Today is a gloomy, rainy Saturday.
I am sick and on antibiotics, but I made myself go out to do some necessary errands. The news came on the radio, and, hearing the re-hash of all that is going on, made me feel worse than I did already! As I pulled out of the library parking lot I saw the red light at the intersection around the corner and applied my brakes. How thankful I am for that red light because having to stop enabled me to read the bumper sticker on the car in front of me. ...
It said ... "RELAX - God is in control."
As the light turned green I wished I could thank the driver of the car. Wow! - It was the shortest green light interval I ever remember at that intersection. That driver and I were stopped again. I put my car in park, got out and walked up to the driver's window and knocked. He looked at me quizzically, but rolled down his window. I said, "I want to thank you for the message on your bumper sticker. I needed that!" He smiled the biggest, happiest smile I have seen in a long time and said to me with a comforting Haitian accent, "You are very welcome!"
I walked back to my car thanking God for His message through that dear man.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pray ... "For Our Children"
I have never had any children of my own, but having taught for over 40 years I have had the wonderful opportunity to love hundreds of children. Over those 40+ years, I have seen many changes in our culture, changes which create great concern for "my" children and the children of "my" children.
Scripture says, "... whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
Everything contrary to what that Scripture verse says was present 2000 years ago when it was penned, but in today's culture with the media, the internet, facebook, etc. etc. the contrary is ever so much more readily accessible. All of this can be used for good, but the temptation for our children (and for us) is ever present for the contrary.
I am always challenged and/or encouraged by reading Amy Carmichael's books. She was an Irish missionary to India in the last century who worked to rescue children from temple prostitution. Today I came across this prayer/poem that she wrote. Lord, help me to be faithful to pray for "my" children.
FOR OUR CHILDREN
FATHER hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.
Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the trecherous quicksand, pluck them.
From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Holy Father, save our children.
Through life's troubled water's steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them,
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.
And wherever they may hide,
Lead them Home at eventide.
Scripture says, "... whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)
Everything contrary to what that Scripture verse says was present 2000 years ago when it was penned, but in today's culture with the media, the internet, facebook, etc. etc. the contrary is ever so much more readily accessible. All of this can be used for good, but the temptation for our children (and for us) is ever present for the contrary.
I am always challenged and/or encouraged by reading Amy Carmichael's books. She was an Irish missionary to India in the last century who worked to rescue children from temple prostitution. Today I came across this prayer/poem that she wrote. Lord, help me to be faithful to pray for "my" children.
FOR OUR CHILDREN
FATHER hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.
Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the trecherous quicksand, pluck them.
From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Holy Father, save our children.
Through life's troubled water's steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them,
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.
And wherever they may hide,
Lead them Home at eventide.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Holiness
“Mark well the great advantages you have for the attainment of holiness by seeking it in a right gospel order.You will have the advantage of the love God manifested towards you, in forgiving your sins, receiving you into favor, and giving you the spirit of adoption, and the hope of His glory freely through Christ, to persuade and constrain you by sweet allurements to love God again, who has so dearly loved you, and to love others for His sake, and to give up yourselves to the obedience of all His commands out of hearty love to Him.You will also enjoy the help of the Spirit of God to incline you powerfully to obedience, and to strengthen you for the performance of it against all your corruptions and the temptations of Satan, so that you will have both wind and tide to forward your voyage in the practice of holiness.”
— Walter Marshall, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 1999), 97
— Walter Marshall, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 1999), 97
Monday, February 9, 2009
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Sanctitiy of Life
Sermon by Al Mohler ... you can listen to it here ...
http://wordsofgrace.wordpress.com/recently-on-my-ipod/
(Scroll down til you get to Al Mohler on Abortion. There are other things you may also find interesting.)
http://wordsofgrace.wordpress.com/recently-on-my-ipod/
(Scroll down til you get to Al Mohler on Abortion. There are other things you may also find interesting.)
Make 15 minutes for this film ...
I saw this posted on Randy Alcorn's blog ...
please watch ... very powerful!
"Volition" masterfully places its unnamed central character in the context of three of the greatest human rights violations in history: the holocaust, slavery, and abortion.
http://randyalcorn.blogspot.com/2008/12/volition-terrific-15-minute-film.html
please watch ... very powerful!
"Volition" masterfully places its unnamed central character in the context of three of the greatest human rights violations in history: the holocaust, slavery, and abortion.
http://randyalcorn.blogspot.com/2008/12/volition-terrific-15-minute-film.html
25 little bits about me ...
A friend asked me to do this to post on facebook.
I thought it would be a good way to introduce myself here on my new blog.
1. Since this is most recent in my mind ... from today ... I do not enjoy having to give a big chunk of my weekend doing schoolwork. The weekend is for REST and other things! ... But, ahhhh, my mid-term reports are done. :) ... feels great!
2. I was born a month and two days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and I remember air raid sirens and black-out curtains. I also remember ration stamps and squeezing the color into the margerine. (Great fun for kids!)
2. I started kindergarten at age four in September of 1945!
3. When I was 20 months old, my mother had twins, a boy and a girl. She was VERY busy and never sick, at least as far as I ever knew because I never heard her complain! ;)
4. My father was born in Sweden and came to this country in 1924 with his family, at the age of 14. He knew 2 words of English when he got off the boat at Ellis Island ... yes and no ... but became an avid reader in ENGLISH, and an excellent crossword puzzle worker in the same language. He also took his driving test in ENGLISH.
5. Can you tell I am not a fan of "English as a second language" in the schools? IMHO, it handicaps, rather than helps, those who want to live and prosper here ... rather than becoming independent citizens, they are "groomed" to be dependent.
6. When I was in first grade, my teacher, and everything I was learning, was all so wonderful that I decided I would be a first grade teacher when I grew up.
7. My parents did not, nor could not, give us the newest things out there. It was war-time (WWII, then the Korean War), and times were tough. My mother used to cut down old cast-off coats from various places to make us a new winter coat each year. When I got what I wanted for Christmas, I would often cry because I truly didn't think that it would be possible, but they scraped and saved to make it so, and I remember them with great appreciation, love, and respect.
8. My childhood prepared me for adult life when I still don't have everything I want, but a great appreciation and thankful heart for what I do have.
9. My mother nursed us with TLC when we were sick, but we were not allowed to whimper about minor things, another preparation for the chronic pain I now have. When I am tempted to have a pity party, I can hear her lovingly say, "You'll live!" ;)
10. We listened to the radio for entertainment ... Jack Benny, The Shadow, Fibber McGee, Amos and Andy, I Love a Mystery ... it was great fun to gather round the radio as a family.
11. TV wasn't common in the public arena til I was in elementary school. We didn't get one until I was in the 4th grade because my parents had to save the money for it for a lonnnnnng time. My favorite programs were "Howdy Doody" and "I Remember Mama".
12. Our bedtime when we were in elementary school was 7:30. I didn't like that when I was in 5th grade, and "I Love Lucy" was talked about at school. I only got to watch her when it was school vacation.
13. Bedtime advanced to 9:30 when we were in high school. If we didn't have our homework done, we had to set the alarm to get up early to finish it ... pretty hard when you are not a morning person.
14. When I was a senior in high school, I worked in a department store. During the Christmas season I worked every night 'til 9:30 because I was saving money to pay for my brother, sister, and me to go to the church youth group retreat. (You guessed it, I had to go to bed when I got home, and set the alarm to get up at 5:30 the next morning. I was surprised and ecstatic when I got all A's on my report card!)
15. Ooops ... I'll never get to #25 at this rate! ... So ... fast forward to this century!
16. I have diabetes and shoot insulin into my belly 4 x a day.
17. I took to the computer like a duck takes to water. It is a great work tool, as well as being a great way to keep in touch with friends near and far. Lots of things about it are just plain fun, too!
18. I used to have long, thick hair that I always wore in braids when I was a kid. When I developed hypothyroidism, my hair lost its glory and thickness, so I keep it very short!
19. The echoing sensation and the glaring lights in a mall affect me in a negative way, so I rarely go to one unless I know what I want and where to find it in the mall and can quickly pop in and out.
20. I do not like Scrabble, but I play it to make friends happy.
21. I LOVE the board game Sequence.
If you have never played it, you must ... it is so FUN!
22. I wish I could see my sister more often, but she lives 1200 miles away.
23. I love coffee! ... I guess that makes me a true "Svenska Flicka"! (It's a great combination with a good book ... I have always loved to read ever since I learned how.)
24. I love my church family and the faithful teaching from the Word of God by my pastor.
25. I am thankful for the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Without Him I would be lost and miserable!
I thought it would be a good way to introduce myself here on my new blog.
1. Since this is most recent in my mind ... from today ... I do not enjoy having to give a big chunk of my weekend doing schoolwork. The weekend is for REST and other things! ... But, ahhhh, my mid-term reports are done. :) ... feels great!
2. I was born a month and two days before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and I remember air raid sirens and black-out curtains. I also remember ration stamps and squeezing the color into the margerine. (Great fun for kids!)
2. I started kindergarten at age four in September of 1945!
3. When I was 20 months old, my mother had twins, a boy and a girl. She was VERY busy and never sick, at least as far as I ever knew because I never heard her complain! ;)
4. My father was born in Sweden and came to this country in 1924 with his family, at the age of 14. He knew 2 words of English when he got off the boat at Ellis Island ... yes and no ... but became an avid reader in ENGLISH, and an excellent crossword puzzle worker in the same language. He also took his driving test in ENGLISH.
5. Can you tell I am not a fan of "English as a second language" in the schools? IMHO, it handicaps, rather than helps, those who want to live and prosper here ... rather than becoming independent citizens, they are "groomed" to be dependent.
6. When I was in first grade, my teacher, and everything I was learning, was all so wonderful that I decided I would be a first grade teacher when I grew up.
7. My parents did not, nor could not, give us the newest things out there. It was war-time (WWII, then the Korean War), and times were tough. My mother used to cut down old cast-off coats from various places to make us a new winter coat each year. When I got what I wanted for Christmas, I would often cry because I truly didn't think that it would be possible, but they scraped and saved to make it so, and I remember them with great appreciation, love, and respect.
8. My childhood prepared me for adult life when I still don't have everything I want, but a great appreciation and thankful heart for what I do have.
9. My mother nursed us with TLC when we were sick, but we were not allowed to whimper about minor things, another preparation for the chronic pain I now have. When I am tempted to have a pity party, I can hear her lovingly say, "You'll live!" ;)
10. We listened to the radio for entertainment ... Jack Benny, The Shadow, Fibber McGee, Amos and Andy, I Love a Mystery ... it was great fun to gather round the radio as a family.
11. TV wasn't common in the public arena til I was in elementary school. We didn't get one until I was in the 4th grade because my parents had to save the money for it for a lonnnnnng time. My favorite programs were "Howdy Doody" and "I Remember Mama".
12. Our bedtime when we were in elementary school was 7:30. I didn't like that when I was in 5th grade, and "I Love Lucy" was talked about at school. I only got to watch her when it was school vacation.
13. Bedtime advanced to 9:30 when we were in high school. If we didn't have our homework done, we had to set the alarm to get up early to finish it ... pretty hard when you are not a morning person.
14. When I was a senior in high school, I worked in a department store. During the Christmas season I worked every night 'til 9:30 because I was saving money to pay for my brother, sister, and me to go to the church youth group retreat. (You guessed it, I had to go to bed when I got home, and set the alarm to get up at 5:30 the next morning. I was surprised and ecstatic when I got all A's on my report card!)
15. Ooops ... I'll never get to #25 at this rate! ... So ... fast forward to this century!
16. I have diabetes and shoot insulin into my belly 4 x a day.
17. I took to the computer like a duck takes to water. It is a great work tool, as well as being a great way to keep in touch with friends near and far. Lots of things about it are just plain fun, too!
18. I used to have long, thick hair that I always wore in braids when I was a kid. When I developed hypothyroidism, my hair lost its glory and thickness, so I keep it very short!
19. The echoing sensation and the glaring lights in a mall affect me in a negative way, so I rarely go to one unless I know what I want and where to find it in the mall and can quickly pop in and out.
20. I do not like Scrabble, but I play it to make friends happy.
21. I LOVE the board game Sequence.
If you have never played it, you must ... it is so FUN!
22. I wish I could see my sister more often, but she lives 1200 miles away.
23. I love coffee! ... I guess that makes me a true "Svenska Flicka"! (It's a great combination with a good book ... I have always loved to read ever since I learned how.)
24. I love my church family and the faithful teaching from the Word of God by my pastor.
25. I am thankful for the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Without Him I would be lost and miserable!
Bev's Blog Beginnings ... Because ...
(1) I have some relatives, friends, acquaintances who blog, and I enjoy reading their blogs, one especially ...
http://kristin-onceuponatime.blogspot.com/
(2) I have a snow day off from teaching, and I was looking for something constructive to do with my time ... of course, it could be laundry!
(3) I was thinking of the old saying, "Opinions are like noses. Everybody has one, and, some are bigger than others." Yes, I have opinions, but I hope I am not opinionated ... except maybe when it comes to the many and varied uses of peanut butter.
(4) I have been on this earth for 67 years, and almost 3 months as of this writing, and thought some of my life's lessons and thoughts might be of interest, perhaps benefit, to some of my readers ... or, at least provide a laugh along the way.
http://kristin-onceuponatime.blogspot.com/
(2) I have a snow day off from teaching, and I was looking for something constructive to do with my time ... of course, it could be laundry!
(3) I was thinking of the old saying, "Opinions are like noses. Everybody has one, and, some are bigger than others." Yes, I have opinions, but I hope I am not opinionated ... except maybe when it comes to the many and varied uses of peanut butter.
(4) I have been on this earth for 67 years, and almost 3 months as of this writing, and thought some of my life's lessons and thoughts might be of interest, perhaps benefit, to some of my readers ... or, at least provide a laugh along the way.
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