Lest We Forget

 ”Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits!”

 

“When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you.  Be careful that you do not forget the LORD your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.  Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God…”  Deuteronomy 8:11-14

 

We have short-term memories as individuals and as nations.  God knew this only too well.  Others too..once upon a time, some insightful wise men noted the dilemma, and decided to dedicate certain days on the calendar as signposts to assist our flailing memories.  There’s Valentine’s Day, to remind us to say I love you to our most beloved.  And Thanksgiving, so we remember to be thankful!  It’s ludicrous that we require such reminders!  Nevertheless….we do.

So on Veteran’s Day, let’s remember with thankful hearts, the veterans of today and yesterday, as we go about enjoying our homes, our food, and freedoms, small and large, which many can only dreamed of. 

And more importantly (I can say this as a veteran), let’s not forget our Lord and Saviour, Who gives us each breath, directs our daily path, and watches over us as we sleep.   We must not forget the Cross and the sufferings of Jesus, which provide for all who believe, freedom from sin, a guarantee of death swallowed up in victory, and toil that is not in vain! (I Cor.15:57) 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of  His benefits.  Who pardons all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;  Who satisfies your years with good things…”  Psalm 103:2-5

The Big Picture

“Jesus wept. And so the Jews were saying, ‘Behold how He loved him! Could not this man, which opened the eyes of him who was blind, have kept this man [Lazarus] also from dying?’” John 11:35-37

We all have said similar things in response to sorrows and problems which we have.  If Jesus can open the eyes of the blind and raise the dead, then, “couldn’t He have prevented bad things from happening?”

We learn from these verses that although Jesus CAN do the miracle, He often has a larger picture in mind, one which we fail to see because of our own sorrow, grief, or misunderstanding of our life and times.

We can trust the Lord to complete the Big Picture of His will for each of us.

“Did I not say to you, if you believe, you will see the Glory of God?”  [vs 40]

The Big Picture is the Glory of God.

 

[An initial premise of this blog was to share not only my thoughts, but the invariably deeper, more profound musings of my husband, John.  This post, and several to come, will be posted in a new category, John Owen's Journal, John on John.]

Rejoice in Hope

Right before our beautiful granddaughter, Eva, was born, I started a blog series on the “in what” we should rejoice.  Presently, I’m fully rejoicing in the birth of a beautiful baby girl, the happiness of my daughter, and the delight of holding a little miracle in my arms!

But….

What about those times, when we don’t see or feel anything tangible in our arms to rejoice in?  What about those seasons when the “fig tree does not blossom, the fields yield no fruit, and there’s no cattle in the stall”? (Habakkuk 3:17)  Or in other words, not much to be thankful for.  What about those times?

Hopefully, some of these posts will encourage you us towards enduring matters in which we can rejoice, apart from and in spite of, our daily circumstances. 

We can Rejoice in This–our names are written in God’s book of Life!

We can Rejoice in Him!

We can rejoice, because He Lives!

And we can rejoice in Hope!  The Hope of His appearing. The Hope laid up for us in heaven. The Hope of so much more beyond our present trials.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory!”  I Peter 1:6-8

 ”…in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised ages ago.”  Titus 1:2

“…that being justified by His grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life!“  Titus 3: 7

“…looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Christ Jesus.”   Titus 2:13

It’s not always easy to rejoice.  But it’s a habit we need to develop with everyday use, and pattern ourselves after the many–of whom the world was not worthy–who rejoiced in trials, rejoiced in suffering, and rejoiced in life, all because they had HOPE in a loving God, who keeps all His promises!

Remember the one who said…

“Though the fig tree does not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive fail, and the field shall yield no wheat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls…”

…concluded with this:

Yet,

 I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation!

The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds feet and He will make me walk upon high places.”Habakkuk 3:17-19

Babies…Life…Hope

“A baby is God’s opinion that life should go on.

“Never will a time come when the most marvelous recent invention is as marvelous as a newborn baby. The finest of our precision watches, the most super-colossal of our supercargo planes don’t compare with a newborn baby in the number and ingenuity of coils and springs, in the flow and change of chemical solutions, in timing devices and interrelated parts that are irreplaceable.

“A baby is very modern. Yet it is also the oldest of the ancients. A baby doesn’t know he is a hoary and venerable antique — but he is. Before man learned how to make an alphabet, how to make a wheel, how to make a fire, he knew how to make a baby– with the great help of woman, and his God and Maker.”   
Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)  Remembrance Rock

 

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

“Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!  If I would count them, they are more than the sand.  I awake, and I am still with you.” 
Psalm 139:13-18

 

Living Proof!

Perfect

Wee little Eva

Three Firstborn Daughters

In Awe

Little Man Jon

By any other name, Beautiful!

Perfect Rest

Praying Mom

“Thank you, Lord, for letting us see our children’s children.  That makes us doubly blessed! Your faithfulness truly extends from generation to generation.  We’re indebted to your love, your grace, and Cross of Christ. In His name, Amen.”

And now, a grand-daughter!

Eva Joy joined our family early Tuesday morning!  Welcome to our family, and the world, little one!  You will be in our prayers everyday, without exaggeration!

I will post photos as soon as we have some!  John is ‘chomping at the bit’ to start filling up the memory sticks with pictures of his ‘bunny’s bunny!”  SOON!

Rejoice! He Lives!

Just do it.  

My words fall flat as I try to write about rejoicing in the Lord.  Too many other writers, hymnists, and poets say it better.  Let’s just do it–rejoice in our Lord today, for our Redeemer Lives!!

“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth.”  Job 19:26 (NASB)

Redeemer

by Nicole C. Mullen

Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning?
and Who told the ocean you can only come this far?
and Who showed the moon where to hide ’til evening?
Whose words alone can catch a falling star?

Well I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives:
Let all creations testify
Let this, life within me cry
I know my Redeemer lives, yeah.

The very same God that spins things in orbit
runs to the weary, the worn and the weak
And the same gentle hands that hold me when I’m broken
They conquered death to bring me victory

Now I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creations testify
Let this life within we cry
I know my Redeemer, He lives
To take away my shame
And He lives forever, I’ll proclaim

That the payment for my sin
Was the precious life He gave
But now He’s alive and
There’s an empty grave.

And I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
Let all creations testify
Let this life within me cry
I know my Redeemer,

I know my Redeemer
I know my Redeemer lives
I know my Redeemer lives
I know that I know that I know that I know that I know my redeemer lives
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
I Know I know
He lives He lives yeah, yeah I spoke with him this morning!
He lives He lives, the tomb is empty,
He lives I gotta tell everybody!

 

You can listen to (and rejoice with) this song, now uploaded in my Blue Music box.  Redeemer, and many other beautiful worship tunes by Nicole C. Mullen, are on her self-titled CD, and can be found  HERE and HERE.

Rejoice in Him

“Bless the Lord, O my soul!”  Psalm 103:1

“Let us rejoice in Him.”  Psalm 149:2

“Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say, Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4

[Part 2 of a discussion beginning with Rejoice in This! ]  

Somedays are full of things to rejoice in!   And then there’s those other days, often stretching into months or seasons, when we don’t rejoice at all.  Difficulties, suffering, financial woes, illness, or any other number of things, overtake us.  Seasons, inherent with change, all part of life, become a training ground where we struggle to rejoice in HIM, rather than in….whatever.  But what does that mean, exactly??

I return to my favourite, Spurgeon, to paint a picture of what rejoicing in Him looks like:

“Be glad that the Lord reigns, that Jehovah is King!  Rejoice that He sits on the throne and rules all things!

Knowing that He is wise should makes us glad, as we look at our own foolishness.

Knowing that He is mighty should cause us to rejoice, as we tremble at our weakness.

Knowing that He is everlasting should always be a theme of joy, as we consider that we wither as the grass.

Knowing that He is unchanging should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour!

Knowing that He is full of grace, the He is overflowing with it, and that this grace in covenant He has given to us; that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory–all this should tend to make us glad in the Lord.”

Spurgeon concludes with the exhortation for Christians to never “cease to sing”, for new mercies flow to them day by day!” 

The lesson is not always easy. The classroom is difficult.  But no matter what season we’re going through, there is a song to sing.   We can begin our song search in the Psalms, where David and others expressed the same emotions as we, yet always interspersed with praise in our never-changing, always loving Heavenly Father.  

The familiar hymn below is a poetic expression of Psalm 104, and gives us a starting point for rejoicing in our Lord, in spite of storms that seek to shake us from the inside-out!

 Oh Worship the King

Oh worship the King all glorious above,
Oh gratefully sing His power and His love!
Our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty! Thy power is founded of old;
Hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it hath cast like a mantle, the sea.

Thy bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light.
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
Our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend!

O measureless might! Ineffable  love!
While angels delight to hymn Thee above,
The humbler creation through feeble their ways,
With true adoration shall lisp to Thy Praise!

Sir Robert Grant, 1839 and William Kethe, 1561

 

Please worship along with Chris Tomlin’s version of this beautiful hymn in the blue Music Box to the right.  Tomlin’s recording is found on the CD, Hymns Ancient and Modern, by Passion Band. 

If you have  a favourite Psalm, hymn, or spiritual song that encourages you to rejoice in the Lord in spite of everything else, please share it with us!  We will all be encouraged!!

Monument of Grace Update

A monument of grace, a sinner saved by blood:
The streams of love I trace up to the Fountain–God!

Mohave Cross

 

Several months ago after using the above Google image in my post, Monument of Grace.  I received a couple of inquiries about the photo.  In order to answer those questions, I researched a bit on the photo and discovered that the ‘monument’ was being taken to court by…who else, the ACLU.  

It’s called the Mohave Cross and was built 70 years ago as a memorial for World War I veterans.  The beautiful monument was enjoyed for nearly 60 years uncontested, but now, here’s what it looks like:

Forgive us, Lord

The matter is before the US Supreme today.  Focus on the Family’s, Citizen Link  takes a hopeful tone about the case in the following article:

Mojave Cross Case Heard at Supreme Court 

“The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in the Mojave Desert cross case.  The cross is a memorial to World War I veterans.

Hiram Sasser, director of litigation for Liberty Legal Institute and one of the attorneys for the VFW in the case, said the justices asked many questions.

‘The court is probably going to say that this veterans memorial is allowed to stay and that there was never a problem to begin with,” he said, “And that the transfer of state-owned land to the veterans so they could keep the memorial was OK, and that this veterans memorial is going to continue to stand as it has for 75 years honoring those World War I veterans.’”

The photo above, and more detailed history of  Mohave Cross case, is available at ABC online–just click  HERE. 

 

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,

 my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.

Rejoice in This

It all started when I stepped onto the pier after enjoying a blissful sailboat cruise with our daughter, Joy.  The edge of the night sky was still pink from an enduring sunset.  The air was cool, but not chilly, at some unknown, yet perfect temperature.  My husband was in his glory, snapping photos of the all that is life around us.  And Joy looked more beautiful and content than ever, hand in hand with her adoring husband, and wonderfully pregnant. 

I breathed a near-audible prayer of deep thankfulness to the Lord.   ”Lord, thank you for this wonderful time with my family. Thank you for Joy’s happiness.  Thank you for this glorious evening!”

And nearly as audible, the Lord spoke quickly to my heart, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this…but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.”  (Luke 10:20)

Oh!

Much of my thankfulness and rejoicing has been for God’s provision in this life.  That’s okay.  It’s His will to be thankful for these things.  But His word pierced my heart as I realized that my gratefulness should go well beyond the here and now, to His love and all He has accomplished to secure eternity for me and countless others!  

I came upon this little-known hymn in Spurgeon’s hymnbook [1], and attempted to update the language a bit, so it could speak to you as it did to me, of the “IN WHAT” we should rejoice:  

 Grace in Love

We love You, Lord, because when we had err’d and gone astray,
You recalled our wandering souls into the heavenward way.

When helpless, hopeless, we were lost in sin and sorrow’s night,
You sent forth a guiding ray of Your kind and tender light.

Because when we forsook Your ways nor kept Your holy will,
You were not the avenging Judge, but gracious Father still!

Because we have forgotten You, Lord, but You have not forgot,
Because we have forsaken You, but You forsake not;

Because, O Lord, You love us with an everlasting love,
Because You sent Your Son to die that we might live above;

Because when we were heirs of wrath, You gave us hope of heaven;
We love because we much have sinned, and much have been forgiven!

Julia Anne Elliott, 1835

 

God’s word is replete with reasons to give thanks and/or rejoice, and oddly enough, most have nothing to do with our personal provisions.   The next few posts will delve into these further:  Rejoicing in Him, Rejoicing in suffering, and Rejoicing in His appearing!   

“Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say, Rejoice!!”

 

       [1]  C.H. Spurgeon (compilation, 1866), Our Own Hymn-Book, Pilgrim Publications. Pasadena (2002). 2nd Ed.  Hymn 248.

Summer Revisited

September, autumn, cooler temps, falling leaves, pumpkin spice latte…my favourite season of the year.

Before getting too far into a new season, however, I wish to thank the Lord for a blessed summer mixed filled with love, care, fun,  joy and tears, babies and much more. Since a picture paints a thousand words, these should say it all:: 

Summer-y Iris

Hello Dahlias

Frequent Visitor

Colourful Crowd!

Our neice, Jess, and Drew's Wedding!

Becky aglow at Jess' wedding

 

Best gifts come in little packages!

Our happy daughter and new mommy!!

Granpa John and baby Jonathan

Auntie Grace

Grace, Hope, baby Jon, Joy, and baby girl-to-be

Peace

 

Walks on the beach

Sunset Sail, a gift from Joy and Steve

Joyful Joyfull!

 

Relaxin'

A sunny day with Grace and Dan

Ottawa in Bloom

Some local entertainment

Accidental front row seats at the Gay Parade

I love sidewalk cafes!

Byward market berries

and more berries!!

Beautiful setting for Kim's Wedding

Kim and David, with Paul Racine officiating

The Colourful Wedding Party

Congratulations Kim and David!

Dancing time with John

 

Thank you Lord for time with friends, Mike and Elaine!

 

Canoeing at Lac Phillippe

Is that what a paddle is for, Elaine?

 

Showers of blessings!

Showers unite families! We met Steve's mom (L) and aunt!

Joy and Steve have so much fun to look forward to!

Pampering Baby Time

Lovin' bathtime!!

"See you later" time with Jonathan. Next visit, a month away.

Exhausted from too much fun!

And these are only a fraction of John’s photos!

 

“Thank you, Lord, for Your protection, care, blessings, and answered prayers woven throughout this summer season.  We long to trust You in all our seasons to come, the prayers You know we’ll pray, the needs You know we’ll have.  Your love knows no bounds.  From everlasting to everlasting, we can trust in You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”