Sunday Hymn:

Whate'er My God Ordains is Right

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Holy his will abideth;
I will be still whate'er he doth;
And follow where he guideth:
He is my God: though dark my road,
He holds me that I shall not fall:
Wherefore to him I leave it all.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
He never will deceive me;
He leads me by the proper path;
I know he will not leave me:
I take, content, what he hath sent;
His hand can turn my griefs away,
And patiently I wait his day.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Though now this cup, in drinking,
May bitter seem to my faint heart,
I take it, all unshrinking:
My God is true; each morn anew
Sweet comfort yet shall fill my heart,
And pain and sorrow shall depart.

Whate'er my God ordains is right:
Here shall my stand be taken;
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
Yet am I not forsaken;
My Father's care is round me there;
He holds me that I shall not fall:
And so to him I leave it all.

A Few Days Left of Summer

I'm feeling the squeeze.  Summer is almost over; school is right around the corner. 

I don't know where August has gone, but it seems to have flown by without my knowing it.  Which is a strange twist of time because this month has been crammed full of so many events and happenings.

I feel very much as if I need to stop and catch my breath before school starts, so this is the last "live" post for some time.  I've got a few things in draft, but at least until sometime around the end of next week, I'll be away from the blog, savoring the last days of summer.

Some of my bloggy friends know that I am praying for their circumstances.  That will continue, of course.  However, I will probably not be visiting blogs for a while, so if you don't hear from me, it's not that I've forgotten.  I'll catch up when I come back or you can always send me an email!  I will be checking email.

I leave you with a Psalm that has been rolling around in my mind all day.  I pray that it will be the meditation of my heart as I seek Him in the days to come:

 Psalm 34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times;
         His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
 2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD;
         The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
 3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
         And let us exalt His name together.
        
 4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me,
         And delivered me from all my fears.
 5 They looked to Him and were radiant,
         And their faces were not ashamed.
 6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him,
         And saved him out of all his troubles.
 7 The angel[a] of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him,
         And delivers them.
        
 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good;
         Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints!

Quote of the Week: Luther

Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of His willingness.

—Martin Luther

Fall's Approach

Look at what I saw this morning when I took Evie out to go potty.

And look at what I didn't see.  I've been watching my sidewalk spider, 'Snidely Whiplash,'  every day since I discovered his hideout in my lilies a few weeks ago.  This morning there was no sign of him, not even leftover hangings from yesterday's web.  I wonder if he's become tired of me squatting down and observing him every day and has opted for a more private location.  I hope a big bird didn't eat him.

A Demand for Equal Time

Ivy and Eve heard that I had imported all my old blogspot blogs over to Squarespace and they were offended that I hadn't brought their pictures and stories along with me.

So now you can find the Ivy and Eve Archives in the navigation bar at the top of the front page of Hiraeth.  If you've never browsed Vizslocity before or if you just want something goofy to smile about or if you have five or ten minutes of time on your hands and your feed reading is all caught up, the girls would like you to check out their antics.

Like Father

Like son.  I'm beginning to see more and more of John's face in Elliott's.

Can you?

Thought Provoking

A thought provoking quote:

To us, the moment 8:17 A.M. means something - something very important, if it happens to be the starting time of our daily train. To our ancestors, such an odd eccentric instant was without significance - did not even exist. In inventing the locomotive, Watt and Stevenson were part inventors of time.

Aldous Huxley (1894 - 1963)

What thoughts has it provoked in YOU?

A Letter a Week: 'F'

This one was a lot of fun!  As a mom of three boys, I've seen many a tadpole grow from tiny, black wiggling 'commas' to tadpoles, to froglets, and then to frog.  Once, we raised a spring frog in a jar in our dining room and hadn't realized how quickly the four legged tadpole grew into a full fledged frog!  He escaped, but after a few alarming moments and some help from our cat, George, we found him! 

I can't wait until my grandson is old enough to bring home tadpoles!

For more ABC Wednesday click on over to ABC Mr. Linky Blog.

Or, if you prefer, you can also check out the ABC weekly no comment site and browse all in one place.

You can see the rest of my Alphabet by clicking on the 'A' in the sidebar or the "A Letter a Week" category at the bottom of this post.

Get Up, Get Up, Whoever You Are!

I made a very embarrassing discovery the other day. 

Since Jake's off work during his recuperation period, he's been staying up later and, consequently, getting up later. He can be pretty hard to get out of bed on a good day, but since he hasn't had to be anywhere at a particular time, he's been sleeping in.  After I've gone downstairs to his basement bedroom two or three times, I start texting him.  (He probably regrets he ever taught me how to text!)

I'm not very good at texting and it seems I always text the same things to Jake:

Get up.

Dinner's ready

Did you remember your keys

Come upstairs

It takes me forever to text a message, so I save my "usual" messages in my sent calls and just re-send them.

Saturday I re-texted him TWICE telling him to get up.  He claimed  he hadn't got the message.  I whipped out my phone and discovered to my chagrin that I had misdialed his number the first time I sent the "get up"message. . .

Some poor stranger has been getting the message instead of Jake.

***BLUSH***

Before the Seed Comes the Flower

Saturday I discovered these delicate white flowers blooming in (at least to me) the most unlikely place--the asparagus fern that lives on my front porch in the summer.  I say unlikely because for many years I have had asparagus ferns and none have ever bloomed before.  Even so, I should have expected it. . .

Before the seed comes the flower. . .

Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that  yields seed, and the fruit tree that  yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. So the evening and the morning were the third day.   Genesis 1

"For it is said that, though the fruit of the tree comes seldom to ripeness, yet the life within may then lie sleeping through many long years, and none can foretell the time in which it will awake.  Remember this.  For if ever a fruit ripens, it should be planted, lest the line die out of the world."

Gandalf to Aragorn

THE LORD OF THE RINGS, The Return of the King, pg.250 by J. R. R. Tolkien

The Baptismal Bowl

Our church is less than one year old and this was the first baptism we've celebrated; so, as a church, we didn't have a baptismal bowl yet.  So yesterday, Elliott was baptised with water from a very special bowl, given to me by Tom's mom many years ago. The bowl was Tom's Grandmother's mother's bowl, which would make that Elliott's Great-great-great-grandmother's.

Christian Baptism

Elliott Buchanan Shenberger

 Q165:  What is Baptism? 
 A165:  Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, wherein Christ hath ordained the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost,[1] to be a sign and seal of ingrafting into himself,[2] of remission of sins by his blood,[3] and regeneration by his Spirit;[4] of adoption,[5] and resurrection unto everlasting life;[6] and whereby the parties baptized are solemnly admitted into the visible church,[7] and enter into an open and professed engagement to be wholly and only the Lord's.[8] 

1.  Matt. 28:19
2.  Gal. 3:27
3.  Mark 1:4; Rev. 1:5
4.  Titus 3:5; Eph. 5:26
5.  Gal. 3:26-27
6.  I Cor. 15:29; Rom. 6:5
7.  I Cor. 12:13
8.  Rom. 6:4

 Q166:  Unto whom is Baptism to be administered? 
 A166:  Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, and so strangers from the covenant of promise, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him,[1] but infants descending from parents, either both, or but one of them, professing faith in Christ, and obedience to him, are in that respect within the covenant, and to be baptized.[2]  

1.  Acts 2:38; 8:36-37
2.  Gen. 17:7, 9; Gal. 3:9, 14; Col. 2:11-12; Acts 2:38-39; Rom. 4:11-12; 11:16; I Cor. 7:14;
    Matt 28:19; Luke 18:15-16

Q167:  How is our Baptism to be improved by us?  
 A167:  The needful but much neglected duty of improving our Baptism, is to be performed by us all our life long, especially in the time of temptation, and when we are present at the administration of it to others;[1] by serious and thankful consideration of the nature of it, and of the ends for which Christ instituted it, the privileges and benefits conferred and sealed thereby, and our solemn vow made therein;[2] by being humbled for our sinful defilement, our falling short of, and walking contrary to, the grace of baptism, and our engagements;[3] by growing up to assurance of pardon of sin, and of all other blessings sealed to us in that sacrament;[4] by drawing strength from the death and resurrection of Christ, into whom we are baptized, for the mortifying of sin, and quickening of grace;[5] and by endeavoring to live by faith,[6] to have our conversation in holiness and righteousness,[7] as those that have therein given up their names to Christ;[8] and to walk in brotherly love, as being baptized by the same Spirit into one body.[9]

1.  Col. 2:11-12; Rom. 6:4, 6, 11
2.  Rom. 6:3-5
3.  I Cor. 1:11-13; Rom. 6:2-3
4.  Rom. 4:11-12; I Peter 3:21
5.  Rom. 6:3-5
6.  Gal. 3:26-27
7.  Rom. 6:22
8.  Acts 2:38
9.  I Cor. 12:13, 25-27   

Quote of the Week: La Rochefoucauld

Nous avons plus de force que de volonté; et c'est souvent pour nous excuser à nous-mêmes que nous nous imaginons que les choses sont impossibles.

We have more strength than will; and we often make excuses for ourselves by imagining that things are impossible.

La Rochefoucauld, The Maximes 

"In uniting the four qualities of brevity, clarity, fulness of meaning and point, La Rochefoucauld has no rival. His Maximes are never mere epigrams; they are never platitudes; they are never dark sayings. He has packed them so full of meaning that it would be impossible to pack them closer, yet there is no undue compression; he has sharpened their point to the utmost, yet there is no loss of substance."

Sunday Hymn: O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free;
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of thy love;
Leading onward, leading homeward,
To thy glorious rest above.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Spread his praise from shore to shore;
How he loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore;
How he watches o'er his loved ones,
Died to call them all his own;
How for them he intercedeth,
Watcheth o'er them from the throne.

O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
Love of ev'ry love the best:
'Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
'Tis a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus!
'Tis a heav'n of heav'ns to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to thee.

Trinity Hymnal #453

A Call to Prayer: Final Thoughts

I want the times we live in to be praying times. I want the Christians of our day to be praying Christians. I want the church to be a praying church. My Heart's desire and prayer in sending forth this tract is to promote a spirit of prayerfulness. I want those who never prayed yet, to arise and call upon God, and I want those who do pray, to see that they are not praying amiss.

J. C. Ryle,

A Call to Prayer 

A Tale of Two Knives

Today, I am busily cooking and preparing for a  big family dinner party in honor of my grandson's baptism on Sunday.  I ran out to my herb garden and came in with a huge handful of parsley, which I quickly washed and began to chop madly--with my brand new chef's knife.

My old chef knife (on left) has seen better days.  It just wouldn't stay sharp, no matter how often I sharpened it, so I decided to retire it.  As you can see, the new chef's knife is of a different design and, well, it just moves differently.  Very differently.  So differently, in fact, that as I was quickly making my way through the parsley at break neck speed, my index finger just didn't get out of the way fast enough and I cut completely through the nail and into the flesh below.  OUCH!!

Dictionary Word of the Day: Hobson's Choice

Hobson's choice \HOB-suhnz-CHOIS\, noun:

A choice without an alternative; the thing offered or nothing.

The origin of the term Hobson's choice is said to be in the name of one Thomas Hobson (ca. 1544-1631), at Cambridge, England, who kept a livery stable and required every customer to take either the horse nearest the stable door or none at all.

Oh, where was this word when my boys were growing up?!  I applied Hobson's choice frequently when it came to bedtime,  dinner time, and 'time to come in from play and get a bath.'  It would have been nice if ol' Hobson had joined 'Mr. Sheets' our old across-the-street neighbor whose name eventually became a by-word in our family.  When the boys had no answer for a question such as, "How in the world did you manage to get so dirty?," or "Where are your shoes?," their "I don't know's" were often followed by "Well, who should I ask, Mr. Sheets?"

Mr. Sheets and Hobson would have got along just fine, I'm thinking.

A Quick Fix

Before

After

The wood will need to have to have some attention someday, but for now, it's usable.  Good thing; we've got a big dinner party planned for Saturday night and we can use an extra chair!

In 15 Words or Less

Beforehand

Sails furled
wind escaping-
dancing, darting through
piano wires singing
of power hidden,
speed hindered.

You can find more In 15 Words or Less Poems at Laura Salas.

Come into My Parlor. . .

 

"Will you walk into my parlor?" said the spider to the fly;
"'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you may spy.
The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many curious things to show when you are there."
"Oh no, no," said the little fly; "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

"I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high.
Well you rest upon my little bed?" said the spider to the fly.
"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest a while, I'll snugly tuck you in!"
"Oh no, no," said the little fly, "for I've often heard it said,
They never, never wake again who sleep upon your bed!"

Said the cunning spider to the fly: "Dear friend, what can I do
To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome - will you please to take a slice?
"Oh no, no," said the little fly; "kind sir, that cannot be:
I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

"Sweet creature!" said the spider, "you're witty and you're wise;
How handsome are your gauzy wings; how brilliant are your eyes!
I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you'd step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself."
"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're pleased to say,
And, bidding you good morning now, I'll call another day."

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready to dine upon the fly;
Then came out to his door again and merrily did sing:
"Come hither, hither, pretty fly, with pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple; there's a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!"

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer grew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes and green and purple hue,
Thinking only of her crested head. Poor, foolish thing! at last
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast;
He dragged her up his winding stair, into the dismal den -
Within his little parlor - but she ne'er came out again!

And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words I pray you ne'er give heed;
Unto an evil counselor close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale of the spider and the fly.

Mary Howitt