Extraordinarily Privileged

Ordinary work, which is what most of us do most of the time, is ordained by God every bit as much as is the extraordinary.

All work done for God is spiritual work and therefore not merely a duty but a holy

privilege.

Elisabeth Elliot

Heart of God

September 3

31 Days to Discover God’s Love for You

So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot.

ECCLESIASTES 3:22

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense. 

Proverbs 12:11

Speak, O LORD

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aH1Wn4fTiBs&ra=m

Speak, O Lord, as we come to You

To receive the food of Your holy Word

Take Your truth, plant it deep in us

Shape and fashion us in Your likeness

That the light of Christ might be seen today

In our acts of love and our deeds of faith

Speak, O Lord, and fulfill in us

All Your purposes for Your glory. 

Teach us, Lord, full obedience 

Holy reverence, true humility

Test our thoughts and our attitudes 

In the radiance of Your purity

Cause our faith to rise, cause our eyes to see

Your majestic love and authority

Words of pow’r that can never fail

Let their truth prevail over unbelief! 

Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds

Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us

Truths unchanged from the dawn of time

That will echo down through eternity

And by grace, we’ll stand on Your promises

And by faith, we’ll walk as You walk with us

Speak, O Lord, ‘til Your church is built

And the earth is filled Your glory. 

Songwriters: Keith Getty / Stuart Townend

Singing this hymn as a prayer to Our Father is soo very comforting.  I’ve shared this song on the blog before, but as we’ve sung it together this month, I’ve been encouraged  in the task of telling our grandchildren of God’s ways.  I’ve thought, “What a privilege this is, that the LORD is teaching us while we teach our grandchildren that we daily need His help, and this is one way we can call on Him. 

By singing!!  

What a very special gift!!

It takes me back to the days when the children we sang with were our own. We have long prayed that hymns would make an indelible mark on their hearts, and now we pray the same for our grandchildren. 🙏🏼

It’s a great blessing to hear each voice, especially our son’s harmony again.  F sings loudly and unashamedly, like her dad, which I love!  H sings from his heart, with much enthusiasm as well, even though he cannot read the lyrics streamed to the TV.  

Thank you, Lord!!  

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Psalm 71:23

🔴 The Trivial Round 🔴

“New every morning is the love our waking and uprising prove, 

through sleep and darkness safely brought; 

restored to life and power and thought. 

New mercies each returning day 

around us hover while we pray. 

New perils passed, 

new sins forgiven, 

new thoughts of God, 

new hopes of heaven. 

If on our daily course 

our mind be set to hallow all we find, 

new treasures still of countless price 

God will provide for sacrifice. 

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be 

as more of heaven in each we see. 

Some softening gleam of love and prayer 

shall dawn on every cross and care. 

The trivial round, 

the common task, 

will furnish all we ought to ask; 

room to deny ourselves, 

a road to bring us daily nearer God. 

Only, O Lord, in Thy dear love, 

fit us for perfect rest above. 

Help us, this and every day,

to live more nearly as we pray.”

A hymn written by John Keble, 1822

Grand Grays

 

If our children saw us doing “heartily as unto the Lord” all the work we do, they would learn true happiness.  Instead of feeling that they must be allowed to do what they like, they would learn to like what they do. 

Elisabeth Elliot, A Heart For God

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. 

Colossians 3:23

Today we spent the morning cutting back some overgrowth in the backyard.  The cooler temps were perfect for this work, and only as our hour long task moved closer to the noon hour, did we begin to feel some heat.  

These helpers are the best, and I am thankful for their good attitudes while helping us accomplish our goal today. 

LORD willing the yard waste will be picked up tomorrow, and we can begin the next phase of our project!  

Thank you, Father, for a beautiful day, and thank you Grand Grays for working with all your hearts this morning!!

Loving Generosity

He said “Love…as I have loved you.” 

We cannot love too much. 

Amy Carmichael

Photo: Great Grands visit Mawmaw

Learning Life and Love Together

 

God made the home to be a school and so what the world now finds as perplexing, confusing, and frustrating, Christian parents should understand as a part of why God gave us the gift of the family in the first place.

The Briefing

Albert Mohler

April 7, 2020

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children—“.

Deuteronomy 4:9

Wondrous Works of God

“…Stand still, and consider 

the wondrous works of God.”

Job 37:14

Photo: Mark reading the picture Bible to our grandson. 

What a privilege and blessed calling we have as grandparents to share time to open God’s word together.  

May you see your children’s children. 

Psalm 128:6

❤️

One Shepherd, One Flock

 

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tender care;

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

For our use Thy folds prepare:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

We are Thine, do Thou befriend us,

Be the guardian of our way;

Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us,

Seek us when we go astray:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Hear, O hear us when we pray;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us,

Poor and sinful though we be;

Thou hast mercy to relieve us,

Grace to cleanse, and pow'r to free:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Early let us turn to Thee;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Early let us turn to Thee.

Early let us seek Thy favor,

Early let us do Thy will;

Blessed Lord and only Savior,

With Thy love our bosoms fill:

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast loved us, love us still;

Blessèd Jesus, blessèd Jesus,

Thou hast loved us, love us still.

Author: Dorothy A. Thrupp, 1836;

Author: Henry F. Lyte, 1836

Our Good Shepherd 

Leads

Cares

Feeds

Prepares

Redeems

Befriends

Guards

Defends

Seeks

Hears

Receives

Relieves

Cleanses

Frees

Turns

Favors

Fills

Loves

Father, Our blessed LORD and Only Savior, and Good Shepherd of the Sheep, 

we are thankful to trust Your rule to redeem us by your might! 

We trust You will search out the lonely, lost and wandering, wayward sheep. 

Father, 

You are the Good and Faithful Shepherd. Your sheep know your voice and obey to follow Your lead, “so there will be one flock, one shepherd.” 

John 10