Goodbye for Now (for Mothers and Daughters)

To my family, who lost a grandmother.  To my friends Sharon and Michelle, who lost their mothers.  And to my friends Loreena and Lacie and Sarah, who have lost little ones.  And to so many others not mentioned here.  Aren't you glad we have a time when we get to see our loved ones again?  Thinking about you on this Mother's Day.  And praying, sorrowing, and rejoicing with you!

I can't believe that you're really gone now
Seems like it's all just a dream.
How can it be that the world would go on
When something has died within me?

Leaves will turn, my heart will burn with colors of you
Snow will fall, but I'll recall your warmth
Summer wind, breathing in your memory
I'll miss you

But there will be a time when I'll see your face
And I'll hear your voice and there we will laugh again.
And there will come a day when I'll hold you close
No more tears to cry, 'cause we'll have forever
But I'll say goodbye for now.

"Goodbye for Now" by Kathy Troccoli

"By Gracious Powers"

By gracious powers so wonderfully sheltered,
And confidently waiting come what may,
We know that God is with us night and morning,
And never fails to greet us each new day.

Yet is this heart by its old foe tormented,
Still evil days bring burdens hard to bear;
Oh, give our frightened souls the sure salvation
For which, O Lord, You taught us to prepare.


And when this cup you give is filled to brimming
With bitter sorrow, hard to understand,
We take it thankfully and without trembling,
Out of so good and so beloved a hand.

Yet when again in this same world you give us
The joy we had, the brightness of your sun,
We shall remember all the days we lived through
And our whole life shall then be yours alone.

a poem/hymn by Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Before It Was Time

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

Copyright by Third Day

Worship Night

When Greg was in the Dallas area back in July, we enjoyed setting up his keyboard and having an evening of praise and worship with some of our GFA friends. It's so wonderful to have a fiance that loves to sing praise the Lord with me (and can play guitar and keyboard). Thanks, Greg! I had a great time that evening and I so enjoy worshipping the Lord alongside you!

Fun with Supporters (in March)

File from the archives - a fun memory from my March support trip was my visit with Mrs. H. - a dear supporter in the Anthony area. After visiting, we took time to sing through a few of the old hymns...

God's Faithfulness

*currently playing through my headset*

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Oh God, My Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not; Thy compassions, they fail not.
As Thou has been, Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness,
Great is Thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided.
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.

So many who haven't yet heard...

There is a hunger, a longing for bread
And so comes the call for the poor to be fed
More hungry by far are a billion and more
Who wait for the bread of the Word of the Lord

So many books, so little time
So many hunger, so many blind
Starving for words they must wait in the night
To open a Bible and turn to the Light

- "So Many Books" by Michael Card

In Your Hands

Not a hymn, but still...

My life is in Your hands;
My heart is in Your keeping.
I'm never without hope,
Not when my future is with You.

My life is in Your hands,
And though I may not see clearly,
I will lift my voice and sing
'Cause Your love does amazing things.
Lord, I know my life is in Your hands.

On other notes: the GFA office is closed today due to the pending ice storm. I gotta pack up and get outta here so I can work on a home computer for another staff member and get home before the roads get bad.

Random Psalty Song

I found this song going through my head this afternoon and had to think for a while before I could track it back to Charity Churchmouse and the Churchmouse Choir.

Take all of me (take all of me)
Take all of me (take all of me)
For a world that's lost
Help me count the cost
Take all of me...

Hymn Week - Jesus Paid It All

I know - Hymn Week is long over. But since it's my blog, I've decided it's going to be an ongoing feature of unknown regularity. Today's song through the head:

I heard the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small.
Child of weakness, watch and pray.
Find in me thine all in all."

Jesus paid it all;
All to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimsom stain;
He washed it white as snow.

As if You Should Do Things My Way

This morning’s IT meeting brought discussion of Touching Godliness Through Submission chapter 2 – “The Spirit of Submission.” I had listened to the audio in preparation for the meeting, but opening the chapter in the book, I found the chorus below. It was a good focus point for my day.

It’s all about you, Jesus,
And all this is for you,
For Your glory and Your fame.
It’s not about me,
As if You should do things my way;
You alone are God,
And I surrender to Your ways.

From Jesus, Lover of My Soul by Paul Oakley

Hymn Week - Trusting Jesus

from memory, so perhaps a little off...

Trusting as the moments fly
Trusting as the days go by
Trusting Him whate're befall
Trusting Jesus, that is all.

Hymn Week (cont) - Praise to the Lord!

From Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting (thanks, Rich!):

Praise to the Lord,
The Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him,
For He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord
Who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings,
Yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

Hymn Week - 'Tis So Sweet

I led worship this morning and two out of the four songs were hymns - How Great Thou Art and Trust and Obey. Several people expressed gladness aftwards, "I miss the hymns." Several people didn't know them at all, but they chimed in lustily during the chorus.

Here's another good one:

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
And to take him at his word;
Just to rest upon his promise,
And to know, "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I've proved him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest, and joy and peace.

Hymn Week - He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

He leadeth me, He leadeth me,
By His own hand He leadeth me;
His faithful follower I would be,
For by His hand He leadeth me.

Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
Nor ever murmur nor repine;
Content, whatever lot I see,
Since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

Trust and Obey

When I went to lunch, one of the S of D students was paging through a "Revival Hymnal" from the early 1900's. I miss the hymns. So I've decided that it's hymn/song week on Dorinda's blog. Especially since I've figured out the formatting on posting by email. Except for the italics. I'll have to come back later and put in the italics.

When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way.
When we do His good will,
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey-
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Then with fellowship sweet
We will sit at his feet
Or we'll walk by His side in the way.
What he says we will do,
Where he sends we will go,
Never fear - only trust and obey.

And... my favorite lines from that song today:
But we never can prove
The delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay...

P.S. Most of the songs this week will be songs going through my head, not just random songs. But maybe you'll start singing them too. Or you can comment with your own favorite hymns. Maybe I'll sing them. :)

Waiting

I'm Waiting
I'm waiting on you, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on you, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait.

Decisions

There's been a few unexpected decisions this month. Nothing earth shattering - I'm still here at GFA. :) But still - enough to make me occasionally go, "God?!?" Right now, I have peace to go ahead with some things and peace to wait for God's timing on others.

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience.
While I'm waiting - I will serve you
While I'm waiting - I will worship
While I'm waiting - I will not faint
I'll be running the race - even while I wait.
John Waller © 2007 Travelin’ Zoo Music

Keep the focus

It seems like the Lord has been reminding me lately to keep my focus - keep my eyes on the goal and watch out for distractions. 2 Timothy 4 has Paul giving his final charge to Timothy and mentioning his own life: I'm ready to go. I've finished the course. I've kept the faith. I was mentioning during Bible study that you can't finish a race without knowing where the finish line is. You can't effectively train toward a goal or say "I've reached that goal" without knowing what that goal is.

Pastor John talked this morning about Samson. He had a call on his life and tremendous potential, but his life was filled with distractions.

Hmm... next step: knowing what that goal is and identifying the distractions. I need to focus on the goal of knowing Him, but also on the call He's given me to serve at GFA.

Give me one pure and holy passion.
Give me one magnificent obsession.
Give me one glorious ambition for my life:
To know and follow hard after you.*
*Copyright: Watermark

Draw me nearer

Tonight's out-of-the-blue song in my head:

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Draw me nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To the cross where Thou hast died.
Draw me nearer, nearer, nearer blessèd Lord,
To Thy precious, bleeding side.

Longing to rise in the arms of faith... being closer drawn to him... consecrated to his service by his power... my soul looking up with a steadfast hope... my will being lost in His... resting in peace with Him.

Oh, I long!