Your life is short, your duties many, your assistance great, and your reward sure; therefore faint not, hold on and hold up, in ways of well-doing, and heaven shall make amends for all
—Thomas Brooks
I have nothing to be grateful for this year.
Nothing that I know of, anyway. We had no major illnesses requiring miraculous healings. No job loss, no house fire, no broken bones. Nothing whatsoever interfered with the normal, peaceful rhythm of our lives.
What I mean to say is that life has gone along as usual this year, and that is the “nothing” that I’m thankul for.
The Lord is always actively intervening on our behalf, even though we often aren’t aware of His protection. I caught a glimpse of His hidden work recently, as our family was narrowly spared from disaster twice in one month.
This summer we were blessed to be able to take our sons to the ocean. They had the opportunity to swim as well as snorkel, and to learn how to ride the surf.
I love the ocean. My husband does not. He doesn't like its unpredictable nature, with its strong waves and abundance of living creatures. But we both agree that our children should have the chance to decide for themselves how they feel about the ocean. They may end up loving it as much as I do, or they may join my husband's camp...but we feel strongly that they should make their own decision, based on their own experiences.
We want to expose them to a wide variety of foods, hobbies, cultures, reading material, arts and people so that they can begin to form opinions about who they are and what they like as individuals. They don't all like the theater, but we still take them. They don't all enjoy strange foods, but we still try them.
And they don't always appreciate learning about other cultures or sitting through concerts or trying new hobbies, but we do it anyway. Sometimes they are pleasantly surprised by something they did not think they would like. Other times, it is just as bad as they thought it would be.
But either way, we are trying not to let our own prejudices and predispositions get in the way as we guide our children through their own discoveries about life.
Hey, west Georgia residents! I'm excited to announce that Nathan Clark George will be performing in LaGrange on October 25th. Both concerts are free to the public. Nathan will have CDs for sale, and a freewill offering will be taken.
If you've listened to any of Nathan's music before, you know what a treat this is going to be! He is one of my all-time favorite Christian singers. Nathan was voted the Acoustic Artist of the Year twice in a row at Indie Heaven. He writes music based on the Scriptures as well as on life, and his soulful music is refreshing. I hope to see some of you there!
Here are the details:
1:45 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church in LaGrange. Click here for the church website and click on the link provided to get directions.
and
7:00 p.m. on the LaGrange College Campus (601 Broad St.) at the Boopie (formerly known as The Pitt). The Boopie is is located on the bottom floor of the Student Center (also called Turner Hall), which is the building between Henry and Boatwright Dorms.
Visitors to the campus need to park in the commuter parking lots, which is located at the foot of the new clocktower connected to the LaGrange College bridge. To access the parking lot, turn left onto Forrest St. from Vernon St., then take your first left into the parking lot. Walk across the bridge and go up the stairs alongside the library; you should be facing the cafeteria. Turn left and the Mabry Gibson Student Center/Turner Hall will be down a flight of stairs. Once inside, go down to the bottom floor to the Boopie (formerly the Pitt).
Take Interstate 85 and use Exit 18*. From Columbus:
Take Interstate 185 North to Interstate 85 South and use Exit 18*. From Exit 18 off I-85: Drive into town on Lafayette Parkway (Hwy 109 W). Follow Lafayette Parkway through 10 stoplights. At the 11th light, turn right on Park Avenue.
I'm excited to announce we have been invited to speak at the Desperate Women Conference in Lawrenceville, Georgia, November 13-14th.
The event is open to the public and will kick-off with a concert Friday night with grammy nominated gospel singer Antonia Lawrence, break-out sessions with MMCW staff on Saturday, and a women’s expo throughout the weekend.
I hope that some of you who live in the greater Atlanta area will be able to join us. I'd love to meet you! Our hosts, Women on the Move women’s ministry, has special pricing at the Hampton Inn at Sugarloaf. The hotel offers free breakfast on Saturday morning—let’s all plan to meet for bagels and coffee!
For conference details, including topics and to register online, click here.
I was so encouraged to read about the influence Calvin had on the reformation of music. Up until that time, you may recall, the Scriptures and the music of the church were both in Latin. So was the Sunday sermon. The common man had no access to any of it.
All of this changed with the Reformation. As the Word of God was translated into the language of the people, the Gospel began to spread like wildfire. For the first time in a long time, people heard the Bible preached in a language they could understand. The Reformers insisted that people must also be able to praise God in their mother-tongue.
Calvin believed that words set to music have an incredibly powerful influence on the human soul, whether for good or for evil. He encouraged the newly translated Psalms to be metrically versified, like a poem, and set to music for corporate worship. Other Reformers, such as Martin Luther, wrote scripture-based hymns, and composed music which could be sung congregationally by untrained lay-men.
This spirit of marrying scriptural, theologically rich words with accessible music lives on today through the new hymn writers. My devotional life has been deeply impacted in the past year through the music of Indelible Grace, a group of musicians who are setting old hymns to new music.
The words of a hymn are far more important than the music. Yet I believe, as Calvin did, that a well-crafted tune is a vehicle to drive those God-exalting words more deeply into my heart.
Some people approach the hymns as sacrosanct and untouchable. I disagree. Throughout history, the fathers of our faith have embraced music that was new in their day. Why shouldn't we do the same, if the words glorify God? If we truly believe the music is merely a vehicle for the words, we shouldn't be afraid of test-driving a new tune now and then.
In fact, I'm so excited about what Indelible Grace is doing that it has inspired me to begin writing my own tunes to accompany old hymn texts. We've been learning them in our family worship.
Last week, Kristen left me a comment that her family recently learned the hymn No, Not Despairingly. I found the words but not the music, so I wrote music for it myself today, and we'll be learning this one next week in our devotions.
Here are recordings of the tunes I wrote for No, Not Despairingly and Praise Him, Praise Him.
No, Not Despairingly No, not despairingly Come I to thee; No, not distrustingly Bend I the knee: Sin hath gone over me, Yet is this still my plea, Jesus hath died.
Lord, I confess to thee Sadly my sin; All am tell I thee, All I have been: Purge thou my sin away, Wash thou my soul this day; Lord, make my clean.
Faithful and just art thou, Forgiving all; Loving and kind art thou When poor ones call: Lord, let the cleansing blood, Blood of the Lamb of God, Pass o'er my soul.
Then all is peace and light This soul within; Thus shall I walk with thee, The loved Unseen; Leaning on thee, my God, Guided along the road, Nothing between.
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, O earth, his wonderful love proclaim! Hail him! hail him! highest archangels in glory; Strength and honor give to his holy name! Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard his children, In his arms he carries them all day long:
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness, Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! For our sins he suffered and bled and died; He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation, Hail him! hail him! Jesus the crucified. Sound his praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows, Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong:
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness, Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Heav'nly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Saviour, reigneth for ever and ever; Crown him! crown him! Prophet and Priest and King! Christ is coming! Over the world victorious, Power and glory unto the Lord belong.:
Praise him! praise him! tell of his excellent greatness, Praise him! praise him! ever in joyful song!
My sins are ever before me, and daily I am reminded of how far I fall short of God's glory. Yet daily he assures me of the hope I have in Christ!
The kids and I just memorized this hymn last week. Each week we pick a new hymn to focus on, talking about the words and what they mean and singing it every day during our morning devotions.
This hymn was different. It didn't fit with our usual format. Perhaps it's because I couldn't talk about the words without crying. On Monday morning as we began learning this hymn, I was convicted that I needed to confess my sins to the children. Through tears I asked forgiveness for being so crabby lately, so impatient, and so selfish.
My children were quick to forgive, as they always are. But that wasn't the end. Soon, some of them were crying, too, and everyone began confessing their sins to one another. They had been rude, disrespectful, unkind.
What a joy it was to repent together, to forgive and be forgiven, and to remind these precious children of the grace that is ours in Christ.
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." 1 Peter 2: 9
Out of my bondage, sorrow and night Jesus, I come; Jesus I come Into Thy freedom, gladness and light Jesus, I come to Thee Out of my sickness into Thy health Out of my wanting and into Thy wealth Out of my sin and into Thyself Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my shameful failure and loss Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come Into the glorious gain of Thy cross Jesus, I come to Thee Out of earth’s sorrows into Thy balm Out of life’s storms and into Thy calm Out of distress into jubilant psalm Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of unrest and arrogant pride Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come Into Thy blessed will to abide Jesus, I come to Thee Out of myself to dwell in Thy love Out of despair into raptures above Upward forever on wings like a dove Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of the fear and dread of the tomb Jesus, I come; Jesus, I come Into the joy and light of Thy home Jesus, I come to Thee Out of the depths of ruin untold Into the peace of Thy sheltering fold Ever Thy glorious face to behold Jesus, I come to Thee.
Now is the perfect time to listen to Preparing Hearts for Christmas!
Do you have a desire to start family devotions? Are you looking for some ways to turn your children's hearts toward the Lord during the upcoming holiday season? Please join me for a time of encouragement and practical tips on family devotions during the Advent season.
Read more of my articles on Mentoring Moments for Christian Women
Join me and the staff of Mentoring Moments at the Desperate for God Women's Conference!
It's time to begin nominating your favorite blogs!
The Christian Homeschooler's Library
Every session of The Christian Homeschooler's Library is on this widget. Just double click on the arrow by "Select a past episode" and then choose your episode and click play. The bottom episode is actually #1, the top episode is #7. Each episode lasts 15 minutes.
The posts that accompany this podcast are at Counter-cultural School.
When we love our husbands and children, as we are instructed to do in Titus 2, God will use it as a testimony to them, to the world, to our own hearts and to the ages.
As women, we often experience a wide range of emotions on any given day. To our husbands and children--and even to ourselves--these mood changes can seem like multiple personalities. You may meet some of your "other selves" in this encouraging, allegorical podcast.
Cultivating Sibling Loyalty
This message gives hope for the sibling relationship, and practical advice about living according to God's rules for relationships.
Do you struggle with anger? This podcast is for you! Listen and be encouraged by the hope of the Gospel for our sanctification. I also share some practical ideas that have helped me in my own battle with this sin.
In this 14 minute long mini-podcast I encourage parents to be open to God's plan for their children's lives, and share some practical ways to develop a heart for missions and prayer in their children.
I am a Christian wife and homeschooling mother to four sons. Ministry to my husband and children is my first priority. I am the creator of My Audio School. I also speak to womens' groups and write for the e-zine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. You can also find me writing at my other blog, Countercultural Mom.
I've been married to David for 18 years. We were missionaries in Hungary from 1993 to 1997, and then for another 3 years in the home office. We are no longer in full-time ministry, but continue to serve the Lord with joy. I'm blessed to be homeschooling our four amazing sons. My cup overflows with all the noise, running, and wrestling you'd expect from a houseful of boys!
The Value of Motherhood
Moms often struggle with the question, "Who am I?" as they spend their days investing in everyone else. This message will encourage you to see the true significance in a seemingly mundane job.
Posts
