John 12:28

Now My heart is troubled, and what shall I say? “Father, deliver me from this hour”?

No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

Father, glorify Your Name.

Instead of wanting to be simply delivered from what He was about to endure, Jesus knew that His troubled and sorrowful heart was part of what He came to do. He saw a bigger purpose behind the momentary pain and suffering. His foremost desire was for the Father’s glory. If it took anguish on His part in order that His Father might be glorified, He was willing to endure it.

- Ingot -

I learned a new word today – ingot.

According to the online dictionary:

in·got

 n. 1. A mass of metal, such as a bar or block, that is cast in a standard shape for convenient storage or shipment.

2. A casting mold for metal 

 

I had never heard this word before, so thank you for helping me feel just a little bit wiser, Daddy! [grin]

Random…

It’s so weird to be able run around without even a coat in early November, but I’m enjoying it immensely. I don’t think it will last very long, but I’m loving it while it does!

I took my traditional Sunday afternoon walk today, and I got to wear flip-flops! I had packed them away for next summer a month or two ago, but dug them out for one last fling this year. At first, I couldn’t find them, and I had to dig around for a while before I found even one. It’s pretty frustrating to not be able to find the pair of shoes you want to wear, but it’s even more frustrating to only be able to find one. You’re so close … and yet still so far away! [grin] But I found both of them eventually, and had a lovely walk.

I was just praying while I was out walking that the Lord would teach me to let Him use me to bring glory to Him, and that I would not be afraid to take the opportunities to serve Him when He gives them to me. Just then, the lady who lives next door to us rounded the corner, and we were able to walk the whole “circle” in our development together and just talk. It was so nice, and I felt like the Lord had answered my prayer right then, by giving me the opportunity to walk and talk with her. It was neat, and I walked home rejoicing and thanking the Lord for that time with her.

As I was writing this post, I was listening to Meredith Andrews singing You’re Not Alone. It is one of my favorite songs, as the words are so meaningful.

You’re not alone, for I am here, let Me wipe away your every fear.

My love, I’ve never left your side, I have seen you through the darkest night.

And I’m the One Who’s loved you all your life.

Faithful and true, forever. My love will carry you.

 I can trust and believe that the deep, deep love of Jesus is all I truly need, for today, for tomorrow…and the years ahead. Oh, the rich and unfathomable depths of His love, that have stretched from everlasting to everlasting! My flesh cries, “Lord, but what if…?” But, He is all I need right now, and I can take one day, one step at a time, believing and rejoicing that He will be all I need then, too. Could I dare even consider that this deepness which I cannot even comprehend could be exhausted in any amount of time?

Oh, the deep, deep love; All I need and trust is the deep, deep love of Jesus.

Oh, The Deep, Deep Love

 

Oh, the deep, deep love; All I need and trust is the deep, deep love of Jesus.

 

VOM slideshow

This is a slideshow that I made to be shown at our church of pictures from our trip to The Voice of the Martyrs.

The music doesn’t really fit, but it was the best of what I had. Enjoy it anyway! :)

Sometimes the weather amazes me…

 

65 degrees at 7:30 PM on November 6!

And it’s supposed to be COLD! :)

When good things must die

The fair new petals must fall, and for no visible reason.  No one seems enriched by the stripping.

And the first step into the realm of giving is a like surrender — not manward, but Godward: an utter yielding of our best.  So long as our idea of surrender is limited to the renouncing of unlawful things, we have nver grasped its true meaning: that is  not worthy of the name, for “no polluted thing” can be offered.

The life lost on the crosswas not a sinful one — the treasure poured forth there was God-given; a God-blessed treasure, lawful and righ to be kept: only that there was the life of the world at stake.

What kind of a God is it Who asks everything of us?

The same God “Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).

 

He gives all . He asks all.

Passion and Purity

Peaceful place

Doesn’t it make you want to just sit down and read?

Emma’s song

This is probably my favorite part of the movie Emma. Did You Not Hear My Lady is such a pretty song.

This song was written by G. F. Handel for the opera Tolomeo in the 1700’s. It’s original title was Silent Worship.

From an autumn walk

There’s nothing like a walk on a gorgeous fall day. God’s creation simply amazes me. It’s too beautiful for words. It’s so calming and peaceful to be out with the breeze rustling in the trees, and all the warm golden hues, with the sun reflecting off it all. I love it!

Some of the things I saw while I was out enjoying the weather today…

Berries…

and flowers…

and those beautiful fuzzy-things that I don’t know what they’re called…:)

and soft, spongy moss…

and deer tracks…

and ruby-red leaves…

 

 

A simple prayer

 

In my life, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.

In my life, Lord, be glorified…today.

Isaiah 35

Water will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert.

The burning sand will become a pool, the thirsty ground bubbling springs.

And a highway will be there; it will be called

the Way of Holiness…it will be for those who walk in that way.

Isaiah 35:6,8

The Joy Song

I saw raindrops on my window,

Joy is like the rain.

Laughter runs across my pain,

Slips away and comes again.

Joy is like the rain.

:::::

I saw clouds upon a mountain,

Joy is like a cloud.

Sometimes silver, sometimes grey;

Always sun not far away.

Joy is like a cloud.

:::::

I baby-sat for a family this afternoon, and this simple song is often requested for me to sing by their little girls. I can still hear their voices ringing in my ears,

“Miss Bryant, Miss Bryant, sing the joy song, please, the joy song!”

 The real title is Joy is Like the Rain, but they prefer to call it simply “the joy song.” :)

 

 

A year ago, I was taking a course to prepare me to be a counselor at a camp that I’ve gone to for many years, and for this course, we studied Philippians. This book talks a lot about joy, and so one of the questions that the instructor once asked me was, 

“What is the difference between joy and happiness?”

My answer was that anyone can have temporary joy or happiness about that happened to them, or something they like. But when that feeling “runs out”, they have nothing to do but wait untill the next thing that gives them that good feeling. But for the Christian, although we also will feel happiness about something from time to time, when the feeling runs out, we must have this inner joy to rely one. This joy comes from belonging to Christ. And this joy is a choice; it doesn’t depend on surroundings or circumstances. We choose to focus on, believe in, and look forward to that promise of eternity which we will spend worshipping our Lord and Savior face to face. No matter what happens (or doesn’t happen) here, in this life, nothing and no one can take that promise away from us.

:::::

 I saw Christ in wind and thunder,

Joy is tried by storm.

Christ asleep within my boat,

Whipped by wind, yet still afloat.

Joy is tried by storm.

:::::

 

Random

With my sister at Gooseberry Falls, Duluth, MN — July ‘09

(and if you ever hear a story from my family about me nearly falling off the falls soon after this picture was taken, it is simply not true. I only tripped just a little and said “Whoa!” I was fine, though.) [grin]

 

Never looking back

Lord, I have said the eternal “Yes.”

Let me never, having put my hand to the plow, look back.

Make straight the way of the cross before me.

Give me love, that there may be no room for a wayward thought or step.

Elisabeth Elliot Gren

A thought

When it comes to pouring out all we possess in radical abandon to the King of all kings, there is no such thing as being too extreme.

Nothing we offer to Him out of a heart of loving devotion is ever a wasted sacrifice.

 Leslie Ludy

 

The Lord has been teaching me that learning to surrender to Him is a daily, moment-by-moment choice, a daily taking up what He has given me to bear and following Him. I can’t expect to say to Him once, “Lord, I want Your will,” and expect to never struggle with surrendering to Him ever again. He’s taught me that it’s okay to struggle with it every day, and it’s okay to be brutally honest with Him about what’s really going on. (After all, I’m not going to “suprise” Him!). It’s okay to tell Him, “Lord, right now, I really, really want what I want!”…so long as I follow that statement up with, “But I’m still going to trust that You know BEST!”

  ”Life requires countless ‘little’ deaths — occasions when we are given the chance to say “no” to self and “yes” to God.”

 Elisabeth Elliott Gren

I know that as I choose to “die” these “little deaths” (no matter how repetitious they may seem), that slowly but surely, that trust and dependence on my Savior will grow with each little step.

All to You, all to You;

I give it all to You.