4.24.2011
A Baby Sent from the Stars...: A Baby Sent From the Stars Giveaway!
A Baby Sent from the Stars...: A Baby Sent From the Stars Giveaway!: "Dear Friends, My husband and I met in church almost 16 years ago, when we were 7 years old. We played together as children, and as our fami..."
Crucifixion and Resurrection (from Valley of Vision)
Happy Resurrection Day to all of my dear followers!!
"O LORD,
I marvel that thou shouldst become incarnate, be crucified, dead, and buried.
The sepulchre calls forth my adoring wonder, for it is empty and thou art risen;
the four-fold gospel attests it,
the living witnesses prove it,
my heart's experience knows it.
Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life, for I wish to be as dead and buried to sing, to selfishness, to the world;
that I might not hear the voice of the charmer, and might be delivered from his lusts.
O Lord, there is much ill about me - crucify it,
much flesh within me - mortify it.
Purge me from selfishness,
the fear of man,
the love of approbation,
the shame of being though old-fashioned,
the desire to be cultivated or modern.
Let me reckon my old life dead because of crucifixion,
and never feed it as a living thing.
Grant me to stand with my dying Savior,
to be content to be rejected,
to be willing to take up unpopular truths,
and to hold fast despised teachings until death.
Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained.
Never let me wander from the path of obedience to thy will.
Strengthen me for the battles ahead.
Give me courage for all the trials, and grace for all the joys.
Help me to be a holy, happy person,
free from every wrong desire,
from everything contrary to thy mind.
Grant me more and more of the resurrection life;
may it rule me,
may I walk in its power,
and be strengthened through its influence."
"O LORD,
I marvel that thou shouldst become incarnate, be crucified, dead, and buried.
The sepulchre calls forth my adoring wonder, for it is empty and thou art risen;
the four-fold gospel attests it,
the living witnesses prove it,
my heart's experience knows it.
Give me to die with thee that I may rise to new life, for I wish to be as dead and buried to sing, to selfishness, to the world;
that I might not hear the voice of the charmer, and might be delivered from his lusts.
O Lord, there is much ill about me - crucify it,
much flesh within me - mortify it.
Purge me from selfishness,
the fear of man,
the love of approbation,
the shame of being though old-fashioned,
the desire to be cultivated or modern.
Let me reckon my old life dead because of crucifixion,
and never feed it as a living thing.
Grant me to stand with my dying Savior,
to be content to be rejected,
to be willing to take up unpopular truths,
and to hold fast despised teachings until death.
Help me to be resolute and Christ-contained.
Never let me wander from the path of obedience to thy will.
Strengthen me for the battles ahead.
Give me courage for all the trials, and grace for all the joys.
Help me to be a holy, happy person,
free from every wrong desire,
from everything contrary to thy mind.
Grant me more and more of the resurrection life;
may it rule me,
may I walk in its power,
and be strengthened through its influence."
4.17.2011
"Shortcomings" from the Valley of Vision
Read and be ENCOURAGED!!! Don't we serve an AWESOME God!!!???
"O Living God,
I bless Thee
that I see the worst of my heart as well as the best of it,
that I can sorrow for those sins that carry me from Thee,
that it is Thy deep and dear mercy to threaten punishment so that I may return, pray, live.
My sin is to look on my faults and be discouraged, or to look on my good and be puffed up.
I fall short of Thy glory every day by spending hours unprofitably,
by thinking that the things I do are good,
when they are not done to Thy end, nor spring from the rules of Thy Word.
My sin is to fear what never will be;
I forget to submit to Thy will, and fail to be quiet there.
But Scripture teaches me that Thy active will reveals a steadfast purpose on my behalf,
and this quietens my soul,
and makes me love Thee.
Keep me always in the understanding that saints mourn more for sin than other men,
for when they see how great is Thy wrath against sin,
and how Christ's death alone pacifies that wrath,
that makes them mourn the more.
Help me to see that although I am in the wilderness it is not all briars and barrenness.
I have bread from heaven, streams from the rock, light by day, fire by night,
Thy dwelling place and Thy mercy seat.
I am sometimes discouraged by the way,
but though winding and trying it is safe and short;
Death dismays me, but my great High Priest stands in its waters,
and will open me a passage,
and beyond is a better country.
While I live let my life be exemplary,
When I die may my end be peace."
Can't tell you how much this prayer said what I've felt so many times in my own heart!
"O Living God,
I bless Thee
that I see the worst of my heart as well as the best of it,
that I can sorrow for those sins that carry me from Thee,
that it is Thy deep and dear mercy to threaten punishment so that I may return, pray, live.
My sin is to look on my faults and be discouraged, or to look on my good and be puffed up.
I fall short of Thy glory every day by spending hours unprofitably,
by thinking that the things I do are good,
when they are not done to Thy end, nor spring from the rules of Thy Word.
My sin is to fear what never will be;
I forget to submit to Thy will, and fail to be quiet there.
But Scripture teaches me that Thy active will reveals a steadfast purpose on my behalf,
and this quietens my soul,
and makes me love Thee.
for when they see how great is Thy wrath against sin,
and how Christ's death alone pacifies that wrath,
that makes them mourn the more.
Help me to see that although I am in the wilderness it is not all briars and barrenness.
I have bread from heaven, streams from the rock, light by day, fire by night,
Thy dwelling place and Thy mercy seat.
but though winding and trying it is safe and short;
Death dismays me, but my great High Priest stands in its waters,
and will open me a passage,
and beyond is a better country.
When I die may my end be peace."
Can't tell you how much this prayer said what I've felt so many times in my own heart!
4.16.2011
"Continue On" by Roy Lessin
The following was written by Roy Lessin. I read it somewhere a long time ago & saved it in a file on my computer. I just rediscovered it today & was moved to share it with you all.
"A woman once fretted over the willfulness of her life. She feared she was wasting her potential, being a devoted wife and mother. She wondered if the time and energy she invested in her husband and children would make a difference. At times she got discouraged because so much of what she did seemed to go unnoticed and unappreciated. “Is it worth it?” she often wondered. “Is there something better I could do with my time?”
"It was during one of those moments of questioning that she heard the still small voice of her heavenly Father speak to her heart. “You are a wife and mother because this is what I have called you to be. Much of what you do is hidden from the public eye – but I notice."
"Most of what you give is done without praise – but I am your reward.”
“Your husband cannot be the man I have called him to be without your support. Your influence upon him is greater than you think and more powerful than you will ever know. I bless him through your service and honor him through your love."
"Your children are precious to Me, even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me. You may never be in the public spotlight, but your obedience shines as a bright light before Me. Continue on. Remember, you are My servant. Do all to please Me.” by Roy Lessin
"Your children are precious to Me, even more precious than they are to you. I have entrusted them to your care to raise for Me. What you invest in them is an offering to Me. You may never be in the public spotlight, but your obedience shines as a bright light before Me. Continue on. Remember, you are My servant. Do all to please Me.” by Roy Lessin
4.10.2011
"Purification" from the Valley of Vision
"Lord Jesus,
I sin--grant that I may never cease grieving because of it, never be content with myself, never think I can reach a point of perfection. Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self.
Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable, to live for Thee and not for self, to copy Thy words, acts, spirit, to be transformed into Thy likeness, to be consecrated wholly to Thee, to live entirely to Thy glory. Deliver me from attachment to things unclean, from wrong associations, from the predominance of evil passions, from the sugar of sin as well as its gall, that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching I may come to Thee, cast myself on Thee, trust in Thee, cry to Thee, be delivered by Thee.
O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that all things are shadows, but Thou art substance, all things are quicksands, but Thou art mountain, all things are shifting, but Thou art anchor, all things are ignorance, but Thou art wisdom.
If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it, but do Thou sit at the furnace mouth to watch the ore that nothing be lost.
If I sin willfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace take away my mourning and give me music; remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty; still my sighs and fill my mouth with song, then give me summer weather as a Christian."
I sin--grant that I may never cease grieving because of it, never be content with myself, never think I can reach a point of perfection. Kill my envy, command my tongue, trample down self.
Give me grace to be holy, kind, gentle, pure, peaceable, to live for Thee and not for self, to copy Thy words, acts, spirit, to be transformed into Thy likeness, to be consecrated wholly to Thee, to live entirely to Thy glory. Deliver me from attachment to things unclean, from wrong associations, from the predominance of evil passions, from the sugar of sin as well as its gall, that with self-loathing, deep contrition, earnest heart searching I may come to Thee, cast myself on Thee, trust in Thee, cry to Thee, be delivered by Thee.
O God, the Eternal All, help me to know that all things are shadows, but Thou art substance, all things are quicksands, but Thou art mountain, all things are shifting, but Thou art anchor, all things are ignorance, but Thou art wisdom.
If my life is to be a crucible amid burning heat, so be it, but do Thou sit at the furnace mouth to watch the ore that nothing be lost.
If I sin willfully, grievously, tormentedly, in grace take away my mourning and give me music; remove my sackcloth and clothe me with beauty; still my sighs and fill my mouth with song, then give me summer weather as a Christian."
4.08.2011
Reason #1,007 to wear your baby in a ring sling!
Three years ago, I was given a baby ring sling from a dear friend that made one for me after I had my 6th child. With my first 5 babies, I had a strap-on carrier that I was only allowed to use up to a weight of 15 pounds, not to mention, a little difficult to strap on! With my new sling, I was THRILLED that I wouldn’t have to stop wearing my baby once she reached that 15 lb mark! In fact, I can still wear her comfortably in it & she's about 30 pounds!
Now, only eight months ago, I had a sweet baby boy (pictured here last October), and am SO enjoying being able to hold him close to my heart...literally! Besides wearing my baby close & being able to be hands free, another one of my favorite things about slings is how I am better equipped to PROTECT my baby from strangers that have the audacity to get too close to my baby’s face or even touch him! I find they tend to feel free to demonstrate that boldness whenever I happen to have my baby in a stroller (which is rare), but NEVER when I have him in my sling! Needless to say, I have my stroller tucked away in storage somewhere!
I am SO thankful & supportive of baby ring slings, that I am now a member of Baby Carrier Industry Alliance. See what they're all about when you click here. You can see on my blog's side bar that I am the owner of the shop, Deus Filia on Etsy.com. See the selection of my slings here. I personally, hand sew these baby ring slings & am thoroughly enjoying it!!! I am so thankful to God for giving me a friend who has inspired me to carry on the blessing of baby wearing!
Please be sure to check out the rest of my shop!
4.03.2011
Paradoxes from the Valley of Vision
Read this in our family devotions the other day & just HAD to share it. It just hit right home to my heart! I SO want the Lord to "give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of Grace"!!!
"O changeless God,
Under the conviction of Thy Spirit I learn that
the more I do, the worse I am,
the more I know, the less I know,
the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
the more I love, the more there is to love.
O wretched (wo)man that I am!
O Lord, I have a wild heart,
and cannot stand before Thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love Thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
by knowing Thou hast saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be
an evangelical hypocrite,
who sins more safely because grace abounds,
who tells his lusts that Christ's blood
cleanseth them,
who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell,
for he is saved,
who loves evangelical preaching, churches,
Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
with no spiritual understanding,
no desire for the Lord's Day,
ever learning but never reaching the truth,
always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention, so I forget easily the lessons learned,
and Thy truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home
the water of Grace."
AMEN!!!
"O changeless God,
Under the conviction of Thy Spirit I learn that
the more I do, the worse I am,
the more I know, the less I know,
the more holiness I have, the more sinful I am,
the more I love, the more there is to love.
O wretched (wo)man that I am!
O Lord, I have a wild heart,
and cannot stand before Thee;
I am like a bird before a man.
How little I love Thy truth and ways!
I neglect prayer,
by thinking I have prayed enough and earnestly,
by knowing Thou hast saved my soul.
Of all hypocrites, grant that I may not be
an evangelical hypocrite,
who sins more safely because grace abounds,
who tells his lusts that Christ's blood
cleanseth them,
who reasons that God cannot cast him into hell,
for he is saved,
who loves evangelical preaching, churches,
Christians, but lives unholily.
My mind is a bucket without a bottom,
with no spiritual understanding,
no desire for the Lord's Day,
ever learning but never reaching the truth,
always at the gospel-well but never holding water.
My conscience is without conviction or contrition,
with nothing to repent of.
My will is without power of decision or resolution.
My heart is without affection, and full of leaks.
My memory has no retention, so I forget easily the lessons learned,
and Thy truths seep away.
Give me a broken heart that yet carries home
the water of Grace."
AMEN!!!
4.02.2011
God's sovereignty in the midst of cancer...
A dear friend of mine has cancer. She's been battling it for a couple years now. Last year, she thought she'd won only to find out that a new tumor had attached itself to a different organ & had recently grown from golf-ball size into the size compared to a 35-week gestation baby in a matter of 3 months! Getting it removed is too complicated right now due to her loss of weight & physical strength. But the doctors were able to drain the mass to make some room for her digestive system to work more efficiently. Thankfully, this procedure has allowed her to consume more & the pain is under control. Her battle now is to gain weight & physical strength; to nourish her body so it can fight off the cancer. She refuses to kill herself with chemo or radiation, but instead, is using alternative medicines & herbs to kill the cancer. That, in itself is a story to be told! Maybe for another post...
Her spiritual strength is what I marvel at! Amazingly, she was able to attend church this last Sunday...something she hasn't been able to do for about 5 weeks. God has grown her into an example of strength that only HE can accomplish! Seeing her go through this trial of cancer has been difficult, to say the least, for everyone who loves her because of all the unknowns surrounding her situation. But she is a constant reminder of how God works ALL things for the good of those who love Him & are called according to His purpose.
Through the years she has been a godly example & encouragement to me in SO many areas of life. Eleven years ago, God used her tremendously to teach me how to feed my family natural, whole, organic foods after discovering a strange rash that developed on my baby's skin. Her wisdom & guidance gently lead me through a journey that made me discover things that were actually harmful to my family! She directed me to websites, books, articles & people that gave me answers to the health questions I had that were plaguing my mind concerning my children. Doing the research really paid off because shortly thereafter, I began to notice my entire family's health drastically change for the better, including my own! All because God granted me a dear friend who took the time to share her knowledge & wisdom gained by doing her homework instead of blindly trusting everything doctors told her.
You might be thinking..."Yeah, so what good has all her research, wisdom & knowledge in health issues done for her if she has cancer?" I tell you...even this trial that she is undergoing is providentially teaching her & her family a WEALTH of information that the general public has NO idea of on the subject of cancer & its treatment!!! Not to mention (and MOST importantly!!!) the lessons in spiritual perseverance, TRUST & awareness in God's sovereignty in all things!
Her spiritual strength is what I marvel at! Amazingly, she was able to attend church this last Sunday...something she hasn't been able to do for about 5 weeks. God has grown her into an example of strength that only HE can accomplish! Seeing her go through this trial of cancer has been difficult, to say the least, for everyone who loves her because of all the unknowns surrounding her situation. But she is a constant reminder of how God works ALL things for the good of those who love Him & are called according to His purpose.
Through the years she has been a godly example & encouragement to me in SO many areas of life. Eleven years ago, God used her tremendously to teach me how to feed my family natural, whole, organic foods after discovering a strange rash that developed on my baby's skin. Her wisdom & guidance gently lead me through a journey that made me discover things that were actually harmful to my family! She directed me to websites, books, articles & people that gave me answers to the health questions I had that were plaguing my mind concerning my children. Doing the research really paid off because shortly thereafter, I began to notice my entire family's health drastically change for the better, including my own! All because God granted me a dear friend who took the time to share her knowledge & wisdom gained by doing her homework instead of blindly trusting everything doctors told her.
You might be thinking..."Yeah, so what good has all her research, wisdom & knowledge in health issues done for her if she has cancer?" I tell you...even this trial that she is undergoing is providentially teaching her & her family a WEALTH of information that the general public has NO idea of on the subject of cancer & its treatment!!! Not to mention (and MOST importantly!!!) the lessons in spiritual perseverance, TRUST & awareness in God's sovereignty in all things!
4.01.2011
My lovely daughter's birthday
Today is my lovely daughter's sweet 16th birthday! She has been and IS a tremendous blessing, example, and inspiration to me. I cherish her friendship. It was through her influence, encouragement, persuasion, and help that I got this blog of mine started! I'm SO thankful to the Lord for having blessed me to be called her mother.
I so look forward to seeing where God will guide her in her walk with Him. Having the privilege of being her mother has allowed me the blessing of seeing Him hold her in His tender care through dark valleys and of watching Him give her wings of flight above & beyond the mountains in her life. I praise Him for the uniqueness & beauty of her character & person. Especially seeing how He continues to mold her into godliness; how she strives to please Him, never giving up, despite her weaknesses.
She is wonderfully creative, artistic, musically talented & EXTREMELY gifted in writing. She has such a sharp & vivid memory of names, dates, & facts that I often refer to her as my "walking day-timer"! She's a go-getter. If she faces a challenge, she shows no fear in it. Only persistence in conquering & overcoming that challenge. I have NO doubt in my mind whatsoever that she will go far in life with whatever pursuits she will endeavor to accomplish. Ultimately, (and I'm SO glad!) she dreams of being a wife & mother. WOE TO THE WORLD WHEN SHE WILL BE ROCKING THE CRADLE!!! I thank God for her diligence and strength, but most importantly, for how she shines in this world for her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.
I LOVE YOU BABY! HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY!!!
If you haven't already visited her blog, go here to see a glimpse.
I so look forward to seeing where God will guide her in her walk with Him. Having the privilege of being her mother has allowed me the blessing of seeing Him hold her in His tender care through dark valleys and of watching Him give her wings of flight above & beyond the mountains in her life. I praise Him for the uniqueness & beauty of her character & person. Especially seeing how He continues to mold her into godliness; how she strives to please Him, never giving up, despite her weaknesses.
She is wonderfully creative, artistic, musically talented & EXTREMELY gifted in writing. She has such a sharp & vivid memory of names, dates, & facts that I often refer to her as my "walking day-timer"! She's a go-getter. If she faces a challenge, she shows no fear in it. Only persistence in conquering & overcoming that challenge. I have NO doubt in my mind whatsoever that she will go far in life with whatever pursuits she will endeavor to accomplish. Ultimately, (and I'm SO glad!) she dreams of being a wife & mother. WOE TO THE WORLD WHEN SHE WILL BE ROCKING THE CRADLE!!! I thank God for her diligence and strength, but most importantly, for how she shines in this world for her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ.
I LOVE YOU BABY! HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY!!!
If you haven't already visited her blog, go here to see a glimpse.