I Love You, Lord

"God is so good that He only awaits our desire to overwhelm us with the gift of Himself."

Francois Fenelon, 1651-1715

Mark's garden in Sigel is a delight to visit. I found it last year on one of my early morning fawn spotting drives. I've visited 3 or 4 times since to see all the beautiful flowers. This snap was taken early July. Mark created his garden 30 years ago and continues caring for it daily.

Last week my post was on "Kindness Now." One of the comments I received told me about the song "Goodness of God." I wasn't familiar with it and listened to it on YouTube. I choked up the first time I heard it.

I recorded the first and second verses on my phone and the next morning when I left on my early morning fawn spotting drive, I played it. I can't listen to that song without tears.

What a time of rejoicing I had. I played it for 20 minutes over and over as I drove to where I knew I'd see many fawn. 

So, this post is rejoicing over the words and music to this song. Each line my thoughts went towards my life and how God has brought me through.

"I love you, Lord." What a wonderful way to begin a song. It brings such joy to tell God I love Him. 

"For your mercy never fails me." I did a Shutterfly book on Mercy and Grace last year. Some of my favorite snaps with words from Christian people are included. I know His mercy never fails.

"All my days, I've been held in Your hands." Thinking back over 74 years of life, and 44 years lived with Christ, I can't imagine what my life would have been like without Him. I found Him when I was 28, and it's brought me so much cheer and joy to know He is with me.

"From the moment that I wake up." I'm an early morning person. My first thoughts of Him I say, "Good morning, Father." I think of the first verse of Harriet Beecher Stowe's hymn "Still, Still With Thee."

"Still, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,

When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee;

Fairer than morning, lovelier than daylight,

Dawns the sweet consciousness I am with Thee."

"Until I lay my head." With an early morning wake up time, I turn off the light early at night. My favorite place to be is in the writing room, sitting in my favorite chair. My important books are in a case right beside me. It's easy for me to be with God before I sleep.

"Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God." My "Melody of Hymns" brings God close all the time. I can have my own little hymn sing wherever I am. It brings joy to my heart to sing to God. I'm so thankful for words and music. 

This snap was taken the first week of June when peonies were blooming.

Mark plants them throughout the garden with all the other flowers.

When the song gets to the refrain, I get choked up once again. 

"And all my life You have been faithful

And all my life You have been so, so good

With every breath that I am able

Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God."

The second verse starts like this:

"I love Your voice." I have heard God's voice a few times in all my years. I know for certain that He spoke to me. I've tried to be faithful when I have heard Him. I hear Him through His Word also.

"You have led me through the fire." None of us go through life without experiencing great heartbreak. I have had my share of broken years, lost relationships and days, months and years of depression and disappointment. During all those times I knew there was only one person who could help me, and I always called upon the Lord. He walked me through each day, each month, each year.

"In the darkest night." During the darkest night He gave me my gift to serve Him. He brought light to my heart through the simple gesture of an acquaintance who sent me a note to encourage me. That one little note, just a few sentences of caring, changed my life. It gave me a purpose. It took my thoughts off of myself and started me on a journey of encouraging others. We often hear the phrase "He gives songs through the night." He gave me much more, and I am thankful.

"You are close like no other." I have been given many friends in my life, from Elementary School through High School. From working years and retirement years. Since my family was not close, my friends are the ones who helped me through my life. But the One who sticks closer than a brother, is the One who helped me the most.

"I've known you as a Father." My father was an alcoholic. I never experienced happiness and love as a father is meant to give. But when I met Jesus, and became a child of God, He brought me joy unspeakable! I can always depend on Him. He always instructs me. He holds me with His Everlasting Arms.

"I've known You as a friend." I don't have to worry about being rejected, gossiped about or not being understood. Jesus is the BEST friend and BEST thought I can ever have.

"And I have lived in the goodness of God." I have no fear as I wake up each day because I know God is guiding each step I take. He's with me when things go wrong. He's with me when things work out. I have lived in His goodness, and I will continue to live in His goodness. My way is sure. I have no doubts concerning His working in my life. It's not always fun or easy, and sometimes it hurts greatly, but I know He is directing my steps and will bring me safely to His side in His time.

These blooms are from last year about this time. Mark has flowers blooming

all through the growing season. It is a delight!

If you've never heard the song, Goodness of God, click on the link below. The words and music are beautiful.

By His Grace . . .

CeCe Winans - Goodness of God (Official Video) - YouTube

Goodness Now

 Enjoyed watching mom groom her twins. 

"[I had fainted], unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." 

Psalm 27:13

"This encouraging testimony was written for us by the psalmist, David, after he had gone through some shadowing experiences of severe trial and testing . . . The sweet psalmist of Israel reveals the secret which kept his soul from fainting. He 'believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.' That means in the present life, not in the life hereafter."   Streans in the Desert 2, Mrs. Charles E. Cowman

I've always loved this verse in Psalms. I will believe in the goodness of the Lord. NOW. Even if everything is falling apart. Even if I'm scared of what is going to happen. Even if I'm discouraged. 

It's easy to say you believe God has your life under His control at all times. It's harder when sorrow, hurt and sadness are all you see. "Believe to see." Believe. That's what gets us through all those hard and undesirable things. 

Matthew Henry said: "The psalmist requests the favor of the Lord; the continuance of His presence with him; the benefit of Divine guidance, and the benefit of Divine protection . . . There is nothing like the believing hope of eternal life, the foresights of that glory, and foretastes of those pleasures, to keep us from fainting under all calamities."

Fawn have now doubled and tripled in size. Rare to find a small one now.

Most of us feel like we're going to faint under the pressures of life. So, keeping the frame of mind that says: "believe to see" is important. It may not cause the problem or concern to go away at that moment, but it can direct our thoughts to something greater that is capable of changing the way we see them.

My testing came quick. I drafted this article in the early morning. That evening, as I sat in my chair in the writing room, I was in low spirits. The words I wrote that morning came into my mind. I said to myself, "Do I believe what I wrote?" I knew I did, so I kept repeating to myself, "I will believe. I will believe. I will believe." 

And I do. I started recalling the HOPE I have in my heart and the home I will one day go to. There is always a choice. Make your choice: "I will believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." Say it again and again. Cement it in your mind.

It's that deep, settled confidence that God gives us. Make sure you have it.

By His Grace . . . 

Through Me

 "It was only a sunny smile, but little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night, and made the day worth living."

F. S. Fitzgerald

I recently read these words by Chris Tiegreen: "Before I come for you, I'm going to come through you." It caused me to stop and think.

It's amazing when something is said just a little bit different what an impact it can have on you. Yes, Jesus comes through us to a lost world. We are called to be an example of Him so that others can learn about Him.

I have to ask myself. "What do I do so others can see Jesus?" "What do you do so others can see Jesus?" I know most of us have heard the question: "Is there enough evidence to convict me of being a Christian"

Most of us aren't superheroes, out in front of lots of people. Our names aren't well known, and we have a small area of influence. And that's what matters. Our small area of influence.

It truly is the small things that make such a big impact in another's life. A caring heart. A listening ear. Helping when a meal or telephone call makes all the difference. Mowing a yard. Cleaning a house. Writing a note.

What about our influence outside of our family and friends. Our co-workers. Friendly acquaintances. Our neighbors. Those people who know who we are but aren't in our circle of friends. The small impacts apply to them too. 

Yes, Jesus comes through us as we live for Him. I don't always feel like doing that small thing to help another. Especially if I'm feeling down or worried. But when I toss that feeling aside and think about the other person, it's easier to step out and do something.

We've all heard this before. Many times. But do we do it. Sometimes it just takes hearing something in a little different way to give us a boost. That's what it did for me.

Am I doing? Are you? 

"As a believer, you must learn to see yourself as the representative of Jesus Christ. Although you never stand before a pulpit to preach, it is a fact that your life is your most important pulpit. What you  say and do in your life reflect on the Lord Jesus Christ . . . You see, preaching the Gospel is what you do every day of your life by the way you live and conduct yourself."

Rick Renner

By His Grace . . .

The Call of Creation

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the sky, and they will tell you."

Job 12:7

God's creation is a sight to behold. If your eyes have been open to His love, you will look at everything with a different perspective. It will be amazing to your eyes.

I certainly have experienced it on my early morning drives, Down dirt roads, listening to nature wake up, being alone with God and His creation.

I love finding the little ones!

Recently I read a short devotion on Emily Dickinson, American poet in the 1800s, in The One Year Women in Christian History Devotional by Randy Peterson and Robin Streeves.

The devotional focused on Emily's remark: "Some keep the Sabbath going to church; I do church at home, outside in nature." The writers wrote: "She (Emily) says her chorister, what we would call a choir member; is a small blackbird called a bobolink. An orchard is her worship space. Emily, it seems, was enjoying a worship service in nature. Not that she was worshipping nature; rather, she found nature a perfect place to commune with and learn about God."

Familiar to us is the Scripture verse: And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:24-25

It is important to meet together on a regular basis. Worshiping with other Christians is an essential part of the Christian life. But I am well aware that things happen in your life when attending church brings sadness and hurt.

In earlier years I had a period of time when I didn't attend church. It was during a very heartbreaking and emotionally draining period in my life. I was fortunate that at the time I worked at the Baptist Convention and was surrounded by Christians each day. We met for prayer and messages each month. I wasn't absent from Christians, and I participated in fellowship and encouragement each day.

Not attending church didn't mean I'd abandoned my faith, or I was out of touch with God. I still had daily devotions, used the gift God gave me to encourage others and sang hymns, especially my "Melody of Hymns."

One thing I didn't do is put myself down as a bad person. I didn't say, "You're a Christian, Carol, get your act together." I was secure in my faith and relationship with God. I wasn't angry with Him. I wasn't mad at Him. I was trying to work my way through a period of brokenness. But I was hurting so bad I couldn't force myself to attend church and be around happy families.

We finally started attending once again, at Jerry's request, and I have been attending ever since.

I would sit in my backyard each evening and listen to the sounds. I know that God speaks through all creation. He brought healing to me and made me a stronger person.

I don't recommend not going to church. But I know things happen in our lives when a time of healing and repair is needed. During those times, nature can bring healing because God is in nature, created all of nature, and presents it to us for cheer and admiration of Him.

God's creation is a sight to behold. If you haven't spent any time outside enjoying and admiring God's nature, you need to take a walk with God and let His creation open your eyes.

"Does not all nature around me praise God? If I was silent, I should be an exception to the universe. Does not the thunder praise Him as it rolls like drums in the march of the God of armies? Do not the mountains praise Him when the woods upon their summits wave in adoration? Does not the lightning write His name in letters of fire? Has not the whole earth a voice? And shall I, can I, silent be?"

Charles Haddon Surgeon, 1834-1892

By His Grace . . .