In the Morning

I wrote this song about a week and a half ago as I was thinking about how busy I was going to be once I started college and continued on with work and everything.  I have made mornings my times for devotions for about four or five years now, but with starting work and everything it has sometimes had to be shortened.  I wanted to remind myself that my mornings with the Lord aren't just times to dutifully read four chapters out of my Bible, but to learn of Him, to speak with Him about my day, and to worship Him before anything else.  I really like how the song turned out; it has helped remind me that these mornings with God are precious and should come first and foremost, before anything else.  I'm going to try and record it this weekend, but for now here are the lyrics.

In the Morning

By Sarah Butler

Seeking Your face in the morning

Is one of the hardest things to do

Seeking Your face in the morning,

When all the world is askew

To lift my hands in worship

Would add so much to my day

But I don't lift my hands in worship;

Instead, I just go on my way.

Thanking You for Your blessings

The sunshine, and more, for the rain

Remembering all of Your goodness

At the start of a brand new day

To thank You for my family

And the love that You pour down

But I don't thank You for the blessings;

Instead, I just grumble and frown.

Lifting up the trials

And also the blessings that You give

To ask You for Your guidance

That I might know how to live

To lift this time before You

Would add so much to my day

But I just speak to You once in the morning

And otherwise, forget how to pray.

Seeking Your face in the morning

Is one of the best things to do

Praising You for Your wonders

And basking in Your love anew

Thanking You for my family

And for all, for me, You did

God, I ask Your blessing on this morning;

Show me how You want me to live.

Laboring as to the Lord

Happy Labor Day, everybody!

Around here, holidays like Labor Day don't do much to change our daily life.  Daddy works at home, so it isn't like this is a special day off of work, and with Ellie being homeschooled she takes about one day a week off.  Rachel and I are only going to CNM on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so we didn't get a day off of school.  But today has just been amazing so far!  I have all of my homework done, so what I've been doing today is just stuff to get a little bit ahead.  Mama, Chloe, and I went to Walmart to get stuff for our Labor Day cookout and, wouldn't you know it, God blessed us with three mountain bikes, one each for me, Rachel, and Ellie, on sale for just $29 each!  We've all been thinking that it would be nice to buy bikes, and these are just fantastic (fantastically cheap too)!  This afternoon we went and tested them out all together, and then made shish kebabs while Ellie made chocolate chip zucchini bread (amazing).  Right now I'm taking a break from psychology before we go eat dinner together.  The rest of our evening plans include a Bible study together, maybe some singing, as well as making smores, using up some leftover fireworks, and watching a Steven Curtis Chapman DVD we've had for about three months and still haven't watched.

My point to all of this is just to say that, amidst all the hubbub of starting college and continuing on at McDonalds and everything else, there is peace in the Lord.  He is showing me how He will set me free from worry and stress if only I'll give it all to Him and realize that, really, what is there to worry about?  The worst thing that could happen is that I fail all four of my college classes (I dropped my chemistry), and if that happens I can just retake them or do something with my life that doesn't require a degree.  I want to take care of orphans, after all, and raising kids doesn't require a college degree.  Teaching kids does, though, and that's what I'm leaning towards majoring in now.  If that's His will for me, God will see me through!  In the end it's all a matter of perspective.  Why on earth would I worry?  It won't add a single hour; rather, it will waste the hours God has given me in which to glorify Him.  Let's use this time wisely, and labor for Him.

And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds! And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span? If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

 Luke 12:22-32

A Thousand Tongues

Love this song!

200!

For starters, this is my 200th post!  Hurray!

Secondly, I wanted to share the lyrics to a new song I wrote based off of John 8 and the account of the woman caught in adultery, specifically these verses:

Straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they?  Did no one condemn you?"

She said, "No one, Lord."  And Jesus said, "I do not condemn you, either.  Go.  From now on sin no more."

John 8:10-11

Have They Left You Here?

"Woman, have they left you here?
Though your sin is great, and you could not draw near?"
Then He lifted me, and He held me close,
And He said, "My daughter, no one will ever cast that stone."

On the road I tarry, knowing what before me waits
The chief men rush ahead of God, eager to deal my fate
They push and crowd and grip the stones, and look 'round to He
The One they call the Son of God, and He asks, "Is this she?"

I cannot meet His eyes.  I am guilty, He is God!
He is the Maker; I, the sod.
But from His mouth I hear kind words, strange to my ears,
And slowly the people dissipate; He says, "Woman, do not fear."

"Woman, they have left you here,
Though your sin is great and you cannot draw near.
Know My name is Love, and it is for you.
Come to Me, My daughter, though I know all that you do."

I'm going to try and record it soon, and when I do I'll post the video on here.  I hope you enjoyed it!

If you have time (and even if you don't, make time), check out this video that Luke posted on his blog.  It's incredible.

Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Praising the One Who has given me every blessing, and not given what I deserved...



Come, Thou fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace.
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount!  I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I come.
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wand'ring from the fold of God.
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.

O that day when, freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face.
Clothed then in blood-washed linen
How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace!
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless days.

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm contrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love.
Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

-- Robert Robinson