Benedictions

 

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

“Benedictions are gospel blessings that teach us to expect what only God can give, and the Bible is filled with them. God’s first words to humanity was to bless them (Genesis 1:28).  He commanded Israel’s priests to place his blessing on his people (Numbers 6:22-27).  As Jesus’ final act before ascending to heaven, he lifted his hands  and blessed his disciples (Luke 24:51).  Most of the New Testament letters include at least one benediction, and God’s last words to us in the Bible are a benediction: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all.  Amen.(Revelation 22:21).”

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-reasons-benedictions-church/%3famp

Benedictions have captured my interest in recent months while reading Scripture.  I’ve grown more aware of them, I believe, because I’m more aware of how desperate my need to be edified.  Paul’s letters were personal, written to those he discipled and prayed for.  He did not take his spiritual responsibility lightly, nor did he waste words, or neglect to speak spiritual truth and life for encouragement to his flock. His words spiritually fed, comforted, instructed, and strengthened Believers.  

As much as I desire to carefully speak words to others, I pray my heart will be purified by the Incarnate Word, Jesus, whose words have changed my life. 

I heard this song recently, and was encouraged to consider how to better meditate and sing, pray, and speak benediction words to my family and friends.  Words put to music are easier for me to learn…

Selah

Benediction (As You Go) 

https://youtu.be/qT4in2q54aA

May the Lord grant you peace

May His love shine down

Love shine down

And meet your every need

And keep your feet

From stumbling

And fix your eyes

On the mark on the prize

As you go may

You rest in Christ

Receive His grace

To love all men

In spite of all our differences

May your words

Be filled with life

That crumble walls

Of fear and pride

Take up the cross

To serve the least

And the lost

As you go be

The hands of God

He is your strength

And your victory yeah

He comes behind

You and heals

He is the cup

And the portion

Your banner and shield

So be

So be released

Be blessed be free

Live and move

As the Spirit breathes

As you go, go with

God,

go in peace

Other benediction songs I enjoy are…

Benediction 

(inspired, I believe, by 

2 Corinthians 13:14) 

words and music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend-

https://youtu.be/70E1cTaXaxE

and 

Now Unto Him (Jude 24-25) 

words and music by David Morris and Tom Ferrke 

https://youtu.be/SKzNHlV2rag

Photo:  Thank you, Rosie for the beautiful vase of flowers ❤️!! 

As benedictions are comforting, life giving words of encouragement, so are your generous expressions of love to me in this season of my life! 

Jesus is Near

 

Be gone unbelief, my Savior is near,

And for my relief will surely appear:

By prayer let me wrestle, and He wilt perform,

With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the storm.

Though dark be my way, since He is my Guide,

‘Tis mine to obey, ’tis His to provide;

Though cisterns be broken, and creatures all fail,

The Word He has spoken shall surely prevail.

His love in time past forbids me to think

He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink;

Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review,

Confirms His good pleasure to help me quite through.

Determined to save, He watched o’er my path,

When Satan’s blind slave, I sported with death;

And can He have taught me to trust in His Name,

And thus far have brought me, to put me to shame?

Why should I complain of want or distress,

Temptation or pain? He told me no less:

The heirs of salvation, I know from His Word,

Through much tribulation must follow their Lord.

How bitter that cup, no heart can conceive,

Which He drank quite up, that sinners might live!

His way was much rougher, and darker than mine;

Did Jesus thus suffer, and shall I repine?

Since all that I meet shall work for my good,

The bitter is sweet, the medicine is food;

Though painful at present, wilt cease before long,

And then, O! how pleasant, the conqueror’s song!

– John Newton, 1803

Photo:

Family heirloom rocking chair, hand hewn by my paternal Great Grand-father, Noah Harris, father of my father’s mother, Maude Alma Harris Cleland.  I especially appreciate the cowhide seat.  Though it may be primitive and common in appearance to some, I like to think this to be a special place of honor to commune with Our Father on a daily basis. 

Note: 

Inscribed on the tombstone of Susannah Spurgeon are these words…

“Since all that I meet shall work for my good,
The bitter is sweet, the medicine is food.
Though painful at present, wilt cease before long,
And then, O! how pleasant, the conqueror’s song.”

The Best of Friends ❤️

 

https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/women-midlife/

We need friends who will lovingly point us back to our identity in Christ when we start to feel like we’re overlooked.  We need people who will encourage us and pray with and for us when we’re walking through the ups and downs of mid-life.”

Shelley Madueme*

Happy 85th Birthday to my Mother Dear!  I am thankful the warp and woof of my being has by God’s design and blessing, included you!   

He has given us life to share, to practically support and love one another!  I pray we will gain a closer fellowship with the LORD and one another because we’ve looked more intently to Him, together, in this season of our lives! I cherish your presence and  counsel in my life!! 

I am thankful He created you, saved you at the young, impressionable age of 15, and continues to shape and sanctify you into His Christlikeness!!  You are an  encouragement to me, to our family, and many others!  

“Real-life friendships are the context in which we live out the gospel by loving and serving one another.”*

Thank you for daily reminding me of God’s great faithfulness through every change of seasons. 

❤️

Our Mother

To ‘His’ Mother

'Mother-in-law' they say, and yet,

Somehow I simply can't forget

'Twas you who watched his baby ways

Who taught him his first hymn of praise;

Who smiled on him with living pride

When he first toddled by your side.

'Mother-in-law but oh, 'twas you

Who taught him to be kind and true;

When he was tired, almost asleep,

'Twas to your arms he used to creep;

And when he bruised his tiny knee,

'Twas you who kissed it tenderly. 

'Mother-in-law' they say, and yet,

Somehow I never shall forget,

How very much I owe

To you, who taught him how to grow.

You trained your son to look above,

You made of him the man I love,

And so I think of that today,

Ah!  Then with thankful heart I'll say

'Our Mother'.  

Author: Unknown

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in  your grandmother Lois* and your mother Eunice* and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.

2 Timothy 1:5, ESV

* I’m thankful Mark speaks often of his grandmother, Willie Mae, mother to Betty, Mark’s mom, who helped to spiritually influence and shape him at a young age.  There’s no doubt his mom’s spiritual growth was encouraged by her mom, which then trickled down through years of relational “presence” and influence (though separated by miles, calls were frequent), having a great impact on Mark becoming the tender hearted God-fearing, family man he is today!!

I am so very thankful to be married to such a loved son and grandson,  and to have such a loving, uplifting Mother-in-law! 

Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:

Psalm 102:18, ESV

Photos of Mark as a babe and toddler, and most recently, of us with his mom and sister on one of our scheduled outdoor visits. 

Proclaim to Another Generation

 

"I have traveled far now on life’s journey; and, 

having climbed one of the few remaining hills between earth and Heaven, I stand awhile on this vantage-ground, 

and look back across the country through which the Lord has led me.  A well-defined pathway is visible, but it appears devious and wandering; sometimes skirting a mountain-top, whence one could catch glimpses of “the land that is very far off”; and, further on, descending into a valley shadowed by clouds and darkness.  At one time, it runs along amidst steep places, and overhanging rocks; at another time, it winds across an open plain, brilliant with the sunshine of goodness and mercy, and fanned by breezes which are wafted from the fields of Heaven.

There are flowers of joy and love growing all along the way, even in the dark places; and “trees which the Lord has planted,” give shade and shelter from too great heat.

I can see two pilgrims treading this highway of life together, hand in hand—heart linked to heart. True, they have had rivers to ford, and mountains to cross, and fierce enemies to fight, and many dangers to go through; but their Guide was watchful, their Deliverer unfailing, and of them it might truly be said, “In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.”

Mostly, they went on their way singing; and for one of them, at least, there was no joy greater than to tell others of the grace and glory of the blessed King to whose land He was hastening. And when he thus spoke, the power of the Lord was seen, and the angels rejoiced over repenting sinners.

But, at last, they came to a place on the road where two ways met; and here, amidst the terrors of a storm such as they had never before encountered, they parted company—the one being caught up to the invisible glory—the other, battered and bruised by the awful tempest, henceforth toiling along the road—alone.

But the “goodness and mercy” which, for so many years, had followed the two travelers, did not leave the solitary one; rather did the tenderness of the Lord “lead on softly,” and choose green pastures for the tired feet, and still waters for the solace and refreshment of His trembling child. He gave, moreover, into her hands a solemn charge—to help fellow-pilgrims along the road, filling her life with blessed interest, and healing her own deep sorrow by giving her power to relieve and comfort others."

Susannah Spurgeon

A song of Sighs

Grace Gems

O God, from my youth you have taught me,

    and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.

So even to old age and gray hairs,

    O God, do not forsake me,

until I proclaim your might to another generation,

    your power to all those to come.

Your righteousness, O God,

    reaches the high heavens.

You who have done great things,

    O God, who is like you?

Psalm 71:17-19, ESV

Photos: In honor of our fathers whose birthdays we remember during this fall season, and of our dear mothers, though alone and without their pilgrim companions, continue to proclaim God's goodness and faithfulness to the next generation!  

We are thankful!!  

Soli Deo Gloria 

To the Praise of His Glory

“Knowing that we have an infinitely satisfying and everlasting inheritance in God just over the horizon of life makes us zealous in our few remaining years here to spend ourselves in the sacrifices of love, not the accumulation of comforts.”

John Piper

11 

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 

13

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 

14 

who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1, ESV

https://www.challies.com/articles/greater-age-brings-life-shaping-decisions/

Photo: Anniversary Getaway! #34❤️

Blessed Hope

 

11 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 

12

training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 

13

waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 

14 

who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

15

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Titus 2

Photo: Anniversary Getaway Sunrise