Dazed Excitement

Well, this is exciting, mind-boggling, mind-blowing and kind of weird all at once!

I worked last summer on writing a Bible study guide for our upcoming women's Bible study on Colossians. After I got it all done, I asked our Executive Pastor for some help in turning it into a study guide format, just because I like a book better than pages in a binder. He edited it, turned it into book format, and arranged for self-publishing through Lulu.com so that we could offer a printed copy as an option for our women.

Today, I got an email with the link to the following:

Colossians Bible Study guide

Colossians Study Guide. He put it on Barnes and Noble and Book Depository too.

A friend in the church did the cover and I love it too. I'm so amazed and grateful for the talent and generosity of the people around me.

I'm really looking forward to digging into Colossians with our ladies. This whole project has been a bit of an experiment for me. I wondered if I could write a study guide that would be flexible for women in different seasons of life for studying and that would really help us to learn more about God and our relationship with Him, as well as understanding more of how Colossians fits into the whole of Scripture. Time will tell if the project was successful in that regard!

Sunday Hymn - All Creatures of our God and King

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
Thou silver moon with softer gleam!

Refrain

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong
Ye clouds that sail in Heaven along,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou rising moon, in praise rejoice,
Ye lights of evening, find a voice!

Refrain

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
Make music for thy Lord to hear,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
That givest man both warmth and light.

Refrain

Dear mother earth, who day by day
Unfoldest blessings on our way,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
Let them His glory also show.

Refrain

And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!

Refrain

And thou most kind and gentle Death,
Waiting to hush our latest breath,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Thou leadest home the child of God,
And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

Refrain

Let all things their Creator bless,
And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
And praise the Spirit, Three in One!

Refrain

A more traditional version:

Sunday Hymn - Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It

This was a draft that I had saved from several months ago. It's still true today so here it is:

Spurgeon's morning reading from yesterday, which I read today, reads:

“The Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins.”

Matthew 9:6

Behold one of the great Physician’s mightiest arts: he has power to forgive sin! While here he lived below, before the ransom had been paid, before the blood had been literally sprinkled on the mercy-seat, he had power to forgive sin. Hath he not power to do it now that he hath died? What power must dwell in him who to the utmost farthing has faithfully discharged the debts of his people! He has boundless power now that he has finished transgression and made an end of sin. If ye doubt it, see him rising from the dead! behold him in ascending splendour raised to the right hand of God! Hear him pleading before the eternal Father, pointing to his wounds, urging the merit of his sacred passion! What power to forgive is here! “He hath ascended on high, and received gifts for men.” “He is exalted on high to give repentance and remission of sins.” The most crimson sins are removed by the crimson of his blood. At this moment, dear reader, whatever thy sinfulness, Christ has power to pardon, power to pardon thee, and millions such as thou art. A word will speak it. He has nothing more to do to win thy pardon; all the atoning work is done. He can, in answer to thy tears, forgive thy sins today, and make thee know it. He can breathe into thy soul at this very moment a peace with God which passeth all understanding, which shall spring from perfect remission of thy manifold iniquities. Dost thou believe that? I trust thou believest it. Mayst thou experience now the power of Jesus to forgive sin! Waste no time in applying to the Physician of souls, but hasten to him with words like these:—

“Jesus! Master! hear my cry; Save me, heal me with a word; Fainting at thy feet I lie, Thou my whisper'd plaint hast heard.”

It made me think of the hymn, Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It.

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.

Refrain

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.

Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

Refrain

I think of my blessèd Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long:
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

Refrain

I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
In yonder bright mansion for me,
And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
At home with the Lord I shall be.

Refrain

This is a lovely version that combines two of the tunes for this hymn.

Verses for Bad Days

A friend just sent me this link that she found helpful for bad days. It's a good one to share with each other.

10 Verses for When you are having a Bad Day

This friend is a new believer but not a new friend - we've known each other since high school. What a blessing it's been to see her spiritual growth this year.

If you are like me, you've heard some buzz about the idea of "one-to-one Bible reading". Last fall, my friend & I decided to start reading the Bible together. We started reading through John weekly via Skype (or whatever technology decided to work that day - none of them are reliable!). It has been a blessing to my soul! We're starting Colossians this month but using a study guide I've been working on (more on that later).

I have enjoyed just reading the Scriptures with her very much. We don't discuss it much - just answer questions occasionally and keep reading. I highly recommend it!

Sunday Hymn - Stayed upon Jehovah

This morning, my husband is preaching on Psalm 91 which begins with

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91 is one of my favourite Psalms and it reminds me of one of my favourite hymns - "Like a River Glorious". I know I've posted this one before but it seemed like a good opportunity to restart my blog (see the next post, hopefully this week).

Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace,
Over all victorious, in its bright increase;
Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day,
Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.

Refrain

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand,
Never foe can follow, never traitor stand;
Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care,
Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Refrain

Every joy or trial falleth from above,
Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love;
We may trust Him fully all for us to do.
They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true.

Refrain

(The sermon will be posted at Calvary Grace's website tonight or tomorrow. I'm sure it will be worth listening to!)