This is My Prayer

Photo credit:  Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth

Permission granted for use

May the mind of Christ, my Savior,
Live in me from day to day, 
By His love and power controlling
All I do and say.

May the Word of God dwell richly
In my heart from hour to hour,
So that all may see I triumph
Only through His power. 

May the peace of God my Father
Rule my life in everything,
That I may be calm to comfort
Sick and sorrowing.  

May the love of Jesus fill me
As the waters fill the sea;
Him exalting, self-abasing,
This is victory.

May I run the race before me,
Strong and brave to face the foe,
Looking only unto Jesus
As I onward go.

May His beauty rest upon me,
As I seek the lost to win,
And may they forget the channel,
Seeing only Him.
Kate B. Wilkinson, pre-1913

Photo Credit:  Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth attended the burial service of Elisabeth Elliot Gren in June, 2015, following her move to heaven on June 15th.  The day Nancy posted this photo, I was awed once again by the very humble attitude of heart Elisabeth Elliot had, obviously having a desire fulfilled to be buried in a simple wooden box...nothing fancy.  I messaged Nancy late that evening, not really expecting her to respond.  I suspected the radio ministry would have individuals in place to respond the next business day, but guess what?  Nancy responded almost immediately!  WOW!  What a blessing I appreciate and treasure very much!  We texted briefly, but her personal correspondence made a lasting impression on me.  What a kind and friendly woman.  
I am thankful for the many ways Elisabeth and Nancy, both, have mentored me in spiritual truths through their radio ministries to women [Gateway to Joy and Revive Our Hearts].  I am soo very thankful! 

I recently came across this hymn while playing through my hymnbook, and was encouraged by it.  Sadly, I'd not learned it until then, but play it often now.  
This hymn is an attitude of heart I desire to have as I daily pray and sing.  

Love Them Forever!

“Let your cares drive you to God. 
I shall not mind if you have many of them if each one leads you to prayer. 
If every fret makes you lean more on the Beloved,
it will be a benefit.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon

Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

Let us sing, though fierce temptations
Threaten hard to bear us down!
For the Lord, our strong salvation;
holds in view the conqu'ror's crown:
He who washed us with His blood
Soon will bring us home to God.

Words: John Newton, 1774

Photo credit:  Mawmaw's beautiful Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow plant is in full bloom.

"God is at work", my husband says a lot lately, even though I cannot see or know what He is doing to perfect all that concerns our family.
This season of growth seems, I confess, barren and unproductive some days, yet I know it is a valuable and necessary season for His glorious purpose and work.

Time is required for the hidden root system of many plants to deepen, broaden, and flourish to become strong, so that when budding season arrives, a glorious display of color explodes.  How easy it is to forget deciduous plants are not meant to always endure in strength, but they need times of rest and recovery.  I tend to enjoy hibernating, but I've forgotten how necessary the sloughing off, and shedding is as well for new growth.  

Budding is a joyous season to experience with sights of positive and productive growth.  Shoots bear from barren stems of a dormant plant!  When tiny buds sprout, the bush is suddenly loaded with an array of many flowers.

This Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow plant has a display of flowers that have opened at different times.  There are purple, lavender, and white flowers to symbolize varying ages of blossoms, and then there are those withering, and some have already fallen to the ground. Those that are pretty today may linger several more days, but with each passing day they are fading.  They are no less an important part of the whole work and beauty God designed. 
They, too, are the work of God.

What a valuable reminder to me that the LORD is the One who calls me to my place today. 
He is with me, and causes me to flourish, blossom and bear fruit.
Withering is no less a beauty, the work of God's hand to show the bringing to completion, or perfection, His glorious work.

Oh, LORD, I don't want to shrink back with fear and dread what you are doing, even if it means you bring what I've deeply and heartily cherished to an end.  Please help me to trust You for the new work, the new glory... Yours alone.  What You've brought to bear fruit in my life is not for me, nor for any another, but Yours!

Whate're My God Ordains is Right

I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. 

 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 

My comfort in my suffering is this:
Your promise preserves my life.

 Psalm 119:48-50

The LORD has sooo comforted me in my struggle to accept my diagnosis of cancer these last few months.  God's word has lifted and encouraged me, especially when friends have taken the time to steer my heart to Him.  What a gift this has been to me!    
I want to purpose to do the same with others when they need it most.  

But he answered, "It is written, "' Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 
Matthew 4:4

Thank you, LORD, for those you've placed along my path who have cared to encourage me with Christ centered hope!  I have been lifted and strengthened.
I am soo blessed!!  

Photo credit: My precious friend, Sarah Smith from TN, made and sent this to me the week of my surgery in late November.  She made the shadow box with this beautiful hymn, Whate're My God Ordains is Right and also created a small box with 30 days of notes of encouragement.  If that were not gracious enough, she also sent the book, Susannah Spurgeon's Morning Devotions, Free Grace and Dying Love, which also included The Life of Susannah Spurgeon by Charles Ray. I have soo enjoyed this godly pastor's wife's meditations.  

Hymn:  Whate're My God Ordains is Right

Whate're my God ordains is right:
His holy will abideth;
I will be still whate're He doth;
And follow where He guideth;
He is my God; though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him, I leave it all,
He holds me that I shall not fall.  

Whate're my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path:
I know He will not leave me.
I take content what He hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently, I wait His day,
His hand can turn my grief away.

Whate're my God ordains is right:
though now this cup I'm drinking.
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it all unshrinking. 
My God is true each morn a new,
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart, 
And pain and sorrow shall depart, 
sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart.     

Whate're my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet I am not forsaken.
My Father's care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to Him I leave it all,
He holds me that I shall not fall.

*Whate're my God ordains is right:
He is my Friend and Father;
He suffers naught to do me harm,
Though many storms may gather, 
Now I may know both joy and woe,
Some day I shall see clearly
That He hath loved me dearly,
Some day I shall see clearly. 


Words: Samuel Rodigast penned these words in German in 1676 (Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan);
translated from German to English by Catherine Winkworth, 1863, and others.
Cyberhymnal noted that Rodigast wrote this hymn to encourage his friend, Gastorius, who was very ill.  Eventually Gastorius recovered from being ill and composed the tune for Rodigast's words. The tune I enjoy singing these words to was composed by Jeffrey S. Bourque (Manicotti Music, 2012), and was arranged by Zack Stanton for the Hymns for Grace hymnal we use at church. 
*The last verse was included on Cyberhymnal website, but was not included in Hymns for Grace.  

It's ALL Yours

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past, nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future;
but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.  
H. E. Manning

Lamedh

89 Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. 

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91 By your appointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92 If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction. 

93 I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have given me life.

94 I am yours; save me, 

for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection, 

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.  

Psalm 119

Your word!

Your faithfulness!

Your appointment!

Your servants!

Your law!

Your precepts!

I AM YOURS!  

Your testimonies!

Your commandment!

Simply, It's all YOURS! 

Feed Faith the Word of God

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1



O merciful God, be Thou unto me
A strong Tower of defense,
I humbly entreat Thee.
Give me grace to await thy leisure,
And patiently to bear 
What Thou doest unto me;
Nothing doubting or mistrusting
Thy goodness towards me;
For Thou knowest what is good for me
Better than I do.
Therefore do with me in all things
What Thou wilt;
Only arm me, I beseech Thee,
With Thine armor,
That I may stand fast;
Above all things taking to me
The shield of faith;
Praying always that I may
Refer myself wholly to Thy will,
Abiding Thy pleasure, and comforting myself
In those troubles which it shall please thee
To send me, seeing such troubles are
Profitable for me; and I am
Assuredly persuaded that all Thou doest
Cannot but be well; and unto Thee
Be all honor and glory. Amen. 
Lady Jane Grey, 17 years of age, 1554
Protestant Martyr
(The prayer she prayed in her prison cell before she was beheaded for high treason.)  

Courage, My Soul!

"Dear Lord, when troubles come, I should like to learn to look upon them as ways and means of glorifying you, to accept them as tests and trials of my faith, and to meet them with a brave heart, expecting the salvation of God!  

If my path were always smooth and pleasant, with never a thorn or bier to vex and trouble me, there would be no opportunity for the glorious exercise of your love and mercy in deliverance from them.  

Courage, my soul!  Your God will give you grace to say as did his servant Paul, 'Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.'"

Susannah Spurgeon, Free Grace and Dying Love, Morning Devotions

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  
2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV

Bed and Breakfast Time with Mackey

LORD, 

Let me not imagine my love for You is very great if I am unwilling 

to do for a human being something very small. 

Elisabeth Elliot

We've welcomed Mackey to come stay in our home while his mom, Eileen, is in the hospital, recovering from a collapsed lung.  We are mindful of her, especially, as her care may involve rehabilitation in a nursing home when she leaves the hospital.
I can imagine how difficult this trial must be for her, because she loves her birds very much, and wishes she could enjoy them.

Mackey is a canary, ...

and Nicolas is a cockatiel...

Nicky went to stay with another friend of Eileen, and we're thankful, because...

Bagheera is curious, as usual, of Mackey's presence, and so far, he has only gazed.  Baggy has been around our flock of 'keets for a few years now, so adding one lone bird inside will be a tad bit different than what he's used to, since our aviary is on the back porch.  If Nicky were here, I'm not so sure Baggy could walk away.  I suspect his presence would be a little more demanding of Baggy's attention if he were here.  Ha!
Thankfully, Mackey doesn't seem to be concerned about Baggy's curiosity, so that's really good!

Eileen has been a dear friend since 2002.  We're thankful the LORD has made provision for her care during this hospitalization.  While she is recuperating, we will enjoy having a songbird in the house, and know his presence will be a blessing, as long as he cooperates.

We love you, Eileen, and we trust the LORD will heal you, and strengthen your faith and fellowship with Him during this time!  

Living and Loving

We are not often called to great sacrifice, but daily we are presented with the chance to make small ones---

a chance to make someone cheerful, a chance to do some small thing to make someone comfortable or contented, a chance to lay down our petty preferences or cherished plans. 

This probably requires us to relinquish something---

our own convenience or comfort, our own free evening, our warm fireside, or even our habitual shyness or reserve or pride. 

My liberty must be curtailed, bound down, ignored
(oh, how the world hates this sort of thing! how our own sinful natures hate it!)---

for the sake of the liberation of others.  
Elisabeth Elliot, A Path Through Suffering

Discovering the Relationship Between God's Mercy and Our Pain, 

Chapter 8, pgs 67-68

"Every day we experience something of the death of Jesus, so that we may also show the power of the life of Jesus in these bodies of ours" (2 Corinthians 4:10, JBP). 

Melody Makers

A few weeks ago, this happened...
Katherine was asked by our neighbor to teach her granddaughter piano lessons.  Katherine attempted to teach two younger girls a couple of years ago, but neither girl endured the discipline of practicing their lessons each week, so their parents ended them. 

Starting and stopping lessons was a disappointment to Katherine.  She'd put her heart into encouraging the girls to enjoy music, but that time was not to be fruitful.  
We marked that experience up to the girls being "too young" and “not really ready”. 

Naturally, when Katherine was asked to consider teaching again, she hesitated, because when she starts something, she likes to finish it.  However, it didn't take long before she decided, "Okay, let's try again."
I was thrilled, and so was our neighbor and her granddaughter.  

On January 18th, Josie came for her first piano lesson, and seemed to enjoy every minute.  Because of her attentiveness, Katherine spent close to an hour with her that first day. 

Katherine enjoys teaching, and she enjoys children, so she does very well with the combination of the two.  Josie's enthusiasm for music makes for an encouraging piano lesson time for Katherine which is exciting for the rest of us to hear.
Katherine is paid to teach Josie weekly lessons, but it's not uncommon for Josie to show up at our doorstep an extra day during the week to ask Katherine if she's available to "practice" together.  
What a joy to know Josie is progressing in her lessons, and filling her home with music. 

  


The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.  
Johann Sebastian Bach