Siesta Memory Challenge - March 15

Here is my verse for the 15th - just a little late since I was at Fall Creek Falls last week with no Internet access.

2 Timothy 2: 24 TNIV
And the Lord's servant should not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
(I picked this one from my study of 2 Timothy this week because it reminded me that if I am going to teach I can not hold any resentment for any student that complains or treats me disrespectfully.)

Here are my other verses in backwards order:
1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Ephesians 5: 19-20
Speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, giving things to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James 4: 7-8
Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Isaiah 43:18-19
Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

Phil. 3. 12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this or have arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have yet taken hold of it. But one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on to that for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Birthday Blessings

We just got back from a week of camping at Fall Creek Falls. It was beautiful, as usual. Today is my birthday and as I went for one last bike ride - down the big hill to the lake - tears of utter joy streamed down my face. The sky was so blue and the water matched the blue sky. I could only praise God for all the wonderful things he has given me for these 52 years - a loving family and this beautiful place, gifts I don't deserve but are a result of his grace and mercy.

Here is a picture of Thomas and I at the Cascades. I don't think I have ever seen so much water coming over them.

Back on American Soil

My beautiful daughter is back from her mission trip, safe and sound. Praise God for his care for her and her friends.

Peace on a Rainy Day

It is a rainy day as I sit in my sunroom listening to beautiful music. It slows me down and makes me listen. There is beauty even in the rain.

I am praying for my daughter now, she is in the air over the ocean on her way back from her mission trip. I pray for her safety.

The music I am listening to is from the Our Daily Bread series. It is a beautiful arrangement of When I Survey the Wondrous Cross. Here are the words, let them be my prayer and yours too.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride

Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my Lord
All the vain things that charmed me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from his hands, his head, his feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did ever such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown

Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were a present far too small
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul,
my life,
my all.

Issac Watts

Welcomed by Mercy

Today while I was doing my devotion by reading some things online I found this podcast by Ken Medema about being welcomed. About halfway through the podcast there is a story and a song about a lady facing a difficult time who was "Welcomed by Mercy." It is beautiful. Go to Ken's Index page : http://www.kenmedema.com/index.asp and click on the "New Podcast" link. It doesn't work like podcast that use iTunes. You will have to have a Google home page and add the subscription there. It is a little trouble, but it is worth it. If you need help, let me know and I will walk you through how to do this. It is well worth the effort.

Scotland Mission Trip

Please pray for my daughter and her friends as they go on a spring break mission trip to Scotland.

Here is an abbreviated schedule. I have asked her to leave comments here during the week she is gone if she gets time and an Internet connection.

Thank you dear friends.

Friday 3/6
Shuttle to Atlanta airport at 11:00.
To New York City, NY: Delta Flight 82, departs at 3:40pm, arrives at 6:17pm
To Edinburgh, UK: Delta Flight 96, departs at 10:15pm, arrives on 3/07 at 10:25am

Saturday 3/7
Workshop and preparation for worship at St. David’s Church in Kirkintilloch, a suburb of Glasgow

Sunday 3/8
Worship with both St. David’s and St. Mary’s churches
Work with Boys Brigade Battalion Service

Monday 3/9
Kirkintilloch High School – leading assemblies and speaking in classes
Prayer and Bible Study at St. Mary’s Church

Tuesday 3/10 and Thursday 3/12
Traveling and working in Stirling and Edinburgh

Wednesday 3/10
Kirkintilloch High School – leading assemblies and speaking in classes
Also at Craighead and Torrance Primary Schools
Leading Youth Fellowship at St. Mary’s

Friday 3/11
Kirkintilloch High School – leading assemblies and speaking in classes

Return on Saturday, March 14
To Paris, FR: Air France Flight 8569, departs on 3/14 at 9:10am, arrives at 12:20pm
To Atlanta, GA: Delta Flight 51, departs at 2:55pm, arrives at 8:10pm
We will be taking the shuttle back.

Another Beautiful Sunday Worship

My pastor preached another wonderful sermon today. You can find it here. Here is the article about Lori DeMarco that he mentioned. The sermon was about Paul's conversion and how after he was blinded by the light the only thing that he could do was to take the hands of those he trusted to lead him. We have the hand of the only one we can trust completely, our heavenly Father, when we are blinded. He ended by singing this hymn. I went home and found the words. They were written by Thomas Dorsey after he lost his wife and child in childbirth.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand
Precious Lord, take my hand
Lead me on, help me to stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;
Thro' the storm, thro' the night,
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows dear, Precious Lord, linger near
When my life is almost gone;
Hear my cry, Hear my call,
Hold my hand, lest I fall.
Take my hand, Precious Lord,
Lead me home.

Siesta Memory Challenge

It is the first of the month and here is my verse. It is the one that we are doing in Bible Drill tonight. It is amazing to me how God's work speaks in everything. I really needed this verse as I think about my work for next year and my sabbatical research.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. TNIV

Here are my previous verses
Ephesians 5: 19-20
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

James 4:7-8
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Isaiah 43: 18-19
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up, do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wasteland and streams in the wilderness.

Philippians 3: 12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.