In the Shadow of the Cross

I was away from home while my husband applied the first coat of paint

to our "new" old room.

"Send me a picture of it," I texted him.

This is one he sent me.

I saw it immediately--the cross.

The words to an old song came to my mind.

I remember Dick Anthony and Bill Pearce singing it.

(Well, at least I THINK I do!

And I KNOW I remember my mother and dad singing it,,,)

I looked in vain to find it, 

but in the process I found THESE lyrics--unfamiliar to me, but also old and precious.

1. In the shadow of the cross let me hide,
   There the Savior for my sins bled and died;
   There the precious, cleansing fount
   Flows so free from Calv’ry’s mount,
   In the shadow of the cross let me hide.
2. In the shadow of the cross, blessed place!
   Living only for the Lord, by His grace;
   What He says I’ll gladly do,
   Ever standing firm and true,
   In the shadow of the cross, blessed place!
3. In the shadow of the cross, safe retreat,
   Ever sitting lowly at Jesus’ feet;
   While His presence is so near
   I shall never, never fear,
   In the shadow of the cross, safe retreat.
4. In the shadow of the cross, here I meet,
   In communion with my Lord, oh, how sweet!
   And my soul is borne above,
   While I revel in His love,
   In the shadow of the cross, here I meet!

     Refrain:
       In the shadow of the cross I will rest,
        For with everlasting peace I am blest;
       Here I dwell in love unknown,
       Streaming down from heaven’s throne,
       In the shadow of the cross I will rest.

(William J. Henry) 

    I am praying that the occupant of our "new" old room

    WILL find much rest, peace and contentment in this room
as he does in the shadow of the cross.
♥

Not I

Add some details and watch your interior transform – 
the more you add...the more tantalising your pad will be. 
And who doesn’t want a pad that makes every jaw hit the floor?

So advised the author of a decorating blog who shall remain anonymous here.

I was surprised by my reaction to that question--

And who doesn't want a pad that makes every jaw hit the floor?

Not I!

It's the very LEAST of my concerns currently.

Is this a GOOD sign or a BAD one?

 ***

Fade, fade, each earthly joy, Jesus is mine!
Break every tender tie, Jesus is mine!
Dark is the wilderness,
Earth has no resting place,
Jesus alone can bless, Jesus is mine!

Farewell, ye dreams of night, Jesus is mine!
Lost in this dawning bright, Jesus is mine!
All that my soul has tried
Left but a dismal void;
Jesus has satisfied, Jesus is mine!

 (From Fade, Fade Each Earthly Joy, by Jane Catharine Lundie Bonar)

Ordinary

Recently I read an interview with Tony Merida, author of Ordinary.  

I haven't read the book yet, but these lines from the interview stood out to me:

Many Christians feel as though they aren’t faithful if they don’t live in a mud-hut in India. 

While some need to move to India, I want the non-international missionary to see that they can make an extraordinary impact in a cul-de-sac or trailer park or apartment complex by doing things like practicing hospitality, showing neighbor love, caring for the vulnerable, speaking up for the voiceless, and praying.  

I joyfully recognize and embrace my current, ordinary and relatively small calling - "caring for the vulnerable, speaking up for the voiceless, and praying." 

♪ I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,
My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross. ♪

(from Beneath the Cross of Jesus)

 

Jesus IS Beautiful

Beauty begets beauty because when we see it we must share it.  (Tim Keller) 

Beautiful Savior,
King of Creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I'd love Thee,
Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.

Fair are the meadows,
Fair are the woodlands,
Robed in flowers of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer;
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.

Fair is the sunshine,
Fair is the moonlight,
Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels in the sky.

Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine! 

"Beautiful Savior"
by Author Unknown, 1677
Translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1823-1904

Praise

♪♪ Praise to the Lord, the Almighty ♪♪

Words:  Joachim Neander; translated from German by Catherine Winkworth 

I first remember singing this song as a teen at Grace Brethren Church

in Winona Lake, IN.  Professor Don Ogden, directing.

Its words are GRAND and REASSURING
....as is our Lord, THE ALMIGHTY, the King of creation!
(Photos are from our excursions into God's creation this past week.)

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

 

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

 Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

 

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.

 

Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

 

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.

 

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

AMEN!

Energy

I needed to pick up some granola and honey to make *Energy Snacks this morning, so I headed cross country to a neighboring small town's Save-A-Lot to purchase them.  I enjoyed the sights along the way on this cool, clear, crisp morning. 

I took this stealth photo out of a window of my slow-moving car.  For some reason, the old hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness came to my mind as I passed this scene.  I think it was the lines "Summer and winter, springtime and harvest; Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide.  STRENGTH for today and bright hope for tomorrow...."

It was then that I realized energy is one of the blessings I'm enjoying today...

along with ten thousand besides!

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak

...those who hope in the Lord  will renew their strength. 

 (Isaiah 40:29, 31)

 ENERGY SNACKS

1 c. peanut butter

1 c. honey

1 c. granola

1 1/2 c. powdered milk

1 c. unsweetened coconut.

Mix ingredients  in order.  Form balls (I make mine about 3/4" in diameter).  

Roll in sesame seed or coconut.  Makes between 2-3 dozen depending on size.  SO good!

No transformation without sacrifice

a cross in the front of our church....

As I told Joanne after reading her post about preparing for Passover,

 I spent Saturday morning condensing Scriptures from a chronological Bible beginning with the Triumphal Entry through the burial of Jesus. It needed to fit into a 15 minute slot.  We used it Sunday morning, reading "responsively" with Jesus, Pilate, Narrator, and All parts. While gathering pictures for the power point, I was freshly "moved" emotionally. It was overwhelming. What LOVE!

It's so easy to jump from Palm Sunday to Easter & gloss over the heart of Jesus in the days between (even leading up TO the "Triumphal Entry" - which I suspect wasn't so "triumphal" for Him.....) His entry to Jerusalem that day and His crucifixion...

Truly there is no transformation without sacrifice!*

*That last sentence was lifted from a comment left after yet another blog post - sadly I can't remember whose or which one.  It  drilled itself into my subconsciousness, and I can't get it out of my mind.

The time I spent Friday and Saturday preparing for Sunday's worship service felt long and tedious at the time, but there WAS an enormous benefit to me personally (and I pray to the people of God gathered on Sunday morning).  In a small way, it illustrates  the truth of that statement, "...there is no transformation without sacrifice". 

The time I spent Friday and Saturday was NOTHING compared to the sacrifice of my Savior...and OH what transformation HIS sacrifice accomplished! 

Wounded for me, wounded for me,
There on the cross He was wounded for me;
Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Dying for me, dying for me,
There on the cross He was dying for me;
Now in His death my redemption I see,
All because Jesus was dying for me.

Risen for me, risen for me,
Up from the grave He has risen for me;
Now evermore from death's sting I am free,
All because Jesus has risen for me.

Living for me, living for me,
Up in the skies He is living for me;
Daily He's pleading and praying for me,
All because Jesus is living for me.

Coming for me, coming for me,
Soon in the air He is coming for me;
Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
Oh, how I praise Him! He's coming for me.

("Wounded for Me".  Lyrics verse 1, W.G. Ovens; 2-5, Gladys Watkin Toberts)

Hearts Unfold Like Flowers

 Sunshine on plants as I walked in the yard this morning brought these words to mind...

 "Joyful, joyful, we adore thee,
God of glory, lord of love.
Hearts unfold like flowers before thee
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day."

Oh for an "unfolding heart"!

Spontaneous.

Beautiful.

Unselfconscious.

Drawn by & turned to His glorious light...

This morning and forever.

A heart in every thought renewed
And full of love divine,
Perfect and right and pure and good,
A copy, Lord, of Thine.

(from O For a Heart to Praise My God)

"Rich in Things and Poor in Soul"

This is one of the hymns we sang this morning as we worshiped at the First Baptist Church of Bryson City N.C. with my brother and sister-in-law:  "God of Grace and God of Glory".  ALL of it was meaningful to me--but the third stanza, particularly.  I hope I won't soon forget the challenge of that line, "rich in things and poor in soul". 

God of grace and God of glory
On Thy people pour Thy power
Crown Thine ancient church's story
Bring her bud to glorious flower
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the facing of this hour
For the facing of this hour

Lo the hosts of evil 'round us
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways
From the fears that long have bound us
Free our hearts to faith and praise
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days
For the living of these days

Cure Thy children's warring madness
Bend our pride to Thy control
Shame our wanton selfish gladness
Rich in things and poor in soul
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
Lest we miss Thy kingdom's goal
Lest we miss Thy kingdom's goal

Save us from weak resignation
To the evils we deplore
Let the gift of Thy salvation
Be our glory evermore
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
Serving Thee Whom we adore
Serving Thee Whom we adore

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage
For the living of these days
For the living of these days  

Lisa Shaw recently posted this Tozer quote:   "We Christians must simplify our lives or lose untold treasures on earth and in eternity. Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life but impossible. The need for solitude and quietness was never greater than it is today."   ALL of this goes right along with the small book I'm reading by Thomas R. Kelly.  (You'll see more on this general topic, I'm sure.)

All Creation Sings to Me

 When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur,
And hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze,
Then sings my soul, my Savior, God, to Thee:
How great thou art! How great thou art!

(Words from hymn, How Great Thou Art;

pictures from our walk on the trail along Cataract Falls 

on the Tennessee side of the Great Smoky Mountains.)

Leftovers

 One of the few downsides of not hosting a thanksgiving event is the lack of leftovers.

It's actually a pretty BIG downside for me!

I really do like cold turkey sandwiches and cold stuffing/dressing, too.

That's right.  Cold stuffing/dressing.

Oh, well.  Instead of food, I have memories.

Beautiful tableware - even paper dessert plates,

turkey place holders made by one of my granddaughters for

LAST year's dinner (she forgot to bring them then, 

so we used some of them at brunch today).

 Family...

and music - always an important part of our gathering.

"For the beauty of the earth....Lord of all to thee we raise

this our hymn of grateful praise."

What's YOUR favorite Thanksgiving Day leftover?

The Old Is Just Fine - Part 2

More old  from my previous post...

   

A couple of days ago a young friend facebooked  a link:  "I Stand Amazed (How Marvelous) by Chris Tomlin - YouTube."  The title sounded very much like a song I've known and loved for many, many years.  Imagine my absolute thrill to discover that it IS this OLD and familiar song!  Both its tune and its words were written by Charles H. Gabriel in 1905.

  I stand amazed in the presence 
 of Jesus the Nazarene, 
 and wonder how he could love me, 
 a sinner, condemned, unclean. 
Refrain:
 How marvelous! How wonderful! 
 And my song shall ever be:
 How marvelous! How wonderful 
 is my Savior's love for me! 

Why were we/ARE we so quick to abandon it?  Hopefully THIS generation will continute to discover the beauty and depth of some of the old hymns and gospel songs for themselves. Kudos to musicians who use their "platform" to reintroduce some of the best of the old along with all the new...

 9.  Music - old AND new!

Nurtured, Loved, Protected, Secure

Yesterday we spent part of an hour
        at our favorite garden nursery.
I was blessed by this garden statue.
I can't get it out of my mind...
Today the words of an old song
        are singing themselves in my heart. 
I remember singing it first when I was
       in junior high, playing piano for a children's choir
       under the direction of Prof. Don Ogden...

Children of the Heav'nly Father
simple tune...incredibly comforting words...
breathe them into your spirit as you read them softly to yourself.
you'll be changed.  i promise.

Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven
Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish;
In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them;
In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth,
And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh,
God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.

Lo, their very hairs He numbers,
And no daily care encumbers
Them that share His ev’ry blessing
And His help in woes distressing.

Praise the Lord in joyful numbers:
Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender
Ev’ry foeman must surrender.

Insular to Global to Eternal

Fiona, a blogging friend living in New Zealand, posted this morning:  "Please keep New Zealand in your thoughts and prayers. A massive earthquake hit the Christchurch region today. There have been many aftershocks and earthquakes since the first big one in September last year but this is the most dreadful yet. Sadly people have lost their lives and the damage seems to be far worse.

Thank you so much to readers who emailed to see if I was ok. I live in the North Island so am not near the earthquake area. As far as I know, family I have down there are not hurt. Many others aren't so lucky though and it is heartbreaking to think of the lives of many that have been ripped apart, again, today.

It changes ones view from insular to global very quickly." 

That last line got me to thinking!  Given the Mid East crises, the Wisconsin upheaval, earthquakes, recent sadness in our community, and personal "stuff", I rearranged the wording and closed my comment to her post  THIS way:    Certainly a time for all of us to move from "insular" to "global" and from global to "ETERNAL"!

ABIDE WITH ME

1. Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
   The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
   When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
   Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.
2. Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
   Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
   Change and decay in all around I see—
   O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
3. I need Thy presence every passing hour;
   What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
   Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
   Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.
4. I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
   Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
   Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
   I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
5. Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
   Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
   Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
   In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

Morning Has Broken

 I was awake this morning to experience the sunrise over McClish Lake.  It was more red/orange than these pictures indicate.  The silent splendor of this event saturated me with peace as my day began. 

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."  (Psalm 5:3)

When morning gilds the skies my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When you begin the day, O never fail to say,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
And at your work rejoice, to sing with heart and voice,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Sing, suns and stars of space, sing, ye that see His face,
Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
God's whole creation o'er, for aye and evermore
Shall Jesus Christ be praised!

In Heav'n's eternal bliss the loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea and sky from depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

(An old hymn, When Morning Gilds the Skies)

O Worship the King

---

These were the skies as we traveled to Chicago early Friday morning..  They were NOTHING compared to the sky later on when the storm rolled through the city!  The 80 MPH winds were awesome, but NOTHING compared to the power of our great and glorious King!

Text: Robert Grant, 1779-1838

O worship the King, all glorious above,
O gratefully sing God's power and God's love;
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

O tell of His might, O sing of His grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
Whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is God's path on the wings of the storm.

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Written in 1882 by Louisa M. R. Stead, this has been one of my favorite gospel songs. A newer version begins with almost identical words. Currently it (the newer one) is the first song on my playlist, and you may be hearing it as you read this!
Mostly, I want to cease from "sin and self" and take "life and rest, and joy and peace from my Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend!

1) ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His Word;
Just to rest upon His promise,
And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”

Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more!

2) Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
And in simple faith to plunge me
’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

3) Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

4) I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Calling All Poets! Calling All Creation!

O WORSHIP THE KING

Text: Robert Grant, 1779-1838
Music: Attr. to Johann Michael Haydn, 1737-1806)

1.                 O worship the King, all glorious above, 

                    O gratefully sing God's power and God's love; 

                    our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, 

                    pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

2.                 O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace, 

                    whose robe is the light, whose canopy space, 

                    whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form, 

                    and dark is God's path on the wings of the storm.

3.                 The earth with its store of wonders untold, 

                    Almighty, thy power hath founded of old; 

                    hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree, 

                    and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea.

4.                 Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite?

                    It breathes in the air, it shines in the light; 

                    it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, 

                    and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

5.                 Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, 

                    in thee do we trust, nor find thee to fail; 

                    thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, 

                    our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend. 

Calling all poets! Calling all creation! How many metaphors of God's Person and protection and provision can you find in this song? O for a thousand tongues to sing my Great Redeemer's praise!

First Snow

Our first "real" snow of this season is SO beautiful.  This bush in the front of our house wears it softly.

It evokes this response from me....in the words of an old hymn:

1. Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
   I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
   Break down every idol, cast out every foe—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow
   
   
   
   • Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
     Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
   
   
   
2. Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
   Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;
   To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
3. Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
   And help me to make a complete sacrifice;
   I give up myself, and whatever I know—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
4. Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
   I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,
   By faith for my cleansing, I see thy blood flow—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
5. Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;
   Come now and within me a new heart create;
   To those who have sought Thee Thou never said’st “No”—
   Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
6. The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
   Oh, glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
   My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
   The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.

I Shall Be Whiter than Snow by James L. Nicholson, 1872