Gloria

Sometimes...
our efforts to praise Him fall so far short.

Someday...
we'll see Him face to face and be able to - finally! - express fully the depth of our love.

Meanwhile...
this song helps me to worship.

Prayer to Live By

It's been a good week so far.  Even though we've gone without Internet access and I haven't been able to blog each day, I have been enjoying my times with God.  I've even been successful at getting up early for quiet times every morning this week.  So far.  That would be yesterday and today.  Two days isn't much, but it's a start; and when facing a challenge as difficult as the get-up-early one is for me, it's important to celebrate each victory!  :)

This evening, while sorting through some books to take to the thrift store, I came upon a slip of paper in one that had this inspirational message written on it:

This is the beginning of a new day.  God has given me this day to use as I will.  I can waste it or use it for good.  What I do today is important, because I'm exchanging a day of my life for it.  When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving me in its place something that I have traded for it.  I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it.
~ author unknown

As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
~ 1 Peter 4:2

Back on Track

I've gotten off track, derailed this week by Internet connectivity issues, a busy schedule, and a lack of focus.  But rather than bemoan my temporary derailment, I'm ready to put that aside and jump back in.  I'm so grateful for fresh starts and new beginnings, eagerness and hope, and the promise of abundant manna to feed my soul!

Tonight these verses from The Message are ministering to me:
What a God we have!  And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus!  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven--and the future starts now!
~ 1 Peter 1:3-4

What We So Keenly Long For

Heaven is not here; it's There.  If we were given all we wanted here, our hearts would settle for this world rather than the next.  God is forever luring us up and away from this one, wooing us to Himself and His still invisible Kingdom, where we will certainly find what we so keenly long for.
~ Elisabeth Elliot

But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
~ Philippians 3:20

Simplicity

Our life is frittered away by detail...simplicity, simplicity, simplicity.
~ Henry David Thoreau


Speaking to the people, he [Jesus] went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."


Then he told them this story: "The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: 'What can I do? My barn isn't big enough for this harvest.' Then he said, 'Here's what I'll do: I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll gather in all my grain and goods, and I'll say to myself, Self, you've done well! You've got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!'


"Just then God showed up and said, 'Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?'


"That's what happens when you fill your barn with Self and not with God."
~ Luke 12:15-21 (The Message)

What Grace Teaches Us

Last evening, we had a wonderfully lively discussion during Bible study here in our home.  We started in Galatians 2, then branched out from there as various people brought up different verses.  One that stood out to me from that discussion--and from an earlier talk around our supper table--was Titus 2:11-12...

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.

Today's manna is here at Life on Sylvan Drive.  I'm so grateful, not only for the physical blessing of our house, but the blessing of the spiritual family God is building us into!

Thoughts after Spending Time on FaceBook

I poured out my heart in a lengthy post on Life on Sylvan Drive.

Lamentations 3:22 is especially comforting to me tonight.  Your love, O God, is great!

A Challenge from Keith Green

I grew up with the music of Keith Green being part of the soundtrack of my life.  Even now, his clarion voice continues to challenge me.

The Path of Right

The best things in life are nearest:  Breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of right just before you.  Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

~ Robert Louis Stevenson,

as seen on my thoughtful blogging friend Polly's blog

A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?

~ Ecclesiastes 2:24-25

The first time I read this quote, I loved it...but I didn't notice the phrase that is particularly jumping out at me tonight:  "the path of right just before you."  Recently I've noticed how each day is made up of countless moments of deciding whether or not to do what is right.  I want to be quick to follow "the path of right."

Why Didn't I Think of That?

A great parenting insight from a bulletin insert from Grace Covenant Church:


One of the roadblocks to sibling harmony is selfishness.  Children want to be first or best.  Teaching kids to serve others is an important way for them to learn honor.  A servant gives more than half, considers others' needs, and looks for ways to benefit those around him.  Children who learn to be servants make better employees, develop meaningful friendships, and enjoy relationships more.


One fun way to teach children to be servants is the "I Cut, You Pick" rule.  It helps children who both want the last piece of cake, or plan to split a chocolate bar.  It simply goes like this.  When children must divide something between the two of them, ask one child if he would rather cut or pick.  The other task goes to the second child.  This plan motivates the person cutting to be as equal as possible.


Now, instead of two children arguing about who got the biggest piece, they are both involved in the solution.  The "I Cut, You Pick" rule equips children with a tool they can use in many situations to bring peace instead of frustration in relationships.


The technique actually comes from a Bible story of Abraham and Lot.  They had too many herds and not enough food so they decided to divide the land between the two huge families.  Abraham, being a wise servant of God, said, "I'll cut the land into two pieces and you pick which one you'd like."  In the story, Lot chose what appeared to be the better piece but Abraham was rewarded in the end and, most importantly, their relationship was preserved.


~ Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN

* The whole story of Abraham and Lot's conversation is recorded in Genesis 13.

The Morning

Convicting (oh, SO convicting!) quotes from Oswald Chambers that I read on this blog:

* If you have ever prayed in the dawn you will ask yourself why you were so foolish as not to do it always:  it is difficult to get into communion with God in the midst of the hurly-burly of the day.


* It is by no haphazard chance that in every age men have risen early to pray.  The first thing that marks decline in spiritual life is our relationship to the early morning.


* Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything.  Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.

In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you 
and wait in expectation.
~ Psalm 5:3

Sanctuary

I really (really, REALLY) like Psalm 63, and today I posted on my other blog about my manna which was one of the wonderful verses from that psalm.

I have "seen" Jesus.

I long to see Him more and more.