worship

I had a good time worshiping with the believers at Saint Paul Fellowship, where my brother and sister-in-law worship corporately. It was good for me to get out of BBC for a Sunday and see how others worship the LORD. I love that we have one God, and one LORD Jesus Christ the Son. At every moment from almost everywhere* on the plant people are worshiping and treasuring the Faithful God. I love being exposed to other view points/vantage points within an orthodox service of worship, it keeps me from becoming closed minded and judgmental, refreshing my faith.

I think many people get stuck in a rut, and therefore aren't moving...I never want to be that, ever! May the LORD ever be gracious unto me and give me the capacities to serve him whole-heatedly while I'm on this earthly pilgrimage. Without this I'm toast!

*not all have heard of Jesus, therefore not everywhere on the planet has worshipers, therefore we should pray and go to tell them of the ultimate Treasure.

cool mac trick

If you own a Mac, there is a cool feature that I use quite often. I don't know what it's called but what it does is inverts all the colors on your screen - creates a negative image. I use it mostly in the early morning when my eyes are still adjusting or when I'm in a very sunny situation and I have a hard time reading a white screen. Here's how you activate and deactivate it.

Hold down "Control, Option (Alt), and Apple (command)" and hit the number "8". Do the same thing to deactivate the feature. I've never tried it on a PC, let me know if it does.

I tried taking a screen shot with the feature activated so you could see it but screen shots bypass the feature so it didn't work.

corban knows hoops

My sister Kelsie and her roommate Sarah gave Corban this bigtime basketball hoop for his birthday, he LOVES it! Take a look!

sorry it's been a while

A brief update:

The LORD as we all know, but have such a hard time believing, is faithful!  The LORD has been gracious to us this new year in new ways and we have given him new praise!  Psalm 34 was a haven for me in my overwhelmed state and is now a haven in my peaceful state.

Our time in Grand Marias was sweet.  It is so good to be with family for extended periods of time.  Garry and Renee were really sweet to us, and of course Corban loved all the time with his Papa Duck!

I have been working on a bathroom remodel for some friends of ours and it has been going really well!  Thank you for the prayers.  I sold the van!!! - praise the LORD this was such a big burden on me.  We are making a lot of progress on the company, and really enjoying what the LORD has brought our way so far concerning work.

We are expecting our new baby mid February, for me the butterflys are starting to flutter - I don't feel ready!

I feel a fresh energy now that I'm back to work and have direction.  We continue to seek the LORD in all things knowing that he is faithful to lead us.

Thankful for you all.   I will post pictures soon.  I feel like I have a lot of catch up to do with all that's been going on.

another evidence of God's grace

a hymn that's been really sweet to me lately

Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

words: Henry Lyte

music: Bill Moore

1. Jesus, I my cross have taken,
All to leave and follow Thee.
Destitute, despised, forsaken,
Thou from hence my all shall be.
Perish every fond ambition,
All I’ve sought or hoped or known.
Yet how rich is my condition!
God and heaven are still my own.

2. Let the world despise and leave me,
They have left my Savior, too.
Human hearts and looks deceive me;
Thou art not, like them, untrue.
O while Thou dost smile upon me,
God of wisdom, love, and might,
Foes may hate and friends disown me,
Show Thy face and all is bright.

3. Man may trouble and distress me,
’Twill but drive me to Thy breast.
Life with trials hard may press me;
Heaven will bring me sweeter rest.
Oh, ’tis not in grief to harm me
While Thy love is left to me;
Oh, ’twere not in joy to charm me,
Were that joy unmixed with Thee.

4. Go, then, earthly fame and treasure,
Come disaster, scorn and pain
In Thy service, pain is pleasure,
With Thy favor, loss is gain
I have called Thee Abba Father,
I have stayed my heart on Thee
Storms may howl, and clouds may gather;
All must work for good to me.

5. Soul, then know thy full salvation
Rise o’er sin and fear and care
Joy to find in every station,
Something still to do or bear.
Think what Spirit dwells within thee,
Think what Father’s smiles are thine,
Think that Jesus died to win thee,
Child of heaven, canst thou repine.

6. Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer.
Heaven’s eternal days before thee,
God’s own hand shall guide us there.
Soon shall close thy earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.

oh how sweet to trust in Jesus

Today a major burden was lifted, all praise to Jesus!  Thank you for your prayers, they are effective, and mean a lot.  I don't want to rob you of your joy, therefore I'm telling you that the LORD hears and the LORD answers.  Praise the LORD and rejoice with us!

If you have a burden, ask the LORD for grace and mercy.  His ears are open to our cries.  He is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.  I thought it a sweet providence this Sunday that during our time of corporate worship, Nat proclaimed verses from Psalm 34 amidst my wrestling, and broke my heart to tears.  Oh how kind the LORD is to us!

It IS so sweet to trust in Jesus, I don't know how dismal it must be for those who don't know Him.