Wilderness goodness and mercy 2014

I wanted to recap the year and get focused for the new year 2015.

It is amazing the challenges you can face in a year. Also the blessings are amazing.

"God sees you through every moment of your life. We have marched another year through the wilderness - yet surely goodness and mercy have followed.
Bless The Lord - He has done all things well - the eyes of The Lord have been upon you all year :)
"The eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon you, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." Some of you say, "I have had deep troubles this year." "I have lost a friend," says one. "Ah!" says another, "I have been impoverished this year." "I have been slandered," cries another. "I have been exceedingly vexed and grieved," says another. "I have been persecuted," says another. Well, but, beloved, take the year altogether—the blacks and the whites, the troubles and the joys, the hills and the valleys altogether, and what have you to say about it? You may say, "Surely goodness and mercy have followed me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever."
(CHS)
Spurgeon Sermon #58

Deuteronomy 11:12, 21

A land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

That your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth. (AMP)

Deuteronomy 11:12, 21
(NCV)
It is a land the Lord your God cares for. His eyes are on it continually, and he watches it from the beginning of the year to the end.

so that both you and your children will live a long time in the land the Lord promised your ancestors, as long as the skies are above the earth.

I wanted to recap 2014 with some on my favorite photos of 2014 and also some of the songs that helped me see the goodness and mercy of God in the wilderness times of the year.

Frost flowers
"No flowers wear so lovely a blue as those which grow at the foot of the frozen glacier; no stars gleam so brightly as those which glisten in the polar sky; no water tastes so sweet as that which springs amid the desert sand; and no faith is so precious as that which lives and triumphs in adversity."(CHS)

I was reading the morning before skiing in Song of Solomon in Chapter 2:17

"Until the day breathes

and the shadows flee,"

another meaning is

 "When the sun rises the shades of the night vanish,"

 Saw a scene the reflected these words on the road skiing.

So grateful for hope and a beam of light and revelation to encourage in our darkest times.

"..Friends ...come alongside us in our life's journey ... preserve (friendships) the most valuable of all possessions". (William Wilberforce)  

Psalm 121 
1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade on your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time forth and forevermore.

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

I was looking at a picture of my grand-daughter from a family picnic.

Glimpse - hair braided with care by another's hand,

fine dessert dish,

best ice cream and cookies,

hand reaching with confidence knowing the kindness and love of the one giving the treat,

a table that was used generations before her at the family farm. Generosity, trust and life preserving and giving back to us over and over again through the generations.

We can drift little by little, just as the water in the inlet keeps wearing away the sand and soon overflows.

As the water level rises as life's cares and worries they will choke the life out of me if I do not guard my heart.
Soon the narrow inlet and sandbars become covered and the ocean is indistinguishable from the inlet waterway. We lose our zeal for good and the disciplines of grace.

Though storms or waves break upon us, and they will,
we can stand firm. Our God will stand unshakable as an Anchor to our souls in the middle of the crashing waves of this life

Though we experience many wonderful days in our short life we also experience trials and some dark days.

One thing I AM THANKFUL for is that God wakens me each morning and as a loving Father gives me the desire to pursue Him in the reading of The Bible, and in reliance on the Holy Spirit gives me a word to sustain, and a listening ear to obey Jesus.

How do we prepare for those stark times of trial when we need provision? 
A glimpse of a field with hay bales quickened me to realize we care for the livestock through winter by preparation and hard work to store provisions. Likewise as we go through life we devote ourselves to the Word to build into our lives those views and convictions we need to get us through the wintry times.

Psalm 102:28 
The children of Your servants shall dwell safely and continue, and their descendants shall be established before You.

Rescue is needed many times in our lives. We are without strength even to pray or lift our head and the Spirit gives us life. It is a supernaturally infilling that we cannot do on our own, or our friends cannot do with even the best intentions and words of comfort.
I heard a song one day that reminded me how I have been "rescued".
We call. God answers and meets our needs and RESCUES. 

Mount Shuksan

Best songs I listened to 2014 and was encouraged

King Forever ny Elevation Worship

Only King Forever CCLI # 7011438

Written By: Pastor Steven Furtick, Wade Joye, Chris Brown, Mack Brock

VERSE 1:

Our God, a firm foundation Our rock, the only solid ground As nations rise and fall

Kingdoms once strong now shaken But we trust forever in your name The name of Jesus
We trust the name of Jesus

CHORUS:
You are the only King forever Almighty God we lift you higher You are the only King forever Forevermore, you are victorious

VERSE 2:

Unmatched in all your wisdom In love and justice you will reign Every knee will bow

We bring our expectations
Our hope is anchored in your name The name of Jesus
We trust the name of Jesus

BRIDGE:

We lift our banner high We lift the name of Jesus From age to age you reign Your kingdom has no end



It is Well by Bethel Music

Verse 1
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me

Verse 2
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see
And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

Bridge
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name

It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul

It is well with my soul


Last Word- by Elevation Worship


Last Word
Elevation Worship
CCLI # 7011447

Written By: Wade Joye, Mack Brock, Chris Brown, London Gatch, Pastor Steven Furtick

VERSE:
The storm rises from the deep And rages around me
But I will remember

When doubt wars within my heart The battle almost lost
I will remember

CHORUS:
You have the last word
It is finished
You have the last word
It is finished
My fear is silenced in your love My hope is endless

VERSE:
Your voice that calmed the violent sea Speaks courage over me
So I will remember

The words that wake the sun to rise Are breaking through my night
I will remember

BRIDGE:
Your word stands through the ages Your voice shatters the darkness
In you we are more than conquerors

You speak and strongholds surrender Your name overcomes the enemy
In you we are more than conquerors


Mountains- Hillsong United
See a light in the darkness
A city shining without a veil
This hill becoming a mountain
A solid rock that will never fail

Your name
My hope
Fortress in the raging storm
My heart
Is Your hope
Jesus let Your love take hold

The stone the builders rejected
Laid to ransom a fractured bride
A crushing weight on your shoulders
We stand forever with arms stretched wide

Your name
My hope
Fortress in the raging storm
My heart
Is Your hope
Jesus let Your love take hold
[x2]

For Your name, heart and soul
My life is Yours a living stone
For Your glory, heart and soul
Surrendered all to build our home
[x2]

Your name, my sure foundation
The hope of glory for one and all
Your love endures forever
Our only mountain that will not fall

All the earth, welcome hope
In every heart Your will be done
All Creation, welcome home
This hope is ours Your kingdom come

We cry holy, holy, holy
We cry holy is Your name
[x4]

For Your name, heart and soul
My life is Yours a living stone
For Your glory, heart and soul
Surrendered all to build our home


Came to my Rescue- Hillsong United

Falling on my knees in worship
Giving all I am to seek your face
Lord all I am is yours

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and I
I wanna be where you are

My whole life
I place in your hands
God of Mercy
Humbled I bow down
In your presence at your throne

I called you answered
And you came to my rescue and
I wanna be where you are

"Come as You Are"

"Come As You Are [feat. Crowder]" Lyrics

by Passion Worship Band | from the album Take It All

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

Come as you are
Come as you are

ANCHOR

Published on Jul 5, 2013

Hillsong Live Album Glorious Ruins, 2013, Name of Song: Anchor

VERSE

I have this hope

As an anchor for my soul

Through every storm

I will hold to You

With endless love

All my fear is swept away

In everything

I will trust in You

CHORUS

There is hope in the promise of the cross

You gave everything to save the world You love

And this hope is an anchor for my soul

Our God will stand

Unshakeable

VERSE

Unchanging One

You who was and is to come

Your promise sure

You will not let go

BRIDGE

Your Name is higher

Your Name is greater

All my hope is in You

Your word unfailing

Your promise unshaken

All my hope is in You

I Will Look Up

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEQnoE7SnZw

CCLI # 7011443

Written By: Matt Redman, Jason Ingram, Wade Joye, Chris Brown, Mack Brock

Verse 1:

All the worries of this world

I will lay them at your feet

Surrender every anxious thought for perfect peace, your perfect peace

Verse 2:

All the loved one's I hold dear

All my hopes and dreams and all my fears

I will choose to trust your name in everything, with everything

Chorus 1:

I will look up for there is none above you

I will bow down to tell you that I need You

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of all

Verse 3:

I will take you at your word

For Jesus you have taken hold of me

All my life is in your hands

You are my strength, you are my strength

Chorus 2:

I will look up for there is none above you

I will bow down to tell you that I need You

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of all

I will look back and see that you are faithful

I look ahead believing you are able

Jesus Lord of all

Jesus Lord of all

Bridge:

Prince of Peace

Perfect Healer

All my life, all my cares on you

King of Kings

Mighty Savior

All my life, all my cares on you

By Faith we live and hope for the future and for grace to carry on from one generation to the next.

"One day at a time" (GW)

FAITH WILL SOMEDAY MAKE ALL THINGS CLEAR

"from glory to glory; it is increasing, continuing, persevering faith, faith pressing forward, and getting ground of unbelief" (MHC)

Prince of Peace.

I was tempted to be anxious and fear concerning circumstances in life.
Peace is what I needed.
All week I focused on scriptures to encourage my soul. It was so difficult for me to rest in the Lord and have faith that God would hear my prayer. I would pray, but was overcome with doing an analysis of possibilities of the outcome and was ok to submit to God's perfect plan but my heart truly wanted my preferred outcome.
 I believe God does answer prayer but also adversity is allowed by God and it all is working for good and His glory, In this case, I prayed that any adversity would be held back or even placed on me instead of the person. It is harder to see those you love suffer than suffering yourself.

Christmas in the past has not always been peaceful to me. I want the season to be peaceful but I can sin in my attitude when the pressure is on to create a calm festive atmosphere. Pressure of the worldly intentions that prevail can get to me, so I have a tendency to overcompensate and have a negative way contrary to what I want to create. So having the pressure of the added uncertainty was probably the most intense battle agents the power of darkness that wanted to crush and discourage any hope of a good outcome.

The first verse brought to mind since it was the Christmas season included
 the"Prince of Peace."

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

As I prayed I recalled the verse
"They do not fear bad news;
    they confidently trust the Lord to care for them." (Psalm 112:7 NLT)



So I was growing expectant in faith and trusting a good report and answer to prayer,

I read chapters of "Trusting God when Life Hurts" by Jerry Bridges to get focused on the biblical response to suffering. I also read of God's steadfast love in the midst of adversity.

"For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,your faithfulness to the clouds." Psalm 57:10



I was calling on God  and it felt as if it was from the depths of a dark pit. I asked God to hear my plea.





Many times I pray for others or communicate with them in a way that wants to lift the burden to minimize the pain instead of meeting them in the middle of the adversity.

 John Piper's book has some encouragement concerning:

Suffering and The Sovereignty of God

by John Piper Chapters 8 and 9 

"We like to give easy answers to try to minimize the pain.
When someone says that they feel God has forsaken them, we think we
must quickly preach the truth that he will never leave us nor forsake us
(Heb. 13:5), or they will fall away and lose their faith.
Part of the problem is that we do not see such pain and deep grief
as normative in the Christian life. Yes, we all know that suffering is normative,
but we don’t take the time to really talk about the pain involved
in suffering."

"God cares about us in the midst of the pain. His goal isn’t just to get us out of the pain to the joy; he also wants us to see that he is for us and with us in the pain. It is true that weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning (Ps. 30:5). The morning will dawn and God will remove every tear (Rev. 21:4), but God is not just concerned about the morning, the new day when you can shout for joy. He is with us even in the night when there is nothing but weeping, when the tears are so thick that we can’t see. When we are in the deepest pit and darkness weighs on our souls and God feels so absent that we wonder if he is even real, (Psalm 88 reminds us that he is with us even then.")

"O Lord, God of my salvation;
    I cry out day and night before you.
 Let my prayer come before you;
    incline your ear to my cry!" Ps 88:1-2


I then thought about Jesus and how He is the Prince of Peace and that during the Christmas season it is a good time to refocus my mind and soul on this Peace that passes all understanding.

I recalled a song concerning peace. It is Well

Horatio Spafford suffered the loss of  his son, real estate lost in Chicago fire, and then 4 daughters died during travel over the sea when the ship sank they were traveling. He was said to have written this hymn when traveling to England to meet his wife who was the only one that survived the sinking ship.

He penned that Supernatural Peace  can come only from the cross of Christ.

Someday we may see the details of intricate workings of our trials and pain in the perfect plan of God.

It is Well- Horatio Spadafora
It is well with my soul byJeremy Riddle and Horatio Spafford

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well with my soul,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin—oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!—
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.





Another version of this song  provided peace and assurance that we would get through this adversity whatever the outcome and trust God going forward.

It is Well- Bethel Music

Verse 1
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard

Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well

Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me

Verse 2
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can't see

And this mountain that's in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea

Chorus
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well

Bridge x3
So let go my soul and trust in Him
The waves and wind still know His name
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
It is well with my soul
repeat 3x(increasing in strength and volume)

It is well it is well with my soul x3

Chorus x2-3
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You Lord
Through it all, through it all
It is well with me.
 Bethel Music - It Is Well Lyrics

God cares about us even before we are born and loves us. Each day we have to live has been written before they ever took shape. Awesome God !

Psalm 139

13 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I could count them, they would be more in number than the sand. When I awoke, [could I count to the end] I would still be with You.

We read in the Bible of God's covenant love for us and how it will not depart, and how peace will prevail and His compassion toward us.

Isaiah 54:10 (AMP)

10 For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My love and kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My covenant of peace and completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you.

Philippian 4:4,6-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always [delight, gladden yourselves in Him]; again I say, Rejoice!

6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.(AMP)

"Far as the curse is found.."

I saw a beautiful sunrise that was shouting Joy to the world! 

Zooming in I saw a telephone pole resembling a Cross that seem to speak peace to the hectic Christmas season.

"The pressure to buy gifts and plan for the holiday makes it increasingly difficult to stay focused on the real meaning of the holiday—the birth of Jesus, God’s only Son, the Savior of the world."

Joy to The World- 

by Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 98 in the Bible.

Verse 1
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven and nature sing,
And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Verse 2
Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

Verse 3
No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

Verse 4
He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love

Psalm 98

A psalm.

1 Sing a new song to the Lord,

    for he has done wonderful deeds.

His right hand has won a mighty victory;

    his holy arm has shown his saving power!

2 The Lord has announced his victory

    and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

3 He has remembered his promise to love and be faithful to Israel.

    The ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.

4 Shout to the Lord, all the earth;

    break out in praise and sing for joy!

5 Sing your praise to the Lord with the harp,

    with the harp and melodious song,

6 with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn.

    Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!

7 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

    Let the earth and all living things join in.

8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!

    Let the hills sing out their songs of joy

9 before the Lord,

    for he is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice,

    and the nations with fairness.

 God will make His good news known
 as “far as the curse is found.”

Tatoosh Range and MountAdams from Mount Rainier Nat Park- Photo by Justin Marx

Light is sweet..

Amazing how the years pass. I recall the younger days when we had more energy and seemed to enjoy every minute. Now I find myself reacting at times in a negative way to lifes' challenge. Also seems like move valleys along the way than mountain peaks as one ages. It does sadden me but as Solomon writes instructively that it shouldn't surprise me and that we are to not take our youth for granted and pursue God.

Ecc. 11
7 Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning.
8 When people live to be very old, let them rejoice in every day of life. But let them also remember there will be many dark days. Everything still to come is meaningless.

9 Young people, it’s wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do. 10 So refuse to worry, and keep your body healthy. But remember that youth, with a whole life before you, is meaningless.

Ecc. 12
1 Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, “Life is not pleasant anymore.” 2 Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. 3 Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.

4 Remember him before the door to life’s opportunities is closed and the sound of work fades. Now you rise at the first chirping of the birds, but then all their sounds will grow faint.

5 Remember him before you become fearful of falling and worry about danger in the streets; before your hair turns white like an almond tree in bloom, and you drag along without energy like a dying grasshopper, and the caperberry no longer inspires sexual desire. Remember him before you near the grave, your everlasting home, when the mourners will weep at your funeral.

6 Yes, remember your Creator now while you are young, before the silver cord of life snaps and the golden bowl is broken. Don’t wait until the water jar is smashed at the spring and the pulley is broken at the well. 7 For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it.
8 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless.”

Ecclesiastes 11:7- 12:8 (NLT)



Though we experience many wonderful days in our short life we also experience trials and some dark days.

"A summer’s day supposed to be enjoyed—that life may continue long, even many years, and that, by the goodness of God, it may be made comfortable and a man may rejoice in them all. There are those that live many years in this world, escape many dangers, receive many mercies, and therefore are secure that they shall want no good, and that no evil shall befal them, that the pitcher which has come so often from the well safe and sound shall never come home broken. But who are those that live many years and rejoice in them all? Alas! none; we have but hours of joy for months of sorrow. However, some rejoice in their years, their many years, more than others; if these two things meet, a prosperous state and a cheerful spirit, these two indeed may do much towards enabling a man to rejoice in them all, and yet the most prosperous state has its alloys and the most cheerful spirit has its damps; jovial sinners have their melancholy qualms, and cheerful saints have their gracious sorrows; so that it is but a supposition, not a case in fact, that a man should live many years and rejoice in them all. "(Matthew Henry Commentary )

"Oh, that they were wise and could understand this!

    Oh, that they might know their fate!" Deu 32:29 (NLT)

Charles Spurgeon said "Oh, Let us consider then, how uncertain life is. Talk we of a hair; it is something massive when compared with the thread of life. Speak we of a spiders web; it is ponderous compared with the web of life. We are but as a bubble; nay, less substantial. As a moment's foam upon the breaker, such as we are." (Sermon 304) 

"Let me think, too that when I die I must leave behind me all that I have on earth. Farewell! to that house which I have so fondly called my home. Farewell! to that preside and the little prattlers that have climbed my knee. Farewell I to her who has shared my life and been the beloved one of my bosom. Farewell! All things—the estate, the "old, the silver. Farewell! earth. Thy fairest beauties melt away, thy most melodious strains die in the dim distance. I hear no more, and see no more, Ears and eyes are closed, and men shall carry me out and bury their dead out of their sight. And, now, farewell! "

Sermon 304

As I grow older I recall the blessings in this life and I'm thankful.

Read a quote concerning William Wilberforce-

"Sometimes ..tears flow when we are seated beside a lake at sunset and a palpable sense of  Gods goodness overtakes us even as it is mirrored in the sky. Wilberforce shed tears of joy when he was alone with God, and he was overwhelmed with a sense of all that God had done in his life. He knew what it was to have felt the touch of amazing grace. 

Mountains- Hillsong United

See a light in the darkness
A city shining without a veil
This hill becoming a mountain
A solid rock that will never fail

Your name
My hope
Fortress in the raging storm
My heart
Is Your hope
Jesus let Your love take hold

The stone the builders rejected
Laid to ransom a fractured bride
A crushing weight on your shoulders
We stand forever with arms stretched wide

Your name
My hope
Fortress in the raging storm
My heart
Is Your hope
Jesus let Your love take hold
[x2]

For Your name, heart and soul
My life is Yours a living stone
For Your glory, heart and soul
Surrendered all to build our home
[x2]

Your name, my sure foundation
The hope of glory for one and all
Your love endures forever
Our only mountain that will not fall

All the earth, welcome hope
In every heart Your will be done
All Creation, welcome home
This hope is ours Your kingdom come

We cry holy, holy, holy
We cry holy is Your name
[x4]

For Your name, heart and soul
My life is Yours a living stone
For Your glory, heart and soul
Surrendered all to build our home

Family..view

I was thinking about family recently. Family is such a refreshing blessing. No matter how tough your day is or week, when you think of family- warm thoughts generally fill the mind and the recounting of God's Blessings stirs the heart to thankfulness. The Lord is so kind and merciful! Surrounding us with family is just one expression of this kind mercy.

Psalm 145 is a great reminder that The Lord Is Kind and Merciful. Also that those that have come before us tell us how wonderful God is and also that the next generation will carry on telling the wonderful and powerful deeds of God to family in our future.

Psalm 145 (CEV)
1 I will praise you,
    my God and King,
    and always honor your name.
2 I will praise you each day
    and always honor your name.
3 You are wonderful, Lord,
    and you deserve all praise,
    because you are much greater
    than anyone can understand.
4 Each generation will announce
    to the next your wonderful
    and powerful deeds.



5 I will keep thinking about
   your marvelous glory
    and your mighty miracles.
6 Everyone will talk about
    your fearsome deeds,
    and I will tell all nations
    how great you are.




7 They will celebrate and sing
    about your matchless mercy
    and your power to save.
8 You are merciful, Lord!
    You are kind and patient
    and always loving.
9 You are good to everyone,
    and you take care
    of all your creation.




10 All creation will thank you,
    and your loyal people
    will praise you.
11 They will tell about
    your marvelous kingdom
    and your power.
12 Then everyone will know about
    the mighty things you do
    and your glorious kingdom.
13 Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.
Our Lord, you keep your word
    and do everything you say






14 When someone stumbles or falls,
    you give a helping hand.



15 Everyone depends on you,
and when the time is right,
    you provide them with food.
16 By your own hand
    you satisfy
    the desires of all who live.

17 Our Lord, everything you do
    is kind and thoughtful,
18 and you are near to everyone
    whose prayers are sincere.
19 You satisfy the desires
    of all your worshipers,
    and you come to save them
    when they ask for help.

20 You take care of everyone
who loves you,
    but you destroy the wicked.
21 I will praise you, Lord,
    and everyone will respect
    your holy name forever.

"The Lord is my portion, saith my soul." Lamentations 3:24

Family is such a blessing in our lives but we all know the the love experienced in this lifetime is just a reflection of the God we serve, and that if trial and separation happen in our family that God is     all-sufficient. Though things in this life fade and perish we can say-

"Deep in my heart I say,

“The Lord is all I need;

    I can depend on him!”

"That God is, and ever will be, the all-sufficient happiness of his people, and they have chosen him and depend upon him to be such (Lam. 3:24): The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; that is,
 1. “When I have lost all I have in the world, liberty, and livelihood, and almost life itself, yet I have not lost my interest in God.” Portions on earth are perishing things, but God is portion for ever.
2. “While I have an interest in God, therein I have enough; I have that which is sufficient to counterbalance all my troubles and make up all my losses.” Whatever we are robbed of our portion is safe.
3. “This is that which I depend upon and rest satisfied with: Therefore will I hope in him. I will stay myself upon him, and encourage myself in him, when all other supports and encouragements fail me.” Note, It is our duty to make God the portion of our souls, and then to make use of him as our portion and to take the comfort of it in the midst of our lamentations." (MHC Lam 3:24)


Morning Nov 16
 Charles Spurgeon

morning-and-evening 2014/11/16

It is not "The Lord is partly my portion," nor "The Lord is in my portion"; but he himself makes up the sum total of my soul's inheritance. Within the circumference of that circle lies all that we possess or desire. 

The Lord is my portion. Not his grace merely, nor his love, nor his covenant, but Jehovah himself. He has chosen us for his portion, and we have chosen him for ours. It is true that the Lord must first choose our inheritance for us, or else we shall never choose it for ourselves; but if we are really called according to the purpose of electing love, we can sing--

"Lov'd of my God for him again

With love intense I burn;

Chosen of him ere time began,

I choose him in return."

The Lord is our all-sufficient portion. God fills himself; and if God is all-sufficient in himself, he must be all- sufficient for us. It is not easy to satisfy man's desires. When he dreams that he is satisfied, soon he wakes to the perception that there is somewhat yet beyond, and straightway the horse-leech in his heart cries, "Give, give." But all that we can wish for is to be found in our divine portion, so that we ask, "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee." Well may we "delight ourselves in the Lord" who makes us to drink of the river of his pleasures. Our faith stretches her wings and mounts like an eagle into the heaven of divine love as to her proper dwelling-place. "The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a goodly heritage." Let us rejoice in the Lord always; let us show to the world that we are a happy and a blessed people, and thus induce them to exclaim, "We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you."

"He loves YOU "