Sunday Hymn - I am not Skilled to Understand

I am not skilled to understand
What God hath willed, what God hath planned;
I only know that at His right hand
Is One Who is my Savior!

I take Him at His word indeed;
“Christ died for sinners”—this I read;
For in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my Savior!

That He should leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die,
You count it strange? So once did I,
Before I knew my Savior!

And oh, that He fulfilled may see
The travail of His soul in me,
And with His work contented be,
As I with my dear Savior!

Yea, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this Spring;
That He Who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior!

Here is a link to a piano midi file - it's not fancy but it is the tune I grew up singing. I found a dreadfully slow choir version here.

And I didn't know that there's a modern version by Aaron Shust. I still like the original tune but it's so great to see the older hymns revived.

Sunday Hymn

All the Way My Saviour Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me;
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who through life has been my Guide?
Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,
Here by faith in Him to dwell!
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well;
For I know, whate’er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,
Cheers each winding path I tread;
Gives me grace for every trial,
Feeds me with the living Bread.
Though my weary steps may falter,
And my soul athirst may be,
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see;
Gushing from the Rock before me,
Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me
O the fullness of His love!
Perfect rest to me is promised
In my Father’s house above.
When my spirit, clothed immortal,
Wings its flight to realms of day
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way;
This my song through endless ages—
Jesus led me all the way.

Here's a beautiful version of it (missing the second verse):

Sunday Hymn

This was the soundtrack in my head yesterday morning. Then I started to really think about the words, especially in the second verse, and was so thankful for them.

My Hope is Built

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

The Robins are Back!

Today the robins came back.





Well, actually they may have been back for a few days but today they were suddenly heard everywhere. There was a steady chirping around town - spring must be here!

I was teaching piano, watching the robins congregate in the front yard birch. Of course, by the time I got outside, they weren't hanging around in the birch any more. But I did manage to get a couple of pictures and I enjoyed listening to them sing as I walked around the yard looking for one to photograph.



Our copywork for tomorrow:

Sir Robin

Rollicking Robin is here again.
What does he care for the April rain?
Care for it? Glad of it! Doesn't he know
That the April rain carries off the snow,
And coaxes out leaves to shadow his nest,
And washes his pretty red Easter vest,
And makes the juice of the cherry sweet,
For his hungry little robins to eat?
"Ha! ha! ha!" hear the jolly bird laugh,
"That isn't the best of the story, by half!"

Robin, Sir Robin, gay, red-vested knight,
Now you have come to us, summer's in sight;
You never dream of the wonders you bring,
Visions that follow the flash of your wing;
How all the beautiful By-and-by
Around you and after you seems to fly!
Sing on, or eat on, as pleases your mind,
Well have you earned every morsel you find.
"Aye! ha! ha! ha!" whistles Robin, "My dear,
Let us all take our own choice of good cheer!"

Lucy Larcom

Sunday Hymn - All Hail the Power

All hail the power of Jesus’ Name! Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all.

Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him Who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all.

O that, with yonder sacred throng, we at His feet may fall,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all,
Join in the everlasting song, and crown Him Lord of all!

These are additional verses that I am not familiar with but they are very rich:

Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line, whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all,
The God incarnate, Man divine, and crown Him Lord of all.

Sinners, whose love can ne’er forget the wormwood and the gall,
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.
Go spread your trophies at His feet, and crown Him Lord of all.

Let every tribe and every tongue before Him prostrate fall
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.
And shout in universal song the crownèd Lord of all.

Let highborn seraphs tune the lyre, and as they tune it, fall
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.
Before His face Who tunes their choir, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye morning stars of light, who fixed this floating ball;
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.
Now hail the strength of Israel’s might, and crown Him Lord of all.

Crown Him, ye martyrs of your God, who from His altar call;
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the Stem of Jesse’s Rod, and crown Him Lord of all.

Resurrection Sunday Hymn

Christ, the Lord, is Risen Today

Christ, the Lord, is risen today, Alleluia!
Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is over, Alleluia!
Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Hail, the Lord of earth and Heaven, Alleluia!
Praise to Thee by both be given, Alleluia!
Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

**The words in italics are the ones I know. But the other verses are very rich too.

A beautiful guitar version:

Steve Green sings it:

Sunday Hymn

MY HOPE IS IN THE LORD
Words by Norman J. Clayton

My hope is in the Lord
Who gave Himself for me
And paid the price
Of all my sin at Calvary.

Refrain:
For me He died;
For me He lives,
And everlasting life
And light He freely gives.

No merit of my own
His anger to suppress
My only hope is found
In Jesus' righteousness.

And now for me He stands
Before the Father's throne
He shows His wounded hands
And names me as His own.

His grace has planned it all
Tis mine but to believe
And recognize His work of love
And Christ receive.

Book Notes (and a little bit of poetry)

I just came across this list of quotes about reading on George Grant's blog. Great quotes!

I just finished reading Josh Harris's Dug Down Deep. Can I say that I was pleasantly surprised? I don't know why I had low expectations of it but I enjoyed skimming through it. I think it would be a great book for a new Christian or someone who says that they don't like doctrine. He does a really good job of making it real and practical without leaving out any of the essentials.

I read The Great Gatsby for the first time. My son is reading it for a class so I picked it up. Quite depressing and the ending was predictable. I'm wondering why it's considered a classic? However, I do think if I read it again for the writing and not for the story (isn't that what the first time through a book is for - the story?), I would appreciate it more. It does show the futility of pinning all your hopes on one person, however.

And now for the poetry. Rebecca posted this poem today and it made me cry.


De Profundis

by Christina Rossetti

Oh why is heaven built so far,
Oh why is earth set so remote?
I cannot reach the nearest star
That hangs afloat.

I would not care to reach the moon,
One round monotonous of change;
Yet even she repeats her tune
Beyond my range.

I never watch the scatter'd fire
Of stars, or sun's far-trailing train,
But all my heart is one desire,
And all in vain:

For I am bound with fleshly bands,
Joy, beauty, lie beyond my scope;
I strain my heart, I stretch my hands,
And catch at hope.

"And catch at hope." That's the line that gets me every time. I am so thankful to God that He gives me hope.

Sunday Hymn - Joys are Flowing Like a River

Joys are flowing like a river,
Since the Comforter has come;
He abides with us forever,
Makes the trusting heart His home.

Refrain

Blessèd quietness, holy quietness,
What assurance in my soul!
On the stormy sea, He speaks peace to me,
How the billows cease to roll!

Bringing life and health and gladness,
All around this heav’nly Guest,
Banished unbelief and sadness,
Changed our weariness to rest.

Refrain

Like the rain that falls from Heaven,
Like the sunlight from the sky,
So the Holy Ghost is given,
Coming on us from on high.

Refrain

See, a fruitful field is growing,
Blessèd fruit of righteousness;
And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness.

Refrain

What a wonderful salvation,
Where we always see His face!
What a perfect habitation,
What a quiet resting place!

Refrain

Interview Links

Here are the links for the interview we did with 100 Huntley Street. We thought it was handled quite well.

Part 1
Part 2

It`s strange to see oneself on TV!

Trying This Again

Our interview is set to air Thursday, March 4 at the 9 am (and 9 pm) broadcast on 100 Huntley Street. I hope it really does!

If you aren't able to watch it, it should be available to view online here. I'll try to post a more specific link once it's actually up.

Sunday Hymn: Saved by Grace

I had forgotten about this hymn until I was given the music to accompany some ladies singing it. It's not in our current hymnal, which I think is a shame. (I also have to say that I think the words are better than the music - this would be a great one for someone to rewrite the music.)

Saved by Grace

Some day the silver cord will break,
And I no more as now shall sing;
But oh, the joy when I shall wake
Within the palace of the King!

Refrain

And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—Saved by grace;
And I shall see Him face to face,
And tell the story—Saved by grace.

Some day my earthly house will fall.
I cannot tell how soon ’twill be;
But this I know—my All in All
Has now a place in Heav’n for me.

Refrain

Some day, when fades the golden sun
Beneath the rosy tinted west,
My blessèd Lord will say, “Well done!”
And I shall enter into rest.

Refrain

Some day: till then I’ll watch and wait,
My lamp all trimmed and burning bright,
That when my Savior opens the gate,
My soul to Him may take its flight.

Refrain

Sour Cream Orange Buns

I spotted this recipe a while ago on the Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog but hadn't tried it yet. Yesterday I felt like baking so tried them out. They were a hit! They are less sweet than regular cinnamon buns but still decadent enough.

The recipe can be found here. Highly recommended!

Lava Cakes

I've been looking for a good lava cake recipe for a long time. At the gym in the mornings, one of the tv's is often tuned to "French Food at Home". It's a great show to watch (we try not to drool too much) but I haven't tried any of her recipes.

But recently she featured "Moelleux au Chocolat" - lava cakes. I just tried them tonight in preparation for dinner guests on Saturday night. They are amazing! And very easy to make too.

So if you are looking for a great dessert, maybe even for Valentine's, check it out.

*Note: I didn't have dark chocolate so I used chocolate chips instead. It worked fine. They are probably a little sweeter than they would be with dark chocolate but still great.

Yummy Homemade Buns

I enjoy making bread and buns. Last week, I tried a new recipe for buns from Mennonite Girls can Cook - Honey Bran Buns. It is probably the best bun recipe I have made - this one is a keeper.

I must make mine bigger because I doubled it and got about four dozen where the recipe said it would make about three dozen. But make them whatever size you want. I also reduced the yeast in doubling it (maybe it's just me but if I double the yeast in a bread recipe, it often tastes "yeasty" to me) and used about half whole-wheat flour.

Enjoy!

100 Huntley Street interview

*Update: Apparently, our segment has been bumped and we don't know the new date yet. I'll update when I know. *

Last fall, we did an interview with a reporter from 100 Huntley Street, a Canadian religious show. Many of you prayed for us in doing the interview. We just received word that it will be aired

Feb. 3rd, at 9AM on CTS (I'm not sure what station that is) and Global TV and 9PM on CTS. The story will also be on the website at www.100huntley.com if you miss it or if you don't have access to those stations.

I'm interested to see how it turned out!

Kids in Church

In our church, all the children are in the church service until the message. The nursery is staffed so some babies and toddlers go during the early part of the service but most of the time, all the kids are in the service until just before the message, when the 2-5 year olds head off for junior church.

I've been reflecting lately on how much I love having the kids in church. There's some "buzz", especially on some Sundays, but it's so wonderful to hear them. And what's been really exciting is hearing them sing out. There's a couple of little guys, about 5 years old, who have been singing out loudly lately and I love hearing it! It's so great to know that the children are learning to worship with their families and that they can participate in worship with the adults.

There seems to be a trend in churches to have the children out of the service entirely until they are older. But I wonder what the children are learning. They can learn about the Bible, they can sing together, and do all those types of things. But what they aren't learning is how the body of Christ functions together in corporate worship and I think that's a shame. It takes effort and training sometimes to have your kids in the service with you but in the long run, it's worthwhile as the children see and hear how the church works together in song, prayer, Bible reading, preaching, Lord's table and baptisms.

If you have little ones and are looking for ways to train them to sit in church, the Deputy Headmistress at The Common Room had a really good post a while ago about training children.

We have found that it works best to not bring a lot of toys with us as the more choices we had, the more busy the kids seemed to be. One or two little things worked well but the more important thing is to help them participate in the various parts of the service. Stand up to sing, follow along with Mommy in the Bible during the Scripture reading and try to listen during other times. My kids are allowed to draw during the message. It's amazing, though, how much they pick up, even when it seems like they aren't listening.

And the best training? Attending regularly. Even if it seems like they aren't learning to sit, try to look at it in terms of months (and maybe years) rather than weeks and you'll soon see how much your kids are learning and growing.

Peace

I wrote this devotional for a ladies' banquet at the beginning of December and thought I would post it here. I hope it is encouraging.

Peace. We hear a lot at Christmas time about peace. “Imagine” is heard on the radio stations –

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

John Lennon thought that the absence of religion would lead to peace. He’s right if you think of “religion” as something you do to gain favour with God. But true religion only leads us to peace.

I’ve learned a lot about peace in the past year and a bit since Emily’s death. I didn’t even realize what I was learning until one Sunday this summer, we sang “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy” for the children’s song. The second verse is “I’ve got the peace that passes understanding”. All of a sudden it hit me – I now know what the peace that passes understanding is that Paul talked about in Philippians when he said,

“Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Tonight, I’d like to spend a few minutes thinking out loud with you about peace.

First, Paul assumes something in this verse. He assumes, because he’s already written several chapters to the Philippians, that the people there already have a relationship with God. They can make their requests known to God because they already have that relationship.

True peace starts with our relationship with God. John Lennon was wrong – it’s not the absence of a relationship with God that leads to peace but instead a true relationship with Him. But that relationship also has to be on God’s terms. Part of the reason for conflicts around the world is that people use religion as an excuse for conflict. But God says differently – He tells us that all of us are in conflict with Him. Our sin keeps us from God. It’s a rebellion against God and His holiness. True peace starts when we admit our sin to God and trust in the actions of Jesus Christ on the cross when He took our sin upon Himself. Only when we bow before God in humility and admit our sin and our need for a Saviour, will we have peace with God. That’s why the angel said, in speaking to the shepherds, “Good will and peace to men.” It had to come through Jesus. We will never have true peace until we have first made our peace with God.

In this verse, Paul urges his readers to be anxious for nothing. Think about that – nothing. How can it be that we can be anxious for nothing? What do we need to know about God in order to apply this command that will result in a peace that passes understanding?

First, we see the character of God – we can trust Him in our prayers because of who He is. When we read the Bible, we find out about God’s character – He is merciful and loving, He is holy and perfect and He gives grace to us. I have heard of a call & response used at some churches that says, “God is good all the time. All the time, God is good.” When we pray, when we’re looking for peace, do we believe that? Do we trust God because of His character to know that He is good and He will do what is best for us? We rarely have understanding of God’s plans, especially at the time, but we must look at God’s character as revealed to us in the Bible and based on that knowledge, trust in Him. That will bring peace because we know that “whatever God ordains is right”.

It is because God is holy that we can have confidence that he will fulfill his promises to us, that his power will be used to help us, that his mercy will be poured out on us, and that his wisdom will design our suffering and everything else in our lives to work together for our good. (Dustin Shramek)

This brings us to our second thing to understand about God: His sovereignty, which means that He is in control of all things. When we pray, we understand that because God is sovereign over all things and because He sees all things from the perspective of eternity, we can trust God with what happens in our lives. And because we trust Him, we have peace – peace that seems incomprehensible to those who don’t trust in God.

Some might argue that God is not sovereign and not in control of all things. But what kind of a god would He be in that case? If He is not in control, He is a weak god and we can’t trust Him with anything.

Now this comfort, this trust in a sovereign God doesn’t mean that we necessarily will find it easy to submit to God’s will. I think that is why Paul tells us to come to God with prayer and supplication. David Powlison says that ‘Prayer means “ask for something you need and want.” Supplication means “really ask.”’

In times of trouble, in times of grief, we call out to God and really ask for help. The psalms are great examples of this. God promises that when we cry out to him, when we pray earnestly to Him, that He will give us peace.

This peace doesn’t necessarily come easily. It takes time and it takes study of God’s character and His word and other writings about God. There were times for me when I would read something and feel like throwing the book across the room. But I had to stop and think about what I was reading. Sometimes I had to close the book and come back to it the next day after thinking about it for a while. I had to ask myself - Is it true? Many times, I could see that it was true but I didn’t want to believe it. But I had to submit to God’s word. God’s grace gave me the ability to accept what was written, although it wasn’t easy. It was a long process to get to the point where I could see results by understanding the peace that I experience.

So peace is found not in a lack of conflict or in a “perfect” life. Peace is not something that just happens, nor is it put on like a sweater. Instead peace starts first with our relationship with God – have we knelt in submission to God and had our sins forgiven? Then do we understand something of God’s character? Are we looking for ways to learn more about Him? And are we willing to submit to His sovereign will? Do we pray and bring every request to God? When we do that, the promise is this: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in You.” Is. 26:3.

Streams in the Desert – The same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you His unwavering strength that you may bear it. Be at peace then and set aside all anxious thoughts and worries.

from Spurgeon - Beside Still Waters – Have we ever had the shadow of a reason to doubt our Father’s goodness? Have not His loving kindnesses been marvellous? Has He once failed to justify our trust? Ah, no! our God has not left us at any time. We have had dark nights but the star of love has shone forth amid the blackness; we have been in stern conflicts but over our head He has held aloft the shield of our defense…. What we have known of our faithful God proves that He will keep us to the end.

Thankful for Advent

Advent starts on Sunday. At first, I was surprised - how could it be Advent already? That means that Christmas isn't far behind! How could we be nearly at December?

But this morning, I was thinking about it and I was thankful for Advent. Because if it wasn't for that time of contemplation, I would hit December 24th and think, "Whoa, it's Christmas, where did that come from?" So the season of Advent is an important reminder to prepare for Christmas.

And that doesn't mean just the baking, shopping, decorating part of Christmas. The important part of Advent is the heart preparation. I was working through a list of Advent activities and found a devotional I found last year. It struck me again how important it is to contemplate Christ's coming and the reason for His coming. I'm looking forward to reading the daily passages with our family and singing the carols everyday.

I've also ordered a new book with a compilation of devotionals, essays and messages on the Christmas season titled Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. I have the Easter one and thoroughly enjoyed it so I'm looking forward to this Christmas one.

The two advent devotional guides can be found here.

Thanksgiving Hymns

Some of my favourites:

Now Thank We All Our God

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;
And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

The story behind the hymn (from Cyber-Hymnal)
Martin Rinkart, a Lu­ther­an min­is­ter, was in Eil­en­burg, Sax­o­ny, dur­ing the Thir­ty Years’ War. The walled ci­ty of Eil­en­burg saw a stea­dy stream of re­fu­gees pour through its gates. The Swed­ish ar­my sur­round­ed the ci­ty, and fa­mine and plague were ramp­ant. Eight hund­red homes were de­stroyed, and the peo­ple be­gan to per­ish. There was a tre­men­dous strain on the pas­tors who had to con­duct do­zens of fun­er­als dai­ly. Fi­nal­ly, the pas­tors, too, suc­cumbed, and Rink­art was the on­ly one left—doing 50 fun­er­als a day. When the Swedes de­mand­ed a huge ran­som, Rink­art left the safe­ty of the walls to plead for mer­cy. The Swed­ish com­mand­er, im­pressed by his faith and cour­age, low­ered his de­mands. Soon af­ter­ward, the Thir­ty Years’ War end­ed, and Rinkart wrote this hymn for a grand cel­e­bra­tion ser­vice. It is a test­a­ment to his faith that, af­ter such mis­e­ry, he was able to write a hymn of abid­ing trust and gra­ti­tude to­ward God.

We Gather Together

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

---

Simple Woman's Daybook

I came across this about a month ago on Musings of a Prairie Girl and I've been meaning to do something with it. Since we're enjoying a lovely quiet day at home on this chilly Thanksgiving weekend, I get to spend a little bit of time blogging. And my husband inspired me by updating his blog!

For today October 10, 2009

Outside My Window -- Mid-afternoon cloudiness. It's been grey and dull here for the past few days and often tried to snow. However, the trees are yellow and green so it's still beautiful to look at.

I am thinking.... of how much I'm enjoying this quiet day. I had fun scrapbooking last night, slept in, had a good run with a friend and have been hanging around here ever since.

I am thankful for.... my parents' visit this weekend and my great family.

From the learning room.... making pies with the girls yesterday was fun. We're studying modern history and our highschool discussion yesterday was really interesting.

From the kitchen.... Thanksgiving dinner - tomorrow. Tonight is waffles for dinner.

I am wearing.... jeans, tshirt, sweater & slippers. My winter attire in this chilly climate!

I am reading..... a really interesting novel called Far North. I haven't figured out yet where it's going which makes for an interesting read. A little odd on the "humans destroying the planet" theme but well-written so far.

I am hoping.... to get caught up next week - school work & scrapbooking. And to get some sunshine for fall pictures before the snow comes for good.

I am hearing.... a tap dripping in the kitchen. Lazy, pleasant conversation around the living room. Laughter with my son and husband.

A few plans for the rest of the week.... Church in the morning, then Thanksgiving dinner late afternoon. Mom & Dad leave Monday morning and hopefully I can do school planning and general "day-off" kinds of activities.

This is written in the tradition of The Simple Women's Daybook.

Menu Calendars

I am printing out my menu calendar for October and I thought it might be fun to share here. This has been such a helpful thing for our family to have. On the months that I don't do a menu, I struggle with meals but once that menu is on the fridge door, it makes things so much easier. I also find that we eat better because I have planned a variety of meals.

I don't follow it slavishly - sometimes I don't have time to make the item or I don't have the ingredients or we just don't feel like it. Or there are leftovers in the fridge that need to be used. But having a basic guideline just gives me a place to start. For example, yesterday we were supposed to have an enchilada casserole. But I was gone Friday night & Saturday at quizzing so I pulled a roast out of the freezer on Saturday night when we got home and we had it last night for supper.

I keep a file in Word that has one calendar like this one for each month. I change the dates each year and change the menu to reflect our activities (sometimes we're away for a night or there's a potluck or holiday). It really doesn't take that long to change now that I have a year's worth of menus done.

Sunday Hymn - Come, Ye Thankful People Come

Since next weekend is our Canadian Thanksgiving, I was thinking about this hymn, one of my favourite Thanksgiving hymns.

Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home;
All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied;
Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield;
Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown.
First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away,
Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home;
Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin,
There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide;
Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home.

Poetry

Cindy, at Dominion Family, has been influencing my thinking about poetry and its inclusion in our lives. Here's a great post about poetry.

Why Poetry

Sunday Hymn - How Firm a Foundation

I like the "conversation" in this hymn and how God's words are used to speak to His people. In our church, we only sing verses 1, 3, 5, and 7.

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He hath said,
You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.

Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.

---

Poetry - September Days

I just received a new-to-us poem book, Child's Calendar Beautiful, that I will blog about sometime in the future (yes, I really do plan to start blogging more - will it last?).

But we read this one this morning and I liked it so thought I would share. Our September weather has been absolutely beautiful and we are admiring the glories of the garden (ripe tomatoes!), flowers and leaves. And yet, there are bittersweet moments in life that this poem captures well.

September Days

Cicada plays his viol mid the grasses,
The last shrill sound at night, the first at morn;
Late poppies grow along the garden passes,
And light winds gossip in the ripening corn.

The sluggish creek, in meadows lately greening,
Is flushed with gold and purple, either brink;
From dusty hedge the last wild rose is leaving,
A deadly pallor on her lovely pink.

With Tyrian fruit the lowly poke is laden;
Wych-hazel weaves her "thread of golden bloom;"
The wandering woodbine, like a Gypsy maiden,
Warms with its color the deep forest's gloom.

The morning sows with pearls Arachne's weaving;
The orchard peach looks out with cheeks a-blush;
From shady nook the ringdove's note of grieving
Floats far and faint upon the noontide hush.

By country roads the scarlet sumac's burning,
And over zigzag fences spread and shine
The lush dark berries, daily turning
Their loyal heart's blood into purple wine.

Down the lane path, where the cows come in the gloaming,
The thistles stand with faded armour on;
In buckwheat bloom the weary bees are roaming,
To gather sweets till the last day is done.

With all thy gift and grace, O fair September,
Some anniversaries it is thine to bring,
That flood unwilling eyes but to remember,
And choke with sighs the heart that fain would sing.

And yet, when God has filled the earth with beauty,
And given the soul a quickened consciousness,
One may go forth in pleasant ways of duty
And feel the chastening Hand in close caress.

Elliot C. True

Book update/reviews

Well, my summer reading challenge wasn't that successful but I did read a lot over the summer.

What I read from the list:

Dallimore's two volume biography of George Whitefield - nope - it's still sitting at the church. I need to remember to bring it home and start it.

Does Christianity Squash Women? - didn't get to it but I still would like to.

Moby Dick - what was I thinking?

Women Helping Women - I read most of this and found it interesting. I think it will be a good resource on the shelf.

Women Leading Women - nope

A Place of Quiet Rest - Nancy Leigh DeMoss - I did read this one and really enjoyed it. I have to confess that I mostly read it because I wanted to know what she said before I passed it on to someone else. Part of me was thinking that I didn't need it myself. However, even though I'm used to having my own quiet time, I found it challenging and interesting. I found some good suggestions for changing how I read and journal. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Showing the Spirit - Don Carson - (I'm about halfway through) - still about halfway through.

The Book of Negroes - Lawrence Hill - (book club summer selection - I've read it once but I'll read it again to refresh my memory) - skimmed it just before the book club meeting. Enjoyable read and lots of interesting history.

Tapestry of War: a private view of Canadians in the Great War - Sandra Gwyn - just got it from the library and my son has been working through it since we're studying modern history this year. I've started it and I'll finish it once he's done.

The Private Capital: ambition and love in the age of Macdonald and Laurier - Sandra Gwyn - on order from the library. I think it was finally shipped so it should be here soon.

Books I read over the summer and early fall that weren't on my list:

Wives & Daughters and
The Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell.

Gaskell is my latest discovery in English writers. She was a contemporary of both Bronte & Austen and is a marvelous writer. I don't know how I missed her all these years. Her biography of Bronte is excellent and I find it so interesting that she knew her and both spent time in the Bronte home and had Charlotte visiting in her home.

Wings Like Eagles

The story of the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain. Very well done. As I mentioned, we are studying modern history this year. I think Al Mohler referenced this title in one of his summer reading lists so I wanted to preread it to see if it's suitable for my grade 12 student. Unlike some of the others I previewed this summer, it's quite appropriate for students and gives a really good picture of what happened not only in the summer of 1940 but the events leading up to it.

To Serve Them All My Days - Delderfield

I read this years ago but for some reason was reminded of it again. I really enjoyed it the second time around - great writing and a fascinating picture of the life of a schoolmaster.

Jane Austen ruined my life - Beth Patillo

Interesting concept but not a great ending. The feministic viewpoint was quite at odds to Jane Austen, actually. I enjoyed the book but the ending left me flat.

Goodnight, Mr. Tom

The story of an evacuee who comes to live with an older man in the countryside of Britain during WW2. Excellent book - I think I'll read this aloud when we get to WW2.

Miss Pettigrew lives for a day

Fun little British read (hmm... I think I might see a pattern). I'm waiting, not so patiently, for the dvd to come from the library

Hunting Eichmann

Interesting read about the search for a war criminal.

And some other mysteries, etc. that I picked up at library sales or wherever I could find little paperback books!

Summer Reading Challenge

I was just thinking this morning about my summer reading. Lo and behold, what did I come across at Seasonal Soundings but a Summer Reading Challenge?

Here's my list:

Dallimore's two volume biography of George Whitefield

Does Christianity Squash Women?

Moby Dick

Women Helping Women

Women Leading Women

A Place of Quiet Rest - Nancy Leigh DeMoss

Showing the Spirit - Don Carson - (I'm about halfway through)

The Book of Negroes - Lawrence Hill - (book club summer selection - I've read it once but I'll read it again to refresh my memory)

Tapestry of War: a private view of Canadians in the Great War - Sandra Gwyn

The Private Capital: ambition and love in the age of Macdonald and Laurier - Sandra Gwyn

Probably this is a terribly ambitious list but many of these books have been sitting on my shelf waiting to be read so it's time!

Sunday Hymn - It is Not Death to Die

From Come Weary Saints

It is Not Death to Die

It is not death to die
To leave this weary road
And join the saints who dwell on high
Who’ve found their home with God
It is not death to close
The eyes long dimmed by tears
And wake in joy before Your throne
Delivered from our fears

Chorus
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die

It is not death to fling
Aside this earthly dust
And rise with strong and noble wing
To live among the just
It is not death to hear
The key unlock the door
That sets us free from mortal years
To praise You evermore

Chorus
O Jesus, conquering the grave
Your precious blood has power to save
Those who trust in You
Will in Your mercy find
That it is not death to die

Bob Kauflin rewrote it from an older hymn. Here are the words to the original hymn, by Malan, translated by Bethune:

It is not death to die,
To leave this weary road,
And midst the brotherhood on high
To be at home with God.

It is not death to close
The eye long dimmed by tears,
And wake, in glorious repose,
To spend eternal years.

It is not death to bear
The wrench that sets us free
From dungeon chain, to breath the air
Of boundless liberty.

It is not death to fling
Aside this sinful dust
And rise, on strong exulting wing
To live among the just.

Jesus, Thou Prince of Life,
Thy chosen cannot die:
Like Thee, they conquer in the strife
To reign with Thee on high.

This song has come to mean a lot to me. I first heard it last summer, when we bought Come Weary Saints. After a few weeks of listening to the CD, I commented to Terry that I couldn't understand why that song stood out to me, among all the others. In fact, I could barely remember what other songs were on the album but that one was always one I pondered. I think it was partly because I have never really looked forward to heaven, although I grew up in a Christian home and understand (at least partially) God's plan of salvation at an early age. I was challenged by the words to consider in a new way my view of death and heaven.

Fast forward a few months and I discovered why that song had stood out to me. When I found out about Emily's death, I was driving home from a conference. (In case any of you wonder, I made Terry tell me on the phone because it was better to know the truth than spend the drive wondering what was going on). After a while, I turned on my ipod to "It is Not Death to Die" and listened to it at least two times. God really used it to change my focus even at that moment to His truth of what death is. That doesn't mean that I didn't grieve and didn't argue with God but that even at that moment, He was taking my grief and starting to turn around my understanding of what He was doing.

The other song I listened to just as I was coming into town was "How Deep". The chorus is

How deep is His love,
How high and how wide is His mercy,
How deep is Your grace,
Our hearts overflow with praise to you.

And it begins with "You were broken that I might be healed". As I listened to that song, it hit me - God's Son had died. He knows our grief because His Son died. But because of His Son's death, we are healed and we can look forward to the time when we will enter into the kingdom of God.

We grieved Emily's death. We are still grieving her and probably always will. But we take comfort in God's words of comfort and His promises. And when everything seems to press in on me, then I sing the words of "It is Not Death to Die" to myself and God reminds me yet again that there is more to life than we see now and Emily is now praising her Saviour in His presence.

Spurgeon also says,

"Dear friend, have you found that trouble cuts the cords that tie you to earth? When the Lord takes a child, there is one less cord to fasten you to this world and another band to draw you toward heaven. When money vanishes and business goes wrong, we frequent the prayer meeting, the prayer closet and the Bible. Trials drive us from earth. If all went well, we would begin to say, "Soul, relax". But when things go amiss, we want to be gone. When the tree shakes, the bird flies away. Happy is the trouble that loosens our grip of earth."

Thoughts from Spurgeon

This is from Beside Still Waters: Words of Comfort for the Soul

"We love God's people. They are exceedingly precious. Far too often we look on their deaths as a grievous loss. If we could confer immortality, we would never let them die. But it would be cruel to deprive them of a speedy entrance into their inheritance. We want to hold them here a little longer. We find it hard to relinquish our grasp, because the saint's departure causes us much pain. We are poorer because of the eternal enriching of the beloved, who have gone over to the majority and entered their rest.

Yet know this, while we are sorrowing, Christ is rejoicing. His prayer is, 'Father, I desire that they also, whom You gave Me, may be with me where I am; that they may behold My glory which You have given Me' (John 17:24). In the advent of every one of His own to the skies, Jesus sees an answer to that prayer. We are grieving but He is rejoicing. Their deaths are painful in our sight, but 'precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints' (Ps. 116:15).

Tears are permitted, but they must glisten in the light of faith and hope. 'Jesus wept' (John 11:35), but He never complained. We may weep, but not 'as [those] who have no hope' (I Thess. 4:13). There is great cause for joy in the departure of our loved ones.

Death itself is not precious; it is terrible. It cannot be precious to God to see the highest works of His hand torn in pieces, to see His skillful embroidery in the human body broken, defiled, and given to decay. Yet to the believer, it is not death to die. It is a departure out of the this world to the Father, an entrance into the kingdom."

Sunday Hymn - How Sweet the Name

How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds
In a believer’s ear!
It soothes his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.

It makes the wounded spirit whole,
And calms the troubled breast;
’Tis manna to the hungry soul,
And to the weary, rest.

Dear Name, the Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding Place,
My never failing treasury, filled
With boundless stores of grace!

By Thee my prayers acceptance gain,
Although with sin defiled;
Satan accuses me in vain,
And I am owned a child.

Jesus! my Shepherd, Husband, Friend,
O Prophet, Priest and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.

Weak is the effort of my heart,
And cold my warmest thought;
But when I see Thee as Thou art,
I’ll praise Thee as I ought.

Till then I would Thy love proclaim
With every fleeting breath,
And may the music of Thy Name
Refresh my soul in death!

I particularly like the Indelible Grace version of this song. The demo at the RUF Hymnbook site has two of the verses. I like the laid-back gentle feel - it gives time to think about the words.

Sunday Hymn - The Lord's My Shepherd

The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.

My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Even for His own Name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
And staff my comfort still.

My table Thou hast furnishèd
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.

Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.

One version of it:

Books!

Terry & I just returned from a trip to a Pastors' & Wives' conference. The bookstore was great! And of course, this way, I didn't have to pay shipping (that's the official reason, anyway). In this pile are books Terry bought for his resources, books that were given to us for the conference and the rest that just happened to make it into my hands while wandering around the bookstore!




I couldn't quite get the stack without glare on the books. Here's what's in the pile (top to bottom):

Redeeming Science - Vern Poythress - this looks really interesting, although I have a feeling I wouldn't understand a bunch of it. Here's a blurb from the back:
Redeeming Science attempts to kindle our appreciation for science as it ought to be—science that could serve as a path for praising God and serving fellow human beings. Through examining the wonderfully complex and immutable laws of nature, author Vern Poythress explains, we ought to recognize the wisdom, care, and beauty of God. A Christian worldview restores a true response to science, where we praise the God who created nature and cares for it.

Apostolic Preaching of the Cross - Morris - I think this is one Terry's been looking for and hasn't been able to find

How Good is Good Enough - Andy Stanley (resources) - a friend recommended this one highly. I'm looking forward to reading it. It's just a short little book but he said it's really good for helping people to share with non-Christians who think they are "good enough".

The Gospel & Personal Evangelism - Mark Dever (resources) - another recommendation.

Just Do Something - Kevin DeYoung (home) - Our son picked this one up Sunday morning. It's a great little book on finding God's will in your life. The subtitle is "How to Make a Decision Without Dreams, Visions, Fleeces, Open Doors, Random Verses, Casting Lots, Liver Shivers, Writing in the Sky, etc."

The Heart of Evangelism - Barrs (resources) - notice a pattern here?

Big Truths for Young Hearts - Bruce Ware (freebie) - this looks interesting to go through with our younger girls. Ware covers a variety of theological topics in a way suited to younger readers.

Preach the Word - Ryken & Wilson (freebie - I think)

From Grief to Glory - James Bruce (home) - there was a good selection of books on grief that I went through. This was one that looked really interesting and helpful.

Leading Children towards Gospel Repentance and Faith - Marty Machowski (resources) - a little booklet on leading children to Christ using the "ABC" method - plus "D". We really appreciate the Sunday school curriculum by Machowski & his church and this little booklet looks great to use as a resource for VBS or Sunday School teachers.

Radical Womanhood - Carolyn McCulley (home) - This is a look at the history of feminism and how it affects the church today. I thought it would be a good resource to have.

A Place of Quiet Rest - Nancy Leigh DeMoss (home) - a book on developing a pattern of personal devotions. It's always good to be reminded of this and I thought it would be a good one to have on my resource shelf.

Women Helping Women: A Biblical Guide to Major Issues Women Face - Fitzpatrick (home) - Sometimes (often!) I find it hard to know what to say! I think this will be a good book to help me to know what to say when talking to other women about major issues in our lives.

Heaven and Heaven for Kids - Randy Alcorn (home) - I've been wanting to read this for a while. I've read Alcorn's fiction but I'm interested to read what he has to say about heaven in this nonfiction book. I read about 1/3 on the way home yesterday and it's already really good. My girls started Heaven for Kids and they liked it too. After having been through the past 6 months, I'm more aware of a need for good theology about heaven.

Anne Bradstreet - Nichols (home) - I've heard about Anne Bradstreet for several years but have never had a chance to read the poetry of this Puritan woman. This book is a combination of biography and poetry. I glanced at it the other day but haven't spent any time in it.

The Suffering of Man and the Sovereignty of God - Spurgeon (home) - sermons from Job.

In quietness and confidence

I read this entry this morning. It was a testimony to me of how God has been working in my heart. I believe that much of my confidence in Him is because of the prayers of His people on our behalf. We can either rest in God or we can fight God. But only the first will give us confidence and trust in God.

It's also worthy to note that Spurgeon struggled with depression his whole life and at times, was overwhelmed by it. This is not written by someone who has never experienced trials.

p. 132 - Beside Still Waters (Spurgeon)

Quietness and Confidence (Is. 30:15)

"In quietness and confidence shall be your strength." This is a truth concerning all the trials and troubles of this life . Some of you are passing through business troubles, for there are many tremors in the business world, and perhaps they are causing you to shake and tremble. [I thought this was funny considering that Spurgeon lived about 200 years ago!] If so, do not be readily carried away by these secondary matters. Do not let them depress or excite you. Hold loosely to all worldly things, but grip firmly the unseen God. Fussing, worrying, and hurrying will do no good. Be calm and quiet; all will be well if you are the Lord's child.
Perhaps your trial is personal sickness. If so, nothing can be better than quietness and confidence. Worrying will not make you well, though it might keep you ill. You will be sick just as long as God appoints, but if anything can help to heal it is quietness and confidence of heart.
Have you lost a friend? Is there a great sorrow? Have you some loved one lying in a new grave? My friend you cannot bring the dear one back, and you should not wish to do so. It is wise to submit to the inevitable. It is gracious to bow to the will of your ever-gracious God. You cannot do anything that will be as helpful to your sorrowing spirit as to exercise quietness and confidence; it will indeed be your strength.
Do you have a sorrow fully equal to bereavement? Have you a loved one who daily suffers? Is that the living cross you have to carry? Do not worry. Submit to the Lord's will. Ask Him for grace to acquiesce in it, and learn to wait on the Lord.
God's tested child, whatever your condition, remember this promise, "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."

St. Patrick's Day

My girls are very interested in St. Patrick's Day this year. We talked a bit earlier about who he is. Imagine my delight when I opened an email to find this link:

St. Patrick: The World's Greatest Missionary (great copywork and story about St. Patrick from LIVING BOOKS)

You have to do a free registration but it's easy. And that led me to

Living Books Curriculum

I haven't looked on their site much but through downloading the above ebook, there was a free offer for some of their curriculum helps and articles about Charlotte Mason. I downloaded them all and I'm looking forward to reading them.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

A Time to Die

This is from Charles Spurgeon's Beside Still Waters. I found it helpful to reflect on this morning.

Here is comfort: If the Father of our Lord Jesus arranges all, then our friends do not die untimely deaths. Believers are not cut off before their time. God has appointed a time to harvest His fruit. Some are sweet, even in the early spring, and He gathers them. Others, like baskets of summer fruit, are taken while the year is young. Yet some remain until autumn mellows them. Be sure of this, each will be gathered in season. God has appointed the commencement, the continuation and the conclusion of your mortal life. (p. 123)

Fireproof

My husband & I watched Fireproof last night. We really enjoyed it. The acting was better than I expected and I really liked the message. In the past months especially, I've noticed that when a marriage is in trouble, the tendency in our society is to encourage people to move on - out of the marriage and preferably into a new relationship as soon as possible. But Fireproof shows how it takes work to make a marriage work and it's worth doing.

I also appreciated how the gospel was presented. It wasn't sappy or overdone but they clearly stated our sin and our need for Christ's redemption.

For more information and for information on resources for your own marriage, check out this site.

Before he speak

I am so thankful that my pastor and husband doesn't speak about his wife in the pulpit very often. This video illustrates why.

Homeschooling

In an effort to be more diligent in my homeschooling time with my younger girls and also to include more poetry, art, etc, into our homeschooling, I've decided to try Morning Time. This has been modelled by other homeschooling moms I know, most notable Cindy at Dominion Family. If you click on the link, then search her site for "Morning Time" posts, I believe there's about 30 posts to read through.

We had been doing more independent work first thing in the morning (when we got to it), then history reading at 11 am. However, my oldest has been working more independently and hasn't been joining us for history time as often. So I decided to move all our reading time to the beginning of the day. Here's what we've done so far this week and my goals.

Bible

Old Testament - our kids are studying through the "God's Story" curriculum in Sunday School. There are weekly devotions for families to do, which I need to print out, but for this week anyway, until I get them printed, we've just been reviewing the story of Samuel, which they are studying at SS.

New Testament - I started using a Bible reading schedule this week that has four categories - Pentateuch, Prophets, Wisdom reading and New Testament. So the girls and I have been reading the New Testament chapter each day. We started in Luke, which coincides nicely with Josh's quizzing work for the year.

Catechism - We were going through Training Hearts, Teaching Minds with all the kids that has catechism questions and discussions. However, I didn't feel like the younger two have gotten the same indepth study as the older two did at this age so we started it again. However, the book wandered away after the first day! I'm hoping it will show up this morning.

Poetry - we're reading poems of Emily Dickinson. Lovely! As soon as the library catalogue is back online, I'm going to look for a biography and/or selection of her poems. I'm just printing them off from the Ambleside site right now.

Memory Work - the girls are each working on a poem to memorize. I'd like to do more Bible memory too - I should add that in this morning. I think we'll start with Ps. 23.

History - we're on Week 14 of Tapestry of Grace, Year 3, studying the Victorians. I'm also reading "I was there at the Battle of the Alamo", which was from a previous week, but we didn't read it then so I thought we'd do it now. The joys of freedom in homeschooling!

Science - I have to admit that science has been a largely forgotten subject in our home. However, I pulled out the Apologia book "Flying Creatures" and started reading it aloud. Yesterday, we read about mating rituals and I learned a lot too!

After Morning Time is finished, then we move to the table where they do math, copywork, grammar, Latin and writing. This week, they've been doing math and thank you cards for Christmas presents and we'll slowly get back to doing everything. So far (two days!), this schedule is working and I'm hopeful that it will be beneficial to all.

A Poem for Christmas Eve

Bells Across the Snow

O Christmas, merry Christmas,
Has it really come again,
With its memories and greetings,
With its joy and with its pain!
Minor chords are in the carol
And a shadow in the light,
And a spray of cypress twining
With the holly wreath tonight.
And the hush is never broken
By laughter light and low,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas,
It's not so very long
Some other voices blended
With the carol and the song!
If we could but hear them singing,
As they are singing now;
If we could but see the radiance
Of the crown on each dear brow;
There would be no cry to cover,
No hidden tear to flow,
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."

O Christmas, merry Christmas,
This nevermore can be;
We cannot bring again the days
Of our unshadowed glee,
But Christmas, happy Christmas,
Sweet herald of goodwill,
With holy songs of glory
Brings holy gladness still.
For peace and hope may brighten,
And patient love may glow;
As we listen in the starlight
To the "bells across the snow."

Frances Ridley Havergal
from Streams in the Desert

Sunday Hymn

Ding Dong, Merrily on High

Ding dong! Merrily on high, in Heav’n the bells are ringing,
Ding dong! Verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!

E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io, by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!

Pray ye dutifully, prime your matin chime, ye ringers;
May ye beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!

This video is the same performance I have on an old Christmas collection of choirs singing. It's a beautiful arrangement, although the video isn't that great.




Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

Thou didst leave Thy throne and Thy kingly crown,
When Thou camest to earth for me;
But in Bethlehem’s home was there found no room
For Thy holy nativity.

Refrain

O come to my heart, Lord Jesus,
There is room in my heart for Thee.

Heaven’s arches rang when the angels sang,
Proclaiming Thy royal degree;
But of lowly birth didst Thou come to earth,
And in great humility.

Refrain

The foxes found rest, and the birds their nest
In the shade of the forest tree;
But Thy couch was the sod, O Thou Son of God,
In the deserts of Galilee.

Refrain

Thou camest, O Lord, with the living Word,
That should set Thy people free;
But with mocking scorn and with crown of thorn,
They bore Thee to Calvary.

Refrain

When the heav’ns shall ring, and her choirs shall sing,
At Thy coming to victory,
Let Thy voice call me home, saying “Yet there is room,
There is room at My side for thee.”

My heart shall rejoice, Lord Jesus,
When Thou comest and callest for me.


An accapella version of this hymn:

Encouraging Quote

From Streams in the Desert (Dec. 21):

Every difficult task that comes across your path - every one you would rather not do, that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, and be the greatest struggle - brings a blessing with it. And refusing to do it regardless of the personal cost is to miss the blessing.

Every difficult stretch of road on which you see the Master's footprints and along which He calls you to follow Him leads unquestionably to blessings. And they are blessings you will never receive unless you travel the steep and thorny path.

Every battlefield you encounter, where you are required to draw your sword and fight the enemy, has the possibility of victory that will prove to be a rich blessing to your life. And every heavy burden you are called upon to lift hides within itself a miraculous secret of strength.

First Sunday of Advent

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

A Thanksgiving Poem

This was posted to an elist I'm on and I really like it so I thought I would post it here.

Thanksgiving

I thank Thee, O my God, that through Thy grace
I know Thee, who Thou art;
That I have seen the beauty of Thy face
And felt Thee in my heart.

I thank Thee, O my Savior, who hast deigned
To stoop to even me;
Within my inmost soul hast ruled and reigned,
And will my ransom be.

I thank Thee, Holy Spirit, that Thy wings
Brood o'er my wandering mind;
Bringing to my remembrance sacred things
To which my eyes were blind.

I thank Thee, Triune God! But oh, how cold
The warmest words I speak;
For love and goodness strange and manifold,
All human words are weak.

O teach me, then, to praise Thee with my life,
With stern obedience;
To make the atmosphere about me rife
With silent eloquence!

Elizabeth Payson Prentiss

Thankful Thursday

I'm thankful today for all the good books and resources that are available now. Here's some that have been particularly helpful lately:

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God by John Piper - this is a collection of messages from the 2005 Desiring God Conference.
Spurgeon's Morning and Evening
Streams in the Desert
Homeward Bound - a friend lent me this book. I've found it very interesting and very helpful too. Here's the blurb from the back:

“Few things more attractively display and persuasively commend the glory of God in the life of a Christian than a Christ-centered marriage and a Christ-centered family… one that would cause the watching world to sit up and take notice.” So writes Ed Hartman as he contemplates the news that his young wife is probably suffering from a brain tumor.

It was a wake-up call to raise his family with a more eternal perspective.

When my friend lent it to me, she didn't realize the background to the book. But God in His providence knew that this was a book for me to read right now, especially the beginning chapters about God's providence.

Come Weary Saints
The Valley of Vision - both CDs from Sovereign Grace Music
Psalm 42 Message by CJ Mahaney - Speaking to yourself
I haven't listened to this for a while but I have often thought of the main idea from the message. Instead of letting our minds get on the "hamster wheel" of the same thoughts we always have and listening to ourselves, speak God's word to yourself and see what a difference it makes in your life.

Thankful Tuesday

I'm reminded again that Rebecca is encouraging us all to be thankful this month. Although I often think of it, I rarely post what I'm thankful for.

Today, I'm thankful for family. I'm thankful that we can be open with each other and how that leads to a deeper, more open relationship. I'm thankful that even through sorrow and grief, we can see God's gracious hand in bringing us closer together.

The First Snowfall

THE SNOW had begun in the gloaming,
And busily all the night
Had been heaping field and highway
With a silence deep and white.

Every pine and fir and hemlock
Wore ermine too dear for an earl,
And the poorest twig on the elm-tree
Was ridged inch deep with pearl.

From sheds new-roofed with Carrara
Came Chanticleer’s muffled crow,
The stiff rails softened to swan’s-down,
And still fluttered down the snow.

I stood and watched by the window
The noiseless work of the sky,
And the sudden flurries of snow-birds,
Like brown leaves whirling by.

I thought of a mound in sweet Auburn
Where a little headstone stood;
How the flakes were folding it gently,
As did robins the babes in the wood.

Up spoke our own little Mabel,
Saying, “Father, who makes it snow?”
And I told of the good All-father
Who cares for us here below.

Again I looked at the snow-fall,
And thought of the leaden sky
That arched o’er our first great sorrow,
When that mound was heaped so high.

I remembered the gradual patience
That fell from that cloud like snow,
Flake by flake, healing and hiding
The scar that renewed our woe.

And again to the child I whispered,
“The snow that husheth all,
Darling, the merciful Father
Alone can make it fall!”

Then, with eyes that saw not, I kissed her;
And she, kissing back, could not know
That my kiss was given to her sister,
Folded close under deepening snow.

~James Russell Lowell

I'm Thankful for...

our library system. I was on the Christianbook.com website looking up some books and thought I would check our library system. They have almost all of the books so I was able to order them. This way I can check out and see what they are like and if we really like them, then I buy them. Having a great library system is such a blessing.

I was looking for books on grief, especially as it relates to children. I'll take suggestions too. I would love to find some that are Christian in nature, especially more from a reformed perspective. I would also love to find something for our younger ones to read on their own or with us. Suggestions?

Thankfulness

I was just reflecting on the many blessings our family has experienced in the past month and then saw Rebecca's theme for November - Thankfulness. Here are some of the ways we have been blessed (in no particular order):

- friends who provided meals for us. I didn't cook supper for a full month and many of our lunches were from the freezer as well. I was ready to get back to cooking (still need to do a menu for November) but it was a blessing to have it for that long
- cards and letters still coming
- friends who call or write and ask how we are doing
- friends and strangers who put together 4 boxes of homemade cards for me to use - in every theme you can think of
- friends who put together a gift basket filled with coffee, chocolate & scrapbooking supplies
- friends who let us come over and just be ourselves
- a church family that has supported us in so many ways, we just can't count them all up
- a town that still thinks of itself as a community and hurts with us
- packages that come in the mail with books and cds to encourage us
- God who has brought us through this past month and continues every day to remind us of His love and care

Precious Remedies Against Satan's Devices

May's Puritan reading was Precious Remedies against Satan's Devices by Thomas Brooks. I'm almost done it. This quote caught my attention today:

All divine power and strength against sin flows from the soul's union and communion with Christ. While you keep off from Christ, you keep off from that strength and power which is alone able to make you trample down strength, lead captivity captive, and slay the Goliaths that bid defiance to Christ. It is only faith in Christ that makes a man triumph over sin, Satan, hell and the world. It is only faith in Christ that binds the strong man's hand and foot, that stops the issue of blood, that makes a man strong in resisting and happy in conquering. Sin always dies most where faith lives most. The most believing soul is the most mortified soul. Ah! sinner, remember this, there is no way on earth effectually to be rid of the guilt, filth and power of sin, but by believing in a Saviour. It is not resolving, it is not complaining, it is not mourning but believing, that will make thee divinely victorious over that body of sin that to this day is too strong for thee, and that will certainly be thy ruin, if it be not ruined by a hand of faith.

Puritan Reading Challenge - The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

In January, I took up Timmy Brister's Puritan Reading Challenge. I read The Bruised Reed first.
Next, since we didn't have February's title yet, I picked up The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. I finished it just a few days into March.

I've read The Rare Jewel before but this time was particularly meaningful. February was a hard month spiritually. I was challenged with some issues about myself and I am thankful to God for bringing these things to my attention. I don't think it was any coincidence that I was reading this book at the time.

The Rare Jewel is not necessarily easy to read, in more ways than one. I began it at the beginning of February and after a couple of days, went back and started outlining it as I went so I could keep track of all his points. That helped a lot. It's laid out well but there are subpoints of subpoints so sometimes I got a little confused until I started writing it down.

It's also not that easy to read because it's challenging spiritually. Here are some quotes and points from it. In italics are the direct quotes.

Contentment is an inward quiet gracious frame of spirit.

Contentment is freely submitting to and taking pleasure in God's disposal.

A Christian comes to contentment, not so much by way of addition as by way of subtraction.

(I can't tell from my notes if this next is an exact quote - I think so but I'm not sure)
Not only in good things does a Christian have the dew of God's blessing and finds them very sweet to him, but in all the afflictions, all the evils that befall him, he can see love and can enjoy the sweetness of love in his afflictions as well as in his mercies.

God is most honoured when I can turn from one condition to another according as he calls me to it.

Speaking of the providence of God...
No more can you make the providence of God alter and change its course with your vexing and fretting; it will go on with power...

God may have some work to do twenty years hence that depends on this passage of providence that falls out this day or this week.

If you have a love and friendship to God, be willing to be crossed... that the Lord may have his work go on in general.

By contentment we come to give God the worship that is due to Him.

Burroughs spends quite a bit of time on the evils of a murmuring/discontented spirit. It's very convicting!

One quote that particularly affected me:

The great design God has in afflicting you is to break and humble your heart; and will you maintain a spirit quite opposite to the work of God? For you to murmur and be discontented is to resist the work of God. God is doing you good if you could see it and if He is pleased to sanctify your affliction to break that hard heart of yours and humble that proud spirit of yours, it would be the greatest mercy that you ever had in your life.

From ch. 12: Considerations to content the heart in any afflicted condition
1. consider the greatness of the mercies we have and the meanness of what we lack
2. The consideration that God is beforehand with us with his mercies should content us
3. The consideration of the abundance of mercies God bestows and we enjoy
etc.

Highly recommended in any season of life. I am hoping to reread each of these books over the next few years because there is so much in them, I can't possibly get it in one reading.

We are studying the Puritans in our history study in school right now and I'm finding it interesting to be reading some of their works at the same time as I am reading about them. Sometimes I don't seem to be reading about the same people!

I Now Understand...

what my parents went through.

I took my son driving today. First time for me with him, about his second or third time driving but it's been a while.

He did fine. We didn't run into anything. He didn't speed - much. We got there in one piece and I didn't even have to raise my voice.

But I was tense all the way and I felt like I was doing what I used to make fun of in my mom. You know, when your right foot is firmly pressed to the floor to help brake...

It was a good experience for both of us. I'm sure he'll learn how to moderate his speed and his braking speed and how to navigate around corners so we only go in one lane. And I'll learn how much to say and not to say.

Since I want him to do some driving on an upcoming road trip, he needs to practice and drive every day. But I think I might let his dad do a few of the driving practices. It's hard to be a mom sometimes.