Trees Full Grown

https://youtu.be/QvxZTSseN1A

We chose the spot, we dug the hole We laid the maples in the ground to have and hold As autumn falls to winter sleep We pray that somehow in the spring The roots grow deep And many years from now Long after we are gone These trees will spread their branches out And bless the dawn He took a plane to Africa He gathered up into his arms An orphan son So many years from now Long after we are gone This tree will spread its branches out And bless the dawn So sit down and write that letter Sign up and join the fight Sink in to all that matters Step out into the light Let go of all that's passing Lift up the least of these Lean into something lasting Planting trees She rises up as morning breaks She moves among these rooms alone Before we wake And her heart is so full; it overflows She waters us with love and the children grow So many years from now Long after we are gone These trees will spread their branches out And bless the dawn These trees will spread their branches out And bless someone

Andrew Peterson, 2010

Photo:

We gathered tonight as a family (those who could make it) to thank the LORD for His provision, and the privilege of time together.  

We’re thankful for His gift of Katherine. We’re thankful to celebrate her birthday, and more birth days to come, LORD willing.

I’m thankful for our season of planting trees, for the gift of time to watch their roots grow deep.  There are branches spreading out to bless others! They bless us!

I am thankful the LORD will bring fruit to bear in their lives, as He wills, in His time.

I trust the LORD will spread a canopy of mercy and protection over those who grow up under the bough of His provision and care, His steadfast love and testimonies, His goodness and faithfulness after we are gone…long after we are gone.

O LORD, Our Lord!

 

A grandmother's special calling is to pray and to be a fellow worker in the battle in which her children or her grandchildren are engaged.

Elisabeth Elliot

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 

4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. 

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, 

7 all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, 

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. 

9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Psalm 8

Photo:  You know it’s time to capture a photo together when your granddaughter sees your phone, and says, “Cheese”, 😬 and you say, “Oops, wait a sec, …say it again, ah man, wait please... say it again, ‘Cheese’”!! 😂

I love capturing fleeting moments with You, FJG!  ❤️ 

Thank you!! 

Grow Up Into Christ

 

Ephesians 4-

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 

14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 

16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

My Sons, 

I pray you’ll always seek the company and counsel of your elders and fellow deacons, your father, brothers, and godly friends to stand beside you, to strengthen and equip you in the faith for the work of ministry, for building up the Body, and for advancing the Gospel of Christ!! 

LORD, may it be so! 

Photos-

1st-Matt’s deacon ordination, January 2022

2nd-Family photo, November 2020

Sun of My Soul

 

How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights

For with you is the fountain of life;  

in your light do we see light. 

Psalm 36:7-9, ESV

This song has been on my heart! 

It’s become sweet meditation for my soul when grey days persist.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MJMcP44aw4Q  

Sun of my soul, open my eyes
As morning fills the skies
You are the light guiding my ways
Through the shadows

Shine, shine
Shine, shine
Lighten the darkness oh sun of my soul

Shine, shine
Shine, shine
Lighten the darkness oh sun of my soul

Sun of my soul, steady my gaze
As daylight runs its race
Your Word is a lamp unto my feet
On this journey

Shine, shine
Shine, shine
Lighten the darkness oh sun of my soul

Shine, shine
Shine, shine
Lighten the darkness oh sun of my soul

You’re shining down on me
In the night, brighten my darkness
You’re shining down on me
In the night, lighten my darkness

Sun of my soul, rest for my heart
As nightfall calls the stars
You are my light, promise of peace
While I’m sleeping

Shine, shine
Shine, shine
Lighten the darkness oh sun of my soul

Shine, shine
Shine, shine
Lighten the darkness oh sun of my soul

Written by Kristyn Getty and Sandra McCracken 

Update:  Maple has seemed well adjusted and improved these last few days.  She’s moving around well and seemingly not bumping into furniture and walls as much.  It seems she has at least some awareness of bright light, because on a number of occasions, she’s found the sun shining into our house. If she doesn’t see the light, maybe she feels the warmth of the sun.  She’s always enjoyed laying in the sun!  

The gel pen is still irritating her skin, and I’m considering applying it in the morn, then cleaning out her crusty skin on the inside of her ears at night. 

She’s not particularly fond of having her ears messed with, but it's become a matter of necessity.  

I reinstalled her window perch this afternoon, and she seems most pleased to have it back after many years of it being removed. 

I’m thankful to provide for her some comforting leisure in the familiar spot she enjoyed as a kitten. 

Maple may not have a soul, but she has a Creator who shines in the darkness of her sight and brightens her day, and mine too! 

I’m thankful!! 

“If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me by night,” 

even the darkness is not dark to you; 

the night is bright as the day, 

for darkness is as light with you.”

Psalm 139:11-12, ESV

1

At the Cross

 

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

II Corinthians 5:20

“Christian moms are used to hearing, ‘You can’t ruin your children! God can save them despite you!’ And that is true, and I am so glad that God can and does see fit to save the most unlikely of sons and daughters. I am so grateful that he did it for me, and that none of us or our children are beyond his reach. 

But rather than soothing our fears by minimizing our God-given calling to be good mothers who bring our kids up in the Lord, we can only truly be free of fear, guilt, and perfectionism at the foot of the cross. It’s at the cross that we lay down our indifference to the work set before us in shepherding eternal souls in favor of full investment and commitment to the job. And it’s at the cross where we share the yoke of the burden that work creates with the strongest Person in the universe, so that we are not crushed under its weight. 

At the cross — where we go to die, and live — we can actually die to bad mothering and be raised a good mom in Christ. Our job as a Christian mom is huge and serious, but that doesn’t mean we’re meant to carry the heaviness of it alone. We bring it to Jesus, whose yoke is easy and burden is light (Matthew 11:30).”

Abigail Dodds

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-makes-a-good-mom

Photos: I am soo very thankful for this DEAR young mom friend who leans in close on a regular basis to encourage my hope in Christ!  

Father, Thank you!! 

His Purpose to See

 

O let my trembling soul be still, 

And wait thy wise, thy holy will!

I cannot, Lord, thy purpose see, 

Yet all is well when ruled by Thee. 

Charles H. Spurgeon

Our almost 16 year old Maple started bumping into walls and furniture last Thursday. My heart has been tender for her trial, and daily, I’ve shed a few tears. 

Her behavior began to noticeably change this time last year.  There was change for all of us, which included her!  Thinking “she’s just growing old”, was reason for little concern, but eventually we had to seek  medical help and was told she had a hyper functioning thyroid. A medicinal transdermal gel pen was prescribed for that.  All along, I think she must’ve been losing her vision also 😪.

Now it seems she’s completely blind and I have a heightened sensitivity to her need for extra loving care. She’s still active and very courageous!  

Some days her pupils are enlarged. Some days I see her bright blue irises. She’s eating and drinking well, and seemingly still very content. She amazes me!  

I cannot think of her as just a cat.  She’s an elderly cat.  

My upbringing was such that we were taught to show respect for those who have lived long. 

Maple has my heart. 

The LORD has my reverence and trust.  It is a daily discipline to trust His hand when I don’t understand. 

He has my gratitude for the gift she is to me in this prolonged season of letting go.  

I am still learning to loosely hold the gifts He’s given me. 

I want to trust Him.  

I want His purpose to see! 

Job 12:7-12-

7

But ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;

8
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will declare to you. 

9
Who among all these does not know
that the hand of the LORD has done this?  

10
In his hand is the life of every living thing
and the breath of all mankind. 

11
Does not the ear test words
as the palate tastes food?  

12
Wisdom is with the aged,
and understanding in length of days.

Photos:  

#1-Maple, taken last week, the evening we realized she is blind. 

#2-Maple (11 wks) and Katherine (7 yrs), July, 2006, soon after we adopted her from JHS.