Children of the Heav'nly Father

I found this poem today at this website, and I have just fallen in love with it. With what love our heavenly Father cares for His children!

Children of the Heav'nly Father

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.

-- Lina Sandell

Never forget those who were lost ten years ago.  Take some time to be away with the Lord today and lift up the families and friends who continue to grieve.  May He still use this tragedy for His glory and the salvation of many.  Pray also for the soldiers who continue to fight in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the families of those who have died in combat.

The Conversion of S. Paul

A blessed conversion, and a strange

Was that, when Saul a Paul became:

And, Lord, for making such a change,

We praise and glorify Thy name.

For whilst he went from place to place,

To persecute Thy truth and Thee;

(And running to perdition was)

By powerful grace called back was he.

When from Thy truth we go astray,

(Or wrong it through our blinded zeal)

Oh come, and stop us in the way,

And then Thy will to us reveal;

That brightness show us from above

Which proves the sensual eyesight blind:

And from our eyes those scales remove,

That hinder us the way to find.

And as Thy blessed servant Paul,

When he a convert once became,

Exceeded Thy Apostles all,

In painful preaching of Thy name:

So grant that those who have in sin

Exceeded others heretofore,

The start of them in faith may win,

Love, serve, and honor Thee the more.

-- George Wither

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!