Back to a road trip adventure in the Land of Abundant Life! Today I left the park and picked up my precious grandsons, 7-year-old Big C and 2-year-old Little c. Since Big C is out of school for the summer, his mommy and daddy graciously agreed that I could take them with me for a journey.
We're on our way now to the old country church that still stands a couple of miles from the lake where I grew up.
As I turn into the long, gravel driveway, Big C spots the small, white building with its steeple pointing to heaven.
"There it is, Grandma!" he proudly claims discovery.
"I see, too, Gamma!" Little c joins in, excitedly. Of course, neither of them knows yet why they are excited. Only that they are on a trip of discovery with Grandma!
"Oh, look, Grandma, a graveyard," Big C whispers, suddenly turning solemn.
Little c looks perplexed. "Gaveyard bad?" he asks.
"No, not at all. Come with me. We'll be careful not to step on any of the graves, out of respect."
"We-spek." Little c nods vigorously, smiling again because he sees Grandma is not afraid.
"When I was just a little girl," I take hole of his pudgy little hand and begin to explain, "my mommy took me to another graveyard every spring and I helped her put flowers on the gravestones of some of our family members who had died. She always told me that we don't have to be afraid of graveyards because we know Jesus as our Savior. When we die, Jesus will take us to Heaven to live with Him where we will be happy forever! So I liked going with her to visit the graves because I knew Jesus promised to come and get me later and He always keeps His promises."
I sat down on the green grass and the boys sat next to me. I put one arm around each of them. "Jesus tells us in the Bible, 'In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.
'And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
"Jesus is my best friend!" said Big C. "I tell my friends about Him and bring my Bible to school to show them."
"Me, too!" echoed Little c. "I weed BiBo."
"That's wonderful," I hugged my grandsons. "Want to know something?"
"Sure!"
"Sur!"
"When we lived by the lake, my mother . . . your great-grandmother . . . used to come here sometimes in the summer with her friends and they would have a picnic in the graveyard and study their Bibles there together."
"Can we do that?" asked Big C.
"Certainly! Please go and get my Bible and the picnic basket out of the back seat in the car. After we eat, we'll explore the inside of the church."
Glad you came along for the ride, my friends. Hope to see you again next week when we find out what's inside the church!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
KEY # SB5: THE WORLD IS MINE!
I found the poem! I've been searching for it and praying to find it for some time now, so I decided that today must be the appropriate time to print it! Last week's blog was on a "New Song" and I am continuing on with the theme of praise.
My mother posted this poem on the wall in our kitchen when was growing up, and I think of it every now and then when I am tempted to sink into the Dangerous Mire of the Malady of Discontent.
How can I ever, in this wonderful Land of Abundant Living, submit myself to such a disastrous state?
"The World is Mine" by Unknown Author (I changed one word because the modern meaning has a different connotation than it did when this poem was composed.)
Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair.
I envied her, she seemed so free;
I wished that I might be as fair.
And then, when suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one foot and wore a crutch
But as she passed, a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine!
I have two feet; the world is mine!
And when I stopped to buy some sweets
The lad who sold them had such charm
That when he gave my change to me
I gently grasped his out-stretched arm.
I talked to him and told him that
His smile had brightened up my mind.
He said to me, "It's nice to talk with you.
You see," he meekly said, "I'm blind."
Oh God, forgive me when I whine!
I have two eyes; the world is mine!
Then walking down the street I saw a
Little boy with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play;
It seemed he knew not what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word;
And then I knew he could not hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine!
I have two ears; the world is mine!
With feet to take me where I go
With eyes to see the sun aglow
With ears to hear what I want to know
Oh God forgive me when I whine!
I'm blessed indeed; the world is mine!
Please join me next week when I pick up my two grandsons for an adventurous ride through the Land of Abundant Living!
My mother posted this poem on the wall in our kitchen when was growing up, and I think of it every now and then when I am tempted to sink into the Dangerous Mire of the Malady of Discontent.
How can I ever, in this wonderful Land of Abundant Living, submit myself to such a disastrous state?
"The World is Mine" by Unknown Author (I changed one word because the modern meaning has a different connotation than it did when this poem was composed.)
Today upon a bus, I saw a lovely maid with golden hair.
I envied her, she seemed so free;
I wished that I might be as fair.
And then, when suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one foot and wore a crutch
But as she passed, a smile.
Oh, God, forgive me when I whine!
I have two feet; the world is mine!
And when I stopped to buy some sweets
The lad who sold them had such charm
That when he gave my change to me
I gently grasped his out-stretched arm.
I talked to him and told him that
His smile had brightened up my mind.
He said to me, "It's nice to talk with you.
You see," he meekly said, "I'm blind."
Oh God, forgive me when I whine!
I have two eyes; the world is mine!
Then walking down the street I saw a
Little boy with eyes of blue.
He stood and watched the others play;
It seemed he knew not what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,
"Why don't you join the others, dear?"
He looked ahead without a word;
And then I knew he could not hear.
Oh God, forgive me when I whine!
I have two ears; the world is mine!
With feet to take me where I go
With eyes to see the sun aglow
With ears to hear what I want to know
Oh God forgive me when I whine!
I'm blessed indeed; the world is mine!
Please join me next week when I pick up my two grandsons for an adventurous ride through the Land of Abundant Living!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
KEY #SB4: A NEW SONG
I just love summer in my beautiful "Home/Park" in the Land of Abundant Living! Every morning when I raise the shade to look out my bedroom window, my first glimpse is of our gorgeous deep pink rose bush climbing up the white iron arch that was a Mother's Day present from my husband many years ago. By thy way, my grandson, Big C, is fascinated with our shades. He is used to blinds on the windows at his home. One more "old fashioned"experience to enjoy at Grandma's and Grandpa's!
Next, my delighted eyes rove to the bright purple clematis that has already moved on and up over the foundation my husband made to support it in our "footprint" garden. (*You can check my archives to see what I wrote about my "Footprint Garden," and see a picture, if you like!) Birds of all kinds splash in our bird baths and flit here and there from tree branches to birdhouses and back again.
Our noisy birds chirp plenty in the mornings to awake me. I don't mind. I love hearing their cheerful voices raised in praise to our heavenly Father!
Speaking of song and birds, let's concentrate on the word "Song" for a while today. In particular, the phrase "New Song." This phrase is not found often in the Bible and since it intrigued me, I checked out those passages. Here are some things I learned:
1. The term "a new song" is linked with the act of praising our heavenly Father. Isaiah 42:10a says "Sing to the Lord a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth!"
2. In Psalm 40:3, the words "new song" describe an act of salvation, defining it as a provision and gift from God: "And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord." God puts the new song in David's mouth in response to David's cry for help as it follows after he says God "heard his cry and brought him up from the pit of destruction and set his feet up on a rock." David further stated others would see God's act of salvation in his own life and will put their trust in God as their response.
3. Several scriptures specifically connect the phrase "new song" with God's merciful and complete work of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day." Psalm 96:1-2 This entire passage celebrates God's glory, past, present and future. It was first sung when the Israelites celebrated the rebuilding of the temple after their long exile.
If you are so inclined, you may want to check out other similar passages: Psalm 98:1-2 and Psalm 144:9-10.
4. We are expected to sing His praises among the company of other believers. "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones." Psalm 149:1
5. Moving on to the last book in the Bible, the last book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, I found the phrase "new song" mentioned in two specific instances, both associated with salvation.
The first appears following the passage where the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is the only one found worthy to open the Book and break the seals. In this instance, the four living creatures (who are described earlier in the passage) along with the twenty-four elders, fall down before Christ, " . . . "and they sang a new song, saying 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." Rev. 5:9b
The last part of this passage explains God's method of salvation. It tells how Jesus was killed in our place to pay for the sins of those who would come to believe on Him and accept His precious sacrificial gift. His blood was the cost of purchase and now they belong to Him, a kingdom of His own. This is who we are, as children of God! If you have admitted to God that you sin, (which is basically rebellion against His authority) and accepted Jesus' death and victory over death by coming alive again (which we celebrate on Easter Sunday) as payment for your sins, you now belong to Him and are a priest within His eternal kingdom! How could anything be more exciting? To quote a modern phrase: "it doesn't get any better than this." :o)
Later, in Rev. 14:3, we read "And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth." Here, again, we see that the new song can only be sung by those whom the Lord has purchased for His kingdom . . . those who have been saved.
So what have I learned? A "new song" is a song of praise to my heavenly Father, in gratitude for His powerful work of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. We see our need . . . we cry out to God . . . and He responds in love and mercy.
God puts the "new song" in my heart and tells me to praise Him; I choose to praise Him; and I do so in the company of other believers.
Wow! I want to sing a "new song" of praise to my heavenly Father. Don't you?
Next, my delighted eyes rove to the bright purple clematis that has already moved on and up over the foundation my husband made to support it in our "footprint" garden. (*You can check my archives to see what I wrote about my "Footprint Garden," and see a picture, if you like!) Birds of all kinds splash in our bird baths and flit here and there from tree branches to birdhouses and back again.
Our noisy birds chirp plenty in the mornings to awake me. I don't mind. I love hearing their cheerful voices raised in praise to our heavenly Father!
Speaking of song and birds, let's concentrate on the word "Song" for a while today. In particular, the phrase "New Song." This phrase is not found often in the Bible and since it intrigued me, I checked out those passages. Here are some things I learned:
1. The term "a new song" is linked with the act of praising our heavenly Father. Isaiah 42:10a says "Sing to the Lord a new song, Sing His praise from the end of the earth!"
2. In Psalm 40:3, the words "new song" describe an act of salvation, defining it as a provision and gift from God: "And He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear, and will trust in the Lord." God puts the new song in David's mouth in response to David's cry for help as it follows after he says God "heard his cry and brought him up from the pit of destruction and set his feet up on a rock." David further stated others would see God's act of salvation in his own life and will put their trust in God as their response.
3. Several scriptures specifically connect the phrase "new song" with God's merciful and complete work of salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day." Psalm 96:1-2 This entire passage celebrates God's glory, past, present and future. It was first sung when the Israelites celebrated the rebuilding of the temple after their long exile.
If you are so inclined, you may want to check out other similar passages: Psalm 98:1-2 and Psalm 144:9-10.
4. We are expected to sing His praises among the company of other believers. "Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of the godly ones." Psalm 149:1
5. Moving on to the last book in the Bible, the last book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, I found the phrase "new song" mentioned in two specific instances, both associated with salvation.
The first appears following the passage where the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is the only one found worthy to open the Book and break the seals. In this instance, the four living creatures (who are described earlier in the passage) along with the twenty-four elders, fall down before Christ, " . . . "and they sang a new song, saying 'Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." Rev. 5:9b
The last part of this passage explains God's method of salvation. It tells how Jesus was killed in our place to pay for the sins of those who would come to believe on Him and accept His precious sacrificial gift. His blood was the cost of purchase and now they belong to Him, a kingdom of His own. This is who we are, as children of God! If you have admitted to God that you sin, (which is basically rebellion against His authority) and accepted Jesus' death and victory over death by coming alive again (which we celebrate on Easter Sunday) as payment for your sins, you now belong to Him and are a priest within His eternal kingdom! How could anything be more exciting? To quote a modern phrase: "it doesn't get any better than this." :o)
Later, in Rev. 14:3, we read "And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders; and no one could learn the song except the one hundred and forty-four thousand who had been purchased from the earth." Here, again, we see that the new song can only be sung by those whom the Lord has purchased for His kingdom . . . those who have been saved.
So what have I learned? A "new song" is a song of praise to my heavenly Father, in gratitude for His powerful work of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. We see our need . . . we cry out to God . . . and He responds in love and mercy.
God puts the "new song" in my heart and tells me to praise Him; I choose to praise Him; and I do so in the company of other believers.
Wow! I want to sing a "new song" of praise to my heavenly Father. Don't you?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
KEY #SB3: OVERHEARD IN AN ORCHARD
I'd like to share an old poem my mother hung on the wall of our home when I was a child. Now it hangs on the wall by the door in my office, where I can give it a glance when I venture in or out.
"OVERHEARD IN AN ORCHARD" by Elizabeth Cheney
"Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
'I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.'
Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
'Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."
In Matthew 10:29, Jesus talks about the sparrows: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? and yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."
Jesus continues to assure us in the next two verses, 30 and 31: "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear: you are of more value than many sparrows."
Isn't that amazing? God cares so much about me that He even knows exactly how many hairs I have on my head at any given time! I don't even care how many I have, as long as they are plentiful. Which, I confess, it getting to be more of a concern as I grow older. :o)
Let's take that example a bit further.
God cares more about me than I care about myself!
God cares more about you than you even care about yourself!
I also confess that I struggle with anxiety and fear, which I realize very well has no place in the life of a Christian. Although I do trust God with my life and the lives of my loved ones, as time passes, I am made more and more aware of the suffering and tragedies that even come to the lives of godly people. But . . . on the other hand, I am privileged to see personally and hear more of God's interventions, even miraculously, in the circumstances of His beloved children! Which brings me to a stronger faith in the realization that, as we learned last week from the song, "This is My Father's World," God is the One in charge. God is the authority, the One who holds the world together and keeps our earth in orbit. As my daddy used to say, "He (God) is the Boss!" And because "God is Love," I remind myself that He is very much aware and involved with every situation I find myself in, whether joyful or troubling . . . whether encouraging or heartbreaking.
Because of His love and power, I can trust Him to only allow as much suffering as is necessary for my spiritual growth and my eternal future life.
In the words of the above poem, there IS a "Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7
God cares tenderly for all of His creation . . . and especially for you . . . and for me.
"OVERHEARD IN AN ORCHARD" by Elizabeth Cheney
"Said the Robin to the Sparrow:
'I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so.'
Said the Sparrow to the Robin:
'Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me."
In Matthew 10:29, Jesus talks about the sparrows: "Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? and yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father."
Jesus continues to assure us in the next two verses, 30 and 31: "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear: you are of more value than many sparrows."
Isn't that amazing? God cares so much about me that He even knows exactly how many hairs I have on my head at any given time! I don't even care how many I have, as long as they are plentiful. Which, I confess, it getting to be more of a concern as I grow older. :o)
Let's take that example a bit further.
God cares more about me than I care about myself!
God cares more about you than you even care about yourself!
I also confess that I struggle with anxiety and fear, which I realize very well has no place in the life of a Christian. Although I do trust God with my life and the lives of my loved ones, as time passes, I am made more and more aware of the suffering and tragedies that even come to the lives of godly people. But . . . on the other hand, I am privileged to see personally and hear more of God's interventions, even miraculously, in the circumstances of His beloved children! Which brings me to a stronger faith in the realization that, as we learned last week from the song, "This is My Father's World," God is the One in charge. God is the authority, the One who holds the world together and keeps our earth in orbit. As my daddy used to say, "He (God) is the Boss!" And because "God is Love," I remind myself that He is very much aware and involved with every situation I find myself in, whether joyful or troubling . . . whether encouraging or heartbreaking.
Because of His love and power, I can trust Him to only allow as much suffering as is necessary for my spiritual growth and my eternal future life.
In the words of the above poem, there IS a "Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
"Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." I Peter 5:7
God cares tenderly for all of His creation . . . and especially for you . . . and for me.
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