Sunday Hymn: O, Come My Soul, Bless Thou the Lord

From Psalm 103

O come, my soul, bless thou the Lord thy maker,
And all within me bless his holy name;
Bless thou the Lord, forget not all his mercies,
His pardoning grace and saving love proclaim.

Bless him for ever, wondrous in might,
Bless him, his servants that in his will delight.

Good is the Lord and full of kind compassion,
Most slow to anger, plenteous in love;
Rich is his grace to all that humbly seek him,
Boundless and endless as the heavens above.

His love is like a father's to his children,
Tender and kind to all who fear his name;
For well he knows our weakness and our frailty,
He knows that we are dust, he knows our frame.

We fade and die like flowers that grow in beauty,
Like tender grass that soon will disappear;
But evermore the love of God is changeless,
Still shown to those who look to him in fear.

High in the heavens his throne is fixed for ever,
His kingdom rules o'er all from pole to pole;
Bless ye the Lord through all his wide dominion,
Bless his most holy name, O thou my soul.

Trinity Hymnal #10

When it rains, it pours

Dictionary Word of the Day: Fulgurate

fulgurate
\ FUHL-gyuh-reyt \  , verb;
1.
To flash or dart like lightning.

A perfect word for today!  I awoke to the sound of thunder several times during the night and it's raining here now.  Looks like it could rain all day--just what we need!

   

Quote of the Day: Adams

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty.
  - John Adams

Mr. Adams knew what he was talking about.

Thankful Thursday 2010

I'm so thankful that I have the privilege of being able to work at something I love--that I genuinely enjoy working and look forward to it.

Many calligraphers-for-hire don't enjoy addressing envelopes.  They do it because they must to 'pay' for the jobs that they prefer to do, which may be more challenging or interesting but in the long run, less lucrative.  They seem to love calligraphy but complain about working for others.

I love the quiet, rhythmic, monotony of addressing envelopes.  It's a solitary activity and very peaceful.  I'd love to be able to have enough work lined up so that I could work 5 days a week, day in and day out, week in and week out.  However, the wedding trade is somewhat seasonal and busy times come and go.  Sometimes it's feast, sometimes it's famine.

I'm thankful for the work I have right now.  The bride-to-be is absolutely wonderful to work with and it's a real pleasure to communicate with her.  It's not always like that.  When the client is more, shall we say 'challenging,' I take it as a challenge myself to do all that I can to keep things positive and uplifting.

I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to be involved in a small way in the special days in the lives of my clients and that the work I do not only gives me pleasure in the doing, but that it often brings delight to them.

Work is God's idea.  That it can bring us joy is a blessing.

I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call,  and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010.  Won't you join us?

Praying for Rain

We're dry here.  The grass is brown and sharp and crispy.  You wouldn't want to go barefoot in the yard right now.

It's hot and humid and seemingly the perfect combination for those lovely thunderstorms that pop up in summer afternoons.

There's rain west of here but when the radar map is set in motion it looks like it's going to move just south of us--again.

Lord, a good soaking rain is what we need right now.  Nevertheless, Thy will be done.

He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.   (Psalm 147:8 ESV)

And he does it in His own time.

Pulling it all together. . .

. . . or at least trying.  A week's worth of study in Hebrews 11:11-12, Romans 4, and Galatians 3; Calvin, Owen, Henry, Gill, Stedman, and Boice, laid out on the table, trying to make my notes cohesive, not wanting to forget anything, not wishing to belabor points or to pass over truths.  Absolutely amazed and humbled by the patience and faithfulness of God toward Sarah, and Abraham, and me.

There's a lot here.  Enough for weeks and weeks and weeks of study and discussion:  the nature of saving faith, God's attributes, justification by faith, God's promises, God's grace, God's mercy, God's Covenant people. . .

Everything that is swirling around in my little pea brain is summarized in these few words from D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

Faith is content with the bare word of God, because He is God.

Casting the 'net

Constituting America--your one stop shop for all things Constitution.

Grammar Devotional (15) Parentheses in the middle of a sentence.

If it Be Your Will by R. C. Sproul

Grammar Devotional Subscription Page -- just in case you want to subscribe

A Sweet Story by Lucky Dog

and last but not least:

Do you know who Donald Berwick is? --You should.  Really.  Go find out.

(I wonder what the Grammar Devotional Lady would say about the first sentence right above this one.)

I did it!

I posted every day this week.

That feels like quite an accomplishment after these many months of intermittent, half-hearted blogging.

Let's see if it served to break my writer's block.

We'll see.

Romans 4

and James Montgomery Boice.

What a marvelous way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

(a little nap never hurts, either!)

Dictionary Word of the Day: acedia

It's been a long time since I've come across a Dictionary Word of the Day that was entirely new to me! (February 1st, to be precise)

acedia \ uh-SEE-dee-uh \  , noun;
1.  Sloth.
2.  Laziness or indifference in religious matters.

Quotes:

His tales give the impression of a man cursed with an incurable disenchantment with life, a malady about midway between acedia  and ennui.

-- James Norman Hall, Under a thatched roof
Five thousand people yawning in their cars, intimidated by the cops and bored to acedia  by the chant of the politicians.

-- Edward Abbey, The monkey wrench gang

Origin:
Acedia  is a simple derivation from the Greek akēdeia , "indifference.

Probably not a word I'll probably ever remember to use.  The thought of laziness or indifference in religious matters, though. . .

I'm glad there is a word that describes the particular indifference of religious matters because that particular indifference has eternal consequences.  That is not a subject about which anyone can afford to be lazy or indifferent and yet our neighborhoods are filled with people who were created in the image of God who go through their days without a thought about God, indifferent to His Word, indifferent to His Son, indifferent to His salvation.

It is not enough for us to avoid acedia in our own lives; we must also avoid acedia when it comes to those who are without Christ.

 Romans 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Let us not become indifferent to religious matters; our own or that of those around us. 

Sunday Hymn: Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies

CHRIST, WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE SKIES

Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ the true, the only Light,
Sun of Righteousness, arise,
Triumph o'er the shades of night;
Dayspring from oh high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.

Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by thee;
Joyless is the day's return
Till thy mercy's beams I see;
Till thy inward light impart,
Glad my eyes and warm my heart.

Visit, then, this soul of mine;
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, Radiancy Divine;
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

Trinity Hymnal #330

Quote of the Week: Winnie the Pooh

Don't underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can't hear, and not bothering.  ~~Winnie the Pooh

A. A. Milne

A blank 'page'

Not the best letterforms but no question about what kind of pie we're having for supper tonight!

A (much needed) Lesson in Economics

This really is a must see; a lesson in 'The Profit System' circa 1955.

HT:  New Zeal

Thankful Thursday 2010

With temperatures in the 90's, dewpoints in the mid-70's, and a heat index over 100 degrees, I am so very thankful for air conditioning this week!  During temperature extremes like this, I pull down all the blinds to keep the sun from heating up the house so it feels a bit like we're living in a cool, twilit cave.  We're in for some thunderstorms today, too, which only enhances the sensation of being safe and cool and dry against the elements.  A cocoon of expotential comfort and coziness.

I'm grateful for the the work that awaits me on my drawing board today--four framed pieces to honor the deceased grandparents of a young bride and groom.  What a thoughtful way to commemorate their absent loved ones!

Dorothy and I had a literary conversation over tea yesterday--we discussed books we're reading and have read, what we like and don't like about short stories, the difficulties and inconveniences of reading in installments, the blessings of reading in installments, and the impact reading has had on our lives.  I'm so thankful for a friend who loves books as much as I do and enjoys a good conversation about reading.

My husband makes me laugh every day.  He has a clever wit and a great sense of humor.  I tend to be serious minded but living with him all these years has made me merry.  What a blessing he is!

Through my study of Hebrews I am again reminded of the patience of God and His lovingkindness.  Sarah laughed at the plan and promises of God in disbelief but God did not withdraw His blessing or alter His plan.  Instead, He gave her the gift of faith and proved Himself to be faithful and true.  The son of promise, Isaac, was born and Sarah laughed!

I'm joining my friend, Kim from the Upward Call,  and others in giving thanks to God on Thursdays in 2010.  Won't you join us?

I Write Like:

Saw this at Rebecca's and thought I'd give it a go:

I write like
David Foster Wallace

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

(I had to look Mr. Wallace up on Wikipedia.) . . .I'm not sure how I should feel about this. . . : D

Hostas

I love hostas and have many varieties in my yard but I still have lots of places I could tuck in a few more.  Normally, I transplant by division but as you can see, I have a huge crop of hosta seed pods this year so I think I'll try propogating with seeds.

I did some research on the internet and found some instructions.  Doesn't look too hard. 

The only hard part will be resisting the urge to cut down the pods before they are ready to harvest--they aren't exactly attractive, are they?

Another busy day

The days have been full--full of Bible study, reading, working, envelopes, housework--living!

I'm determined to try to post every day this week but I really have nothing interesting to blog about.  Weird how that happens, isn't it?  My life is full and happy and busy but not particularly bloggable.

But I'll try.

Studying:  I'm studing Hebrews 11:11, 12 so I'm dipping in and out of Genesis, too.  I love studying this book of the Bible.  I am so torn inside--I can't wait to finish it (we've been at it almost three years!) but I feel sad to think that someday this particular study will come to an end.  My love of that book will never end, though!

Reading:  I'm reading Les Miserables, my favorite novel.  This is a new translation by Julie Rose.  So far I'm liking it, but I'm not sure if it will surpass my favorite translation from the Everyman's Library.

Working:  My business really seems to be taking off right now.  I just finished working on envelopes for an October wedding this week, I'm waiting for the delivery of envelopes for my next job which will start next week, and I've got a large seating chart and 4 framed pieces to do before the end of August.

Housework:  I cleaned three cupboards yesterday and plan on cleaning under the kitchen sink and organizing my tupperware tomorrow.  How's that for exciting?

Listening:  I listen to Renewing Your Mind every day.  I listen while I'm working or when I sit down for a cup of coffee.  If I get distracted and miss it I HAVE to catch up!  It's a big part of my day.

Watching:  I've been watching 'The Next Food Network Star' and I was so glad Paul was sent home last episode.  I'm pulling for Aarti but Tom is starting to grow on me.

I've also started watching old re-runs of the French Chef with Julia Child.  What a hoot! 

Gardening:  I need to dead head the flower beds.  Not a bad job, really.  I'd enjoy it if it weren't for the mosquitos in the mornings and evenings and the heat and humidity during the day.

So that's what I've been up to.  Nothing exciting but life is good. 

How about you?

Casting the 'net

Years ago, I used to regularly share links--things I had read online that I thought were really excellent.  Lately I've read many excellent posts that I thought I'd try to do it again.  Mondays seem like a good day to do it!

Here are four worth checking out:

Right now counts forever by R. C. Sproul, Jr.

Psalm and Anti-psalm by David Powlison

Electronic Distraction Links at Whitehorse Inn

Winning the Private War in the Mind