Earth now, but Heaven to Come!!

 

O LORD,

I live here as a fish in a vessel of water, 

only enough to keep me alive, 

but in heaven I shall swim in the ocean.

Here I have a little air in me to keep me breathing, 

but there I shall have sweet and fresh gales;

Here I have a beam of sun to lighten my darkness, a warm ray to keep me from freezing; 

yonder I shall live in light and warmth for ever. 

My natural desires are corrupt and misguided, 

and it is thy mercy to destroy them;

My spiritual longings are of thy planting, 

and thou wilt water and increase them;

Quicken my hunger and thirst after the realm above.

Here I can have the world,

there I shall have thee in Christ;

Here is a life of longing and prayer, 

there is assurance without suspicion, 

asking without refusal;

Here are gross comforts,

more burden than benefit, 

there, is joy without sorrow, 

comfort without suffering, 

love without inconstancy, 

rest without weariness.

Give me to know that heaven is all love, 

where the eye affects the heart, 

and the continual viewing of thy beauty keeps the soul in continual transports of delight.

Give me to know that heaven is all peace, where error, pride, rebellion, passion raise no head.

Give me to know that heaven is all joy, 

the end of believing, fasting, praying, mourning, humbling, watching, fearing, repining;

And lead me to it soon.

Valley of Vision

Becoming Human

A person’s becoming human occurs within the home; 

here the foundation is laid for the forming of the future man and woman, 

of the future father and mother, 

of the future member of society, 

of the future citizen, 

of the future subject of the kingdom of God. 

Herman Bavinck 

(The Christian Family, 108)

We are counting down the days, actually weeks, when our next grand-baby will be born.  

Ten weeks and counting down. 

We can hardly wait! 

With utmost joy, Baby LaV, we trust the LORD has a great purpose for your life!  He has knit you together in your mother’s womb!!  The number of your days are already known by Him!  He knows you and loves you more than we do!  

How can we fathom that?! 

I am thankful the LORD has placed you in the loving home and care of parents who know your Creator.  They have yielded their lives to Him, and I pray, as they search Him out daily, they will know and fear Him more! 

By this, I am comforted to believe they will do all within their ability to help you learn of Him!!  

Though we already know He is past finding out, we trust everything we read and learn of Him (in His Word, the Bible);  He is good and just.  

His love for you is steadfast and faithful! 

I’m thankful He will accomplish His purpose in and through you!! 

Our Father is at work to perfect that which concerns you today, and in the days to come, LORD willing. 

Foremost, I am praying you will come to know and trust Him at an early age!!

❤️

We love you Baby LaV, A LOT, already!! 

Declare All His Praise

Thanksgiving is a spiritual exercise, necessary to the building of a healthy soul.  It takes us out of the stuffiness of ourselves into the fresh breeze and sunlight of the will of God.

Elisabeth Elliot

Keep a Quiet Heart

Felicity and I pulled out fall decorations last week, in anticipation of a more thankful season…

The last few years I have encouraged our family and a few friends who have visited to write on artificial leaves something they’re thankful for.  

What a treasure it was for me to unwrap and read the simplest and deepest of hearts’ gratitude!

As I clipped some of those leaves to a piece of jute swagged across the window, I thought of how memorable some of those past seasons were, and of how meaningful it is to decorate our home with reminders of all the LORD has accomplished in our lives, stirring me to gratitude!!  

Will I be more thankful in this season of our quiet, empty nest?  

I’m thankful to spruce up our home for the fall with leaves that tell how the LORD has faithfully filled us with sweet, and good things through seasons of change. I pray by this fall tradition He’ll help me  realize He’s my most gratifying gift and satisfaction in life.  

From one year to the next, I want the leaves to tell our family and friends of His mercies, and His grace to sustain us through trials, sickness, death, proposals and marriages, babies and growth,…

I loved hanging Felicity’s attempts to write on leaves last year, telling of her thankfulness.  I hope this tradition will mark her and continue in her heart and life for years to come, LORD willing, as we hang the leaves. 

I pray as we gather more and more meaningful leaves they will tell His story of our growing, grateful Gray family. 

While we have breath and are able to praise the LORD, I will encourage this discipline of gratitude and treasure adding leaves that will grow in number as we also grow in gratitude. 

Father, thank you!  Please help us to remember all You have accomplished in our lives, and to never tire of praising You!!  

All that we have comes from You!  

Praise the LORD! 

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!

Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all His praise? 

Psalm 106:1-2, ESV

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus  for you. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV

Prayer Changes Me

 

I pray because I can't help myself.

I pray because I'm helpless.

I pray because the need flows out of me all the time -waking and sleeping.

It doesn't change God.

It changes me.

C.S. Lewis.   

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.  Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.  Psalm 25:4-5, ESV