As High As The Heavens...

There's been LOTS around me that is new, these days, and I've wanted to share a few things with you for a few weeks now but just haven't gotten to it!  When we start school in two more days, we're going to start with a scavenger hunt (dad included!) around the rural towns in which we now live.  We hope to give the kids -- well, just the olders -- a sense of where they live in relation to their new surroundings.  I'll be sure to take some pics of that, but I thought I'd share a few today from around our home.  (My photog disclaimer: These are completely uneditted, some should have been for viewing effect-- but I'm giving it to ya live -- well, as "live" as blogging gets!)

The sun setting above the corn just in front and to the west of our house.

Our lovely fence line, complete with a spectacular view of God's heavens.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,

who forgives all your iniguity, who heals all your disease,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s…

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear Him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us. 

As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 

For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust…

The steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him,

and his righteousness to children’s children,

to those who keep His covenant and remember to do His commandments…

Bless the Lord, all his host, His ministers, who do his will!

Bless the Lord, all His works, in places of His dominion. 

Bless the Lord, O my soul! 

(various verses from Psalm 103)

A final pic, for those family following, this ONE of our beloved "climbing trees".  These kids are "in heaven" climbing, and I'm "in heaven" just admiring GOD'S HEAVENS every evening of our new rural life.

May you be able to take time today to praise our Lord and Savior for the beauty He's putting in your life -- even if it's coming in the form of "ashes".

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Psalm 73: 16-28 -- A RIGHT Perspective for Self

When we last studied this passage a couple days ago, we left Asaph (and myself) in a quandry over why it seems like the “evil ones” are the ones who always prosper and why it seems like those of us who are living trying to please God are always getting…shafted – or so we think.  Let’s pick it up in very 16: (using the NIV today—I’m not picky, it’s what’s in front of me. And, as always, italics are added by me!=)

16) When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me until I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny.

How do we get perspective?  WE GET IN THE WORD!  We enter into God’s sanctuary and commune with Him.  Only in the presence of God’s RIGHT, TRUE, FAITHFUL Words can we see reality!  Here’s what Asaph found was reality: (v.18-22)

“Surely you place [the evil ones] on slippery ground; you case them down to ruin.  How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors.  As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.  When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.”

I was studying in James earlier this week  and found something I’d never seen before (gotta LOVE the LIVING and ACTIVE Word!).  Verses 14-16 (Proceed with Caution, these are strong words.)

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

WHEW!  This is NOT how I want to be characterized or found before the Lord.  So I confess this sin of envy and ask the Lord to make my heart new again (which He gladly does) and thank Him for his gift of the sacrificially death His Son gave for ME!  For YOU!  And then I am free to do what Asaph did next:  he WORSHIPPED God.  It’s the only right response we can have when brought to the Light of His Word.  Let’s finish out today reading the last of Psalm 73, starting in verse 23.  Here are the truths we can rest in:

“Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heave but you?  And earth has NOTHING I desire besides You.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.  Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to You.  But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.”

 When we take up our right place in the refuge of the Lord, no matter what is happening around us, we will be able to have peace and rest in Him and that will lead us to TELL OTHERS ABOUT CHRIST.  Where are you today?  Outside of His Word and lacking perspective or are you IN HIS WORD gaining perspective, worshipping Him, and telling others about what He’s teaching you?

Just something to “consider”…

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Mama's Mission of the Month

Well, here's my update on Mama's Misson of the Month.

The pics aren't the best, but as you can see, just two weeks after move date, we're not looking TOO shabby!  (Yeah, yeah, I know!  Stop looking at the mess on the table!)  One more for your viewing pleasure.

Happy school organizing to all you fellow homeschooling moms!  I've got quite the bit of work to do in the next 4 days before school starts for us!  (Oh, and anyone else going to join me this next month on having a "mission for the month"?  let me know!  I'd love to keep up with you!-- after I fix my comment bar, I guess!=)

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