Ascribe to the Lord Glory

Ascribe to the Lord , O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord glory due His name;
worship the Lord in the spendor of holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirlon like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord flashes forth in flames of fire.
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness,
The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare,
and in His temple, all cry "Glory!"


The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
May the Lord give strength to His people!
May the Lord bless His people with peace!

A Place of Praise...

A place of praise...they each found it, Mary and Zechariah.  They started at different places,belief and unbelief; and yet they ended in the same spot- glorifying God. This strikes me as funny that God directs not only belief, but more importantly, disbelief into praise in His chosen.  Hail Mary, full of grace - she has the right response from the beginning.  And the Zechariah, the priest and example, he wavers and kerfaphels and ends up right where Mary, itty bitty girlie, started.  Isn't is appropriate that God tells us the story upside down, because all of the story is upside down.  Strong become weak, that weak can be made strong.  So today, whether our weakness is shored in strength and we look in hope to His salvation or we are indeed, on the other shore, looking on at Christmas present in sadness and disbelief, with our weaknesses as yet, seemingly unsupported; His truth will always be true. Whereever we are, belief or unbelief, if we are His, and we are; and  we will end in a place of praise to Him and Him alone. He is I AM, There is no other.

HYMN 17

The Song of Mary

Luke 1:46-55

 

Magnificat                                                                                                  Strasbourg, 1539

1. My soul will magnify

the Lord, who from on high

has blessed me with his favour.

His praises I will voice;

my spirit will rejoice

in him, my God and Saviour.

 

2. The Lord, so good and great,

looked on my lowly state.

Now will all generations

from age to age attest

how richly I am blest. 

Great is my exaltation!                                                      

 

3. How holy is his name!

The Mighty One, he came

and showed me his great favour.

With mercy he is near

to all who him revere;

his love endures forever.

 

4. His arm revealed his might,

for he has put to flight

all those who are proud-hearted,

and he pulled haughty ones

down from their lofty thrones;

the lowly he supported.                                                                           

 

5. Abundant gifts the Lord

has on the hungry poured;

their suffering he has ended.

The rich he sent away;

he, much to their dismay,

let them go empty-handed.

 

6. The Lord is merciful;

his servant Israel

he graciously delivered,

remembering evermore

what he to Abraham swore

and to his seed forever.

 

HYMN 18

The Song of Zechariah

Luke 1:68-79

 

1.  Blest be the God of Israel,

for he has come to set us free;

in David’s house the Lord has raised

salvation’s horn for all to see.

He through his prophets long ago

said he would save us from our foe,

from all who scorn and hate us.

He has not put our fathers’ faith to shame

but, in his love remembering them,

has kept the oath he swore to Abraham.

 

2.  His faithfulness he has now shown,

that we might serve him without fear,

that all our days with upright hearts

we in his presence might appear.

Of you, my child, it will be said

that God Most High sent you ahead

as herald of salvation.

You will before the Lord prepare his way

and tell his people of the day

when he to them his mercy will display.

 

3.  As God has promised, all our sins

will be forgiven, swept away.

He from on high in tender love

will bless us with the glorious day

on which before our very eyes

the radiant Morning Sun will rise

to shine on us forever.

From death’s dark shadow he will grant release

and, when its tyranny shall cease,

will guide our feet into the path of peace.

 

 

Post Note-

Girlie, thanks for the reference to the hymns, loved this especially:

As God has promised, all our sins

will be forgiven, swept away.

He from on high in tender love

will bless us with the glorious day

on which before our very eyes

the radiant Morning Sun will rise

to shine on us forever.

Favorite Books of 2012

This is my list of favs for this past year.  I hope to finish a few more books before the end of the year as I've yet to reach my book goal -- but my method for compiling is fitting of my personality.  I jump in and start and it just gels or not.  Also I wanted to post this on 12, 12, 12 - ergo a list of 12 instead of 10 - a sneaking way of fitting a few more in... but as life would have it at on 12/12 at 12:12 I was herding 12 little kiddies towards lunch with my faithful sidekick P. when they were ready for nap instead of food.  It passed me by in bedlam without a slight recognition of what I was missing... I am pretty sure washing hands, dabbing a tear and telling one - she was headed for the chair if she didn't pick a toy right then was more important than throwing confetti at a clock in an already rummage through school room.
Ergo -- I read for the rest but a good rest of my life is spent reading kiddies!

1. The Baptized Body -  Peter Leithart...E and I read this as we prepared for our grandnephew's baptism, I then read it on my own and listened to it on Mp3.  I didn't grow up in a christian culture that accepted paedobaptism as a valid view.  This book really grew my excitement for the need of baptizing little ones and the true blessing, mandate and affect of it.  I plan to read the book on the Lord's Table this coming year as a follow up.
2. All Loves's Excelling - John Bunyan...This was a recommendation from a person I greatly admire. The insight in this book on sitting in God's love is both  humbling and hopeful.  It is best digested in small chunks as necessary pause for reflection is overwhelming and frequent.
3. Escape from Reason - Francis Schaeffer...This small book developed my appetite to know where and how philosophy has yanked the current culture off its intellectual rails.  It is written direct and clear, for me, for me that was helpful as philosophy - scares me just a little.  Schaeffer again reminds in this book, that if God is who He says He is, and He is, we have nothing to be afraid of.  That is reassuring to a non-conflict disposition - fuel for engagement.
4.  Wordsmithy - Douglas Wilson,...Picked it up - didn't stop except to underline, circle and make  notes. Anyone who wants to write better will appreciate this book.
5. Third Time Around - George Grant This is my favorite of Dr. Grant's books, it follows the history of the pro-life movement and the champions that fought valiently for the rights of women and children.  I love that so many missionaries I'd never heard of were included - I plan to go back through and find out more about the lives of several of these brothers and sisters that have gone before.
6. An Experiment in Criticism-C.S. Lewis.  This book plots the habit of reading and thinking and has one liners everywhere.  C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers and I loved the challenge set forth in this book.
7. Embracing Obscurity - Author obscure.  Part of the mystic of this book is that the author is unknown, yet I can think of a few handful of people who write it everyday with their lives.  I love the juxaposition of Joseph and Saul and the charts.  Convicting and convincing - this is a call to everyone that is called in Him.
8. Never Let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You - Mardy Grothe   The enjoyment factor of this book should shoot it to my #1 position but it's a bit frivilous and at places gritty.  I had a great time playing with words and doodling after examples.  This is a great book to pick up if you want to play with words and laugh out loud.
9. Crisis, Opportunity and the Christian Future- Dr. James Jordan.  There was alot of new news to me in this tiny book.  My husband read it after me and we had some great talks - no doubt, when we pick it up again, we will have more great talks and enjoy the jaunt of the journey.
10.  Remember the Rhema - Donna Johnson.  This is a quick little read for remembering the word. It is more devotional that Kay Arthurs Studying God Word's, so it serves a different purpose.  I like it because it has a plan for get the Word to stick in the memory, -- cool beans!!
11. Bold Love - Dan Allender.  I read a few of his books this last year.  There are wonderful directives for living is a loving way without enabling others to cause more damage to themselves and you.  One line that changed me went something like: Trust God as you trust others, earth has no hurt that heaven can't heal.
12. Til We Have Faces- C.S. Lewis.  This was the first fiction book I'd read in quite a while.  Fiction is hard for me.  My sweet daughter recommended as a good place to start. The picture of fallen-ness and redemption are powerful, this would be a great book to read in a class setting.

A Train Truth

This is an odd little tribute to thankfulness.  I just came downstairs after getting my little grandone down for nap.  He'd gotten up late, they spent the night last night, and his momma had to work this morning and  so I was hoping we'd get to spend all day together as we only get him two or three days a week.  I really like having him around.  Back to nappytime - he was unable to keep himself together, even two minutes of wait without letting whiny goblins loose, and so I, admitted I was wrong  to try to keep him up, and set out to put him down.  Part of the process, was a whimper that included, "I want you to read this book to me" - after we dealt with the way it was asked for - we began the book.  It is not only as classic, but it a hardback big book.  The sheer size is makes it one of C.'s favorites - just one problem...the book's general message, if left unattended, is one of a humanistic moralism.  Have you guessed the title?  What if I told you it involves a train, or four? Got it now?  Yeah, that's right - "The Little Engine that Could".  Underdogs, even sweet underdogs, triumphing in rugged individualism presents problems in the light of Truth. When questions and connections start rolling through the mind - a few discombobulates show up.  Like, ummm...I can do anything if I put my mind to it.  Or, what about, the idea of mercy - does it emanate from a person's choices or is it rather, a gift of God. 
When seen in the perspective of God as our motivator, we still cannot do anything, but yes, we can do the impossible, things we've never attempted - and it rightly leads to the good of others.  Motivation is the key, and desires are from whence all actions spring. 
When my grandone was looking at the large looming page when the Little engine is headed up the mountain, there were rocks all around the ground and even between the tracks, he exclaimed, "Oh, no!  He's gonna crash - he can't get around the rocks!"  I responded, "All he needs is for his wheels to stay on the tracks. He shouldn't look at the rocks."  Isn't that just like us, Jesus is our track, when our wheels are stayed on Him, the rocks are no danger.  It is if we go off the tracks - then we are lost...or at least until  the Engine Master sets us aright again. 
Mercy, is a beautiful thing, and God uses all things to accomplish and work in us His will, even the acts of evil, that we or others perpetrate.  God gave me a beautiful picture of that yesterday- but ah! that's another story. Back to the merciful Little Engine...I think I can, and I thought I could - are most often whispered, spoken or shouted emanating from a heart of self pride.  But there is a place, that God brings his children to when they can in humility say, "I think I can," and when God has brought them to a place they formally believes impossible to top-ple...there is a time they say, "I thought I could," and if the place is private, there heart will scream, "With YOU all things are possible." And if in public, it will be declared aloud, "Great is Our God, for He has done mighty deeds"  And we are left, right where we should be, in grace, in obscurity, and with a faith that has one more memory stone of the faithfulness of loving and kind God that has called us to be messengers of His mercy and grace to a desperate people.
There are other spiritual truths: like the engine who was too proud and lofty or the engine who had too much important work to stop to help the the likes of the lowly.  These traps are the ruts on either side of the tracks to every christian - best not to get off track; but when we do, and we will, good thing we have an Engine Master who set aright in bringing us to repentance.

 Maybe it's the two-year old teacher in me, maybe it's the questioner in me, or rather, maybe I'm just thankful that He is at the center of all God stories - even the ones that were written to exclude Him.

But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness,  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ I am content with weakness."

Boasting in weakness = Humility
Sake of Christ = It's about Him - He brings His Kingdom
Contentment = Seeing our weakself in Him
Power = Comes in weakness

No imitations needed...

Imputation is not an imitation...
     It is not about me -
          It is always about Him...
               that changes everything.

Then, I am in Him, His character imputed into me...
     Then I become about the other, as is He
            And loving one another
                  As He does...
                       AND that changes everything.


The Gift transforms us into gifts as He imputes His gifts of grace and love -
   We become His gift to a world...
         But we strive not, because then it is of us -
   We are His and He makes us
         We yield, submit, as He prepares us corporately to be His bride.

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
Jude 21-23

The do is to rest on Him, and we learn the rest gets done.

A parable of pumpkins...

I love decorating for the seasons, especially Christmas - best season of ever; but fall is nice, too. This morning I was looking at my porch with its pumpkins and wreath and thanking the Lord, who harvest is plentiful, even with lessons.
But I need to back up, I went to the porch to deliver the big ol' marked down pumpkin that I picked up on yesterday's zip through the grocery store.  As I set it in the place of the other pumpkin, I noticed that its bumps and irregularity fit it perfectly to the corner of the top step of my stairs. Hmmm...funny, thought I.
It is true that some of things that fit us for our place are the bumps and scars that are so unseemly to the world.  If I had been looking for the perfect pumpkin - I wouldn't have chosen that one, yet it deep burnt orange, tall, and plump - just lovely and the squarishness of part even with its scars might aptly fit to my highest stoop. Which it did...hmmm.
The creator allows us pain filled scars and bumps to coincide with gifts and loveliness in other areas to fit us to the stoop he has designed for our habitation. So often I have embraced the bumps and scars or worst, yet, the gifts and accomplishments in other areas without seeing, it is wholeness, the entirety of it, that brings both beauty and usefulness. The idea of seeing God's hands moulding us in the blessing and adversity - and refusing to give up either. Refuse blessing? ANYONE? Refuse adversity? Everyone?
I find I can gauge my thankfulness and belief of God's sovereignty with this very question. Now, I am not saying that wisdom doesn't compel me to pray and act for the relief of adversity and sorrow.  But when God's answer comes back, "No, this is my will concerning you."  Then what?
Decision time: Do I trust that the bumps that I incur will be for my good. That He is good. That He is acting in my best interest and that give me blessing instead of adversity would be the act of an unloving Father - which He will not, and cannot be?
Funny ol' pumpkin with its scars and bumps...fitted for its place.

A Grand Day...

It could more aptly be said to be a thankful day.  C., our grandnephew, spent the day and is snoozing on the couch. 
While zippy- doodling down the road, I heard him say from the back seat, "God is good!" My heart felt much bigger than my chest for a moment- C.'s outburst was most likely due to his reflecting on the cool bike and great slippers we'd just found at the Goodwill bins.
Later, I was again thankful that the only tool we hadn't lent out to the girls, was the ratchet wrench we needed to fit the new training wheels on that old bike - it worked perfectly. No rouge molecules or unshadowed moments, or anything new in this old world. God is good.
Those times when we see His loving goodness in the small, unextraordinary glimmers are, indeed, grand and extraordinary in deed.