wild melody

I discovered our long-lost old hymnal last weekend while I was changing our closet light bulb. (hhmm reminds me of a good rk song.) Some of the them have a depth and richness not easy to find in contemporary "pop-praise". The first stanza of "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say" particularly stood out this morning. In fact, one of my friends wrote a melody for it so I hear it sometimes on my ipod. I am super-grateful for God giving folks in every generation the gift of God-directed expression in writing and music. I heard the voice of Jesus say, 'Come unto me and rest; Lay down thy weary one, lay down They head upon my breast." I came to Jesus as I was Weary, and worn, and sad I found in Him a resting place And He has made me glad I heard the voice of Jesus say "Behold, I freely give The living water thirsty one, Stoop down, and drink, and live." I came to Jesus and I drank Of that life giving stream; My thirst was quenched, my soul revived, And now I ...

The Packers absolutely destroyed the Chicago Bears today. We let them get a field goal in the fourth quarter so they could have a little something on the score board. Green Bay winning 37-3 . That, my friends, is a big deal. (Big" when it comes to useless and trivial things, that is. ;)

How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, at your altars, O LORD of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength ; each one appears before God in Zion. O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob! Behold our shield, O God; look on the face of your anointed! For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere.. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. N...

"By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood And fired the shot heard round the world. The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set today a votive made of stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, and leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Concord Hymn" I'm not a huge poetry fan and even less an Emerson fan. But Veteran's Day was a good time to share one of the few that I do like. Even if it's technically honoring veterans from the Revolution. (i guess sometimes i do cave into the "obligatory holiday posts"...)

Wednesday night in my caregroup, we sang two songs centered on the goodness of God. I'm thinking this is something God wants me to focus on... I was especially encouraged by a few lines in the chorus of the one of the old Sovereign Grace songs "You're So Good to Me": " For you have crowned my days With overwhelming grace Lord, You're so good to me Though troubles fall like rain This precious truth remains Lord, You're so good to me Yes You're so good to me ..." Those 3 lines sparked such joy in my heart. Truth is not changed by circumstances. This is truth: God is good to all those whom He has chosen. (indeed, His goodness is shown even to those who rebel against Him in the form of common grace. "Did the sun come up this morning?" as John Piper would say--but that's for another post.) The truth of God's goodness has a solid foundation in the gospel. No other appearance of goodness is needed to prove that God is who He says He i...

Sunday was interesting. There is much I could say but I'd rather express appreciation for the love of God shown to my family by His people. To update the situation: Late saturday night, Grandpa had sudden health problems. His symptoms were such that he was in a coma-like state for awhile. He's been recovering from his second leg amputation. He appears to be slowly on the mend but still confused and lethargic. The amputation site is fine, but there are other things going on. Nobody is sure yet what is causing the confusion. In a way, it's not that important. What is of most importance is that he knows the gospel. God is sustaining. He doesn't belong to us, he doesn't belong to earth. He belongs to God. On to the thankfulness. How kind of God to give us dear friends! My fam has been very blessed by folks wanting to care for us. (I mentioned the situation to one person in explanation of my absence from children's ministry and it seems half the church knew. Which is...

Lana posted this on her blog today. I found it applied so well to my family that I'm stealing it. This, my friends, is the reason why we can be okay with not knowing what is wrong with Grandpa, how long it could take him to recover, how fully he will recover, or a million other questions that tempt us. “It is just as well for us that in all the variableness of life there is One whom change cannot affect, One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow inconsistency can make no furrows…The delight that the sailor feels when, having been tossed about on the waves, he steps again upon the solid shore is the satisfaction of a Christian when, in all the changes of this distressing life, he rests the foot of his faith upon this truth —‘I THE LORD DO NOT CHANGE.’” “ The stability that the anchor gives the ship when it has at last obtained a solid hold is like that which the Christian’s hope provides him when it fixes itself upon this glorious truth .With God ‘there is no variation or s...