from evil circumstances, from myself. 

My adversaries are part and parcel of my nature; they cling to me as my very skin; I cannot escape their contact. 

In my rising up and sitting down they barnacle me; they entice with constant baits; my enemy is within the citadel; 

come with almighty power and cast him out, 

pierce him to death, 

and abolish in me every particle of carnal life this day.  

- The Valley of Vision

I am oft tempted to fret over the busy and differing schedules our family has become governed by.  Now that the children are older, their work, TKD, studies, friends, and down time have become the reality that now competes with what we were once strenthened by:  our togetherness.  

Yes, we live together, and we eat together, sometimes, but we sit together less often to read and talk about God's Word. I miss our devotions together.  I always believed this was the source from where our greatest strength as a family came. 

There was a season when we got up early to meet with Dad before he went to work; that time was our priority.  We valued seeking the Lord together.  The children heard their father read to them, pray for them, and each child received his blessing and charge for each day. I was extrememly comforted to know our children were secured and guided to Truth for the moments they'd face alone as they grew.

Then there were the days when Dad's schedule changed, so the children and I gathered without him.  I loved that season, every child sitting around me as we took turns reading and sharing what the Lord taught us.  There were many days, I was stirred to tears, and one or two of the children would come to me, and put their arms around me, or simply entwine their hand in mine.  We grew together.

Now our devotions have dwindled to four or less of us, and I realize how fleeting the days and hours of our togetherness have become.

This prayer gives me a sense of comfort, a place for me to begin again.  

I shared it (via text 😣) with my family this morning with hope it will inspire each one to individually return to He who secures us, whether we're together or not.

I pray we will each long for the Lord more earnestly than any added pleasure or schedule allows.  

I pray we will not forget the Lord has not changed, because He is changeless... "There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changes not, Thy compassions, They fail not.  As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be."  We change, but I pray not to the degree we neglect Him. 

I pray our children will not be bombarded by webs of thought and distraction that will thwart their vision for Him, nor discourage their desire to seek His purpose. 

I pray they will be individuals who will be secured, strengthened, and encouraged daily where wisdom and grace is available to them in full supply because He is that well that never runs dry, and our ALL in all that exceeds our needs. 

By this, His supply, I pray our hearts will unify to know Him as He is, that we may be more free to follow Him wherever He leads us. 

What a Savior

It was truly remarkable when man was made in the image of God. . . .
But bow in wonderment and worship at the amazing condescension of God being made in the image of man! How this manifests the greatness of His love and the riches of His grace! 
It was for His people and their salvation that the eternal Son assumed human nature and abased Himself even to death. 

He drew a veil over His glory that He might remove our reproach.
Surely, pride must be forever renounced by the followers of such a Savior.

A.W. Pink

Dear Purchase of a Savior's Blood

Yes, his kiss caught me off guard, ha! 

Dear Purchase of a Savior's Blood, 

You are to me a Savior's gift, and my heart is full to overflowing with the thought of such continued goodness. I do not wonder at His goodness, for it is just like Him; but I cannot but lift up the voice of joy at His manifold mercies. 

Whatever befall us, trouble and adversity, sickness or death, we need not fear a final separation, either from each other, or our God. 

I am glad you are not here just at this moment, for I feel so deeply that I could only throw my arms around you and weep. 

May the choicest favors be thine, may the Angel of the Covenant be thy companion, may thy supplications be answered, and may thy conversation be with Jesus in heaven!

CHS

Photo credit: Mia Halton Photography, 2012

Blessed Be His Name

Maker of the earth and sky

Ruler of the heavens

He whom death could not contain

Blessed be His name

Bring to Him your troubled heart

Lay your cares before Him

He has suffered every pain

Blessed be His name

Perfect and unchanging

Sinless Son of Man

Author of our simple faith

Blessed be His name

Constant through our darkest hour

Stronger than our weakness

Bearer of our grief and shame

Blessed be His name

Humbly bow before Him

Praise Him for His grace

Ever will His love remain

Blessed be His name

Present and abiding

Usher in His reign

With us through the end of days

Blessed be His name

Author of our growing faith

Blessed be His name

Words: Jenny Phillips

Our Gray Family Thanksgiving was a delight, to the greatest degree. 

I never want our time with family to come to an end. 

We hosted a gathering of eighteen loved ones. 

Crystal and Justin, with their son Grayson, traveled from north AL to join us, and Gary and Maria traveled from north GA. Needless to say, they made our gathering a very special celebration this year. 

As I spent the day after Thanksgiving listening to music while putting away the dishes and preparing for another gathering for friends this evening, I listened to Pandora, Fernando Ortega Radio of easy-listening, soothing Christian music.  Every time I hear this song, I am soo blessed by it, but I didn't realize how applicable it is to Christmas.

Soo I'm going to bed tonight with another song on my heart and mind...and I'm thinking, "There's no sweeter meditation!!"

Tomorrow will be another full day... We're going to Meme's and Poppy's house for our tradtional gathering of Cleland cousins to help Meme decorate her Christmas tree and house.  It is always a fun day to share, esp'ly for the Grays since we trade off every other Thanksgiving to share time with our families.  The majority in our family will anticipate watching the Gators chomp the Seminoles in a game of football, but the last few years that plan hasn't worked out in their favor.   If the game today goes in my favor, I'll enjoy watching the Seminoles scalp the Gators...soo we'll see what happens.

While another busy season is upon us, I long to be filled with the blessed name of Jesus, and to be empowered and calmed by who He is.  He is present, the Incarnate.  We celebrate Him!  I never want to overlook Him.  He is my greatest joy and unchanging presence.  He is Noel, my joyful spirit, the One who came to overwhelm the sin that surrounds me, that He wrap me in His righteousness and present me to The Father.  He is my Gift, yet He presents me as a gift also, and that happens because He was willing to come. 

Blessed be His name!  

Satisfied

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. 

Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, children, or the company of earthly friends are but shadows, 

but God is the substance. 

These are but scattered beams, 

but God is the sun. 

These are but streams, 

but God is the ocean.

Jonathan Edwards

1. All my life I had a longing

For a drink from some clear spring,

That I hoped would quench the burning

Of the thirst I felt within.

Refrain:

Hallelujah!  I have found Him

Whom my soul so long has craved!

Jesus satisfies my longings,

Through His blood I now am saved.

2. Feeding on the husks around me,

'Til my strength was almost gone,

Longed my soul for something better,

Only still to hunger on.

3. Poor I was, and sought for riches,

Something that would satisfy,

But the dust I gathered round me

Only mocked my soul's sad cry.

4. Well of water, ever springing,

Bread of life so rich and free,

Untold wealth that never faileth,

My Redeemer is to me. 

Words: Clara Teale Williams (1875)

Photo within a photo:  Grannie Maude will always be a special remembrance to me of one with a thankful, satisfied heart.  I am thankful that she sought to live her life with an attitude of gratitude.  She didn't have much by the standards of this world, but she had the Lord, and that was everything.  She knew He met her soul's greatest needs, and her testimonies of Him mean the world to me now that she is gone!

This is why she was able to say, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you" (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

Today my heart and mind are filled with much preparation for our family to gather here on Thursday.  We are sure to enjoy one another.  It has been 23 1/2 years since some have come.  Some have never joined us before. 

The temptation for me at this point is to make our togetherness all about the food and the gathering place, but I am very aware that our greatest needs can only be met in the Lord.  Some know that, but others do not. 

Thanksgiving turns to Thanksliving when our hearts' greatest need is satisfied in Him!

Yes, the preparation and food is helpful and necessary, ...but God is our feast!!  

I pray between now and then our hearts and preparations will be to point our family to the Lord, because He is the one who gathers and satisfies us!!