Wednesday, November 11, 2009

"Before the Throne of God"

This song penetrates my soul each time we sing it in service. I am reminded of my unbelief and unfaithfulness to God, and yet - He loves with a love that endures. He keeps His promises to His children. He is faithful and unfailing. All of this, despite my adulteress heart.
The following is from C. Spurgeon's "Morning and Evening".

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands." Isa. 49:16
No doubt a part of the wonder which is concentrated in the word "Behold",
is excited by the unbelieving lamentation of the preceding sentence.
Zion said, "The Lord hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me."
How amazed the divine mind seems to be at this wicked unbelief!
What can be more astounding that the unfounded doubts and fears
of God's favoured people? The Lord's loving word of rebuke should
make us blush; He cries, "How can I have forgotten thee, when I
have graven thee upon the palms of my hands? How darest thou
doubt my constant remembrance, when the memorial is set upon
my very flesh?" O unbelief, how strange a marvel thou art!
We know not which most to wonder at, the faithfulness of God
or the unbelief of His people. He keeps His promise a thousand times,
and yet the next trial makes us doubt Him. He never faileth;
He is never a dry well; He is never as a setting sun, a passing meteor,
or a melting vapour; and yet we are as continually vexed with anxieties,
molested with suspicions, and disturbed with fears, as if our God
were the mirage of the desert.
"Behold," is a word intended to excite admiration. Here, indeed,
we have a theme for marveling. Heaven and earth may well be
astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart
of infinite love as to be written upon the heart upon the palms of
His hands. "I have graven thee." It does not say, "Thy name."
The name is there, but that is not all: "I have graven thee."
See the fullness of this! I have graven thy person, thine image,
thy case, thy circumstances, thy sins, thy temptations,
thy weaknesses, thy wants, thy works; I have graven thee,
everything about thee, all that concerns thee; I have put they altogether
there. Wilt thou ever say again that thy God hath forsaken thee when
He has graven thee upon His own palms?


Here's the song in it's entirety:

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written in His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died

My sinful soul is counted free.

For God the just is satisfied

To look on Him and pardon me
T
o look on Him and pardon me.


Behold Him there the risen Lamb,

My perfect spotless righteousness,

The great unchangeable I AM,

The King of glory and of grace,

One with Himself I cannot die.

My soul is purchased by His blood,

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and my God!

With Christ my Savior and my God!


One with Himself I cannot die.

My soul is purchased by His blood,

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and my God!

With Christ my Savior and my God!

Wednesday, November 04, 2009

Entertaining Earles

Ever since we came home from the Earles in January, we've been dreaming of the day we'd be together again. And this time Shawn and Travis would meet! Our Saturday began as usual with the hustle and bustle of getting out the door in time for the boys' games. I had spent the week planning and preparing for our special guests. The boys have been counting down the days until their arrival, frequently asking, "Is this the day they're coming?" Which is why I find it so funny that we were completely unaware of their arrival for a good 20 minutes!! After Joseph's football game we joined some friends for lunch. I was anxious to get back home so as not to miss the Earles arrival. Shawn was getting cleaned up and I was talking his ear off about this and that. The boys were in Joseph's room pouring over new baseball/football cards they had received at lunch. When I looked out the window and saw their car out front, I squealed with delight!!! I alerted the boys and we headed downstairs to greet them at the front door. As I passed by the upstairs window I noticed movement in our backyard. It was all 6 Earles playing and making themselves at home. AAACK!!!! How did I not know they were here already??? What a welcome committee we make. We ran down to greet them and welcome them INSIDE our home gushing apologies for not hearing the doorbell. They graciously extended forgiveness and instantly the big boys shook hands over first time introductions and headed out to the garage for a grueling game of foosball.


I hung the sweet letters that Ellie, Tim and Mary wrote to us up on our message board. Their kids are so dear.





The boys engaged Tim in a round of basketball with both dads coaching and encouraging the boys court side. Ellie and Mary quickly found our craft items and were busy drawing and creating, while Josiah was thrilled to put on a helmet and try his hand at quarterback.


Breaking bread together in the garage - which is our new dining room, game room, laundry room, mud room, etc. By Sunday morning little Mary must have thought it a peculiar arrangement and asked, "Why do we always eat in the garbage?" Out of the mouth of babes!


After a quick meal and many knocks on the door from early trick or treaters, we managed to get the kids outfitted and on their way with the dads graciously chaperoning. Jonalee and I relished the time to chat and get caught up. We finally got smart and put the candy out on the porch so we could talk uninterrupted. So much for being neighborly!



The kids had great fun trading and counting candy pieces!


While some find great joy in super hero candy. . .


others are delighted to have candy straight from the White House - peanut M&Ms with a presidential seal! (Travis works at the White House.)


Then it was time to hunker down and get ready for some baseball!!
We're not going to talk about game 3, kay?
Let's just say the Earles were definitely our silver lining in two painful nights of baseball.


We introduced their kiddos to a new show and one of my childhood favorites, Tennessee Tuxedo. This is what they did in the morning before we got their breakfast together. Jonalee brought scrumptious cinnamon rolls as a treat - yum!

It was so great to have them come with us to worship at church. They fit right into our Sunday School class and the kids seemed to hang in there with our boys in their various classes. During worship I was again reminded of the miraculous origin of this friendship.
For her mother's family to have moved away when I was just a little girl. For her mom and dad to come to salvation through Jesus. For years and years to have gone by without us ever knowing about the other. And then for us to have met through a spontaneous meeting of her mom and dad while I was visiting in Pennsylvania two years ago. Yes, this friendship exists only through His perfect orchestration. I know that this friendship is a precious gift from His loving hands.

Although I took my camera, I have not pictures to show for it, Jonalee and I got out for a bit Sunday after church. I took her downtown Wake Forest to show her our town's quaint charm. Somehow we miraculously found our way to Target's Greatland? Shocking.


She helped me pick out a pillow that is my new inspiration to my living/dining room. THANK YOU! I've been tossing around a variety of blues since January. My decision is now final. I'm keeping the green stairwell and upstairs hallway and hoping to soon paint the walls a beautiful blue. Now if I can just get my painter to commit. *wink*


Rats. Time to say our goodbyes! Elijah had tears in his eyes after they drove away. They immediately began planning and questioning when the next visit would be. So I think it's safe to say it's more like "See you later!" We had such a wonderful time sharing stories, marveling at our God's mercy in each of our lives, laughing and bonding. It continues to amaze me how the Father orchestrated our meeting and remains the cornerstone of this budding friendship. I agree wholeheartedly with Jonalee's post of our visit. We too feel as if, ". . .they are old, old friends".
I doubt my mother would mind, so I'm taking the liberty of sharing her response to my email telling her of the wonderful time we had with Jonalee's family.

hi lisa... so glad you had such a great time... and cemented this relationship!! amazing how this came about... all from the origin of our life on herblew road.... doesn't that blow your mind? i guess that is why i am so aware of the LORD'S LEADING!... and the blessings it brings!

I never had a doubt but that it was the Lord's will for us to find that little house on Herblew Rd..... and i have many, many memories of the joy i had living there!!!

sometimes it's a good thing that you grow old enough to be able to look back on the years and say..."look what the Lord has done!"


Jonalee, my sweet, funny, caring, beautiful, and talented friend, for whom I give thanks to God. Missing you and your family already.

Monday, November 02, 2009

Birthday Blessings

My dear friend, Jonalee and her precious family came to North Carolina this weekend. What a wonderful way to kick start my birthday! I will be posting pics and stories from our time together shortly. However, I could not let my special day end without sharing this amazing story of God's transforming power. Now this is something to celebrate!



Click here for another article on this story.

Friday, October 30, 2009

So Much For a Sweep

vs

Series tied at 1 a piece. Okay fellas, let's bring 'er home and get it done in our house.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Creative Play


With baseball season over for the younger two and two weeks left of football, the boys are getting back to the hoops. Here's a glimpse of their hand made customized court. Team "Shades O'Shays"!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Your National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies!


Oh what a night! Quick, somebody pinch me. Am I dreaming?
Nope. It's a dream come true. Now bring on the Bronx, baby!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Rollins with a Walk Off!!!


Do we LOVE the Phillies or what?! Folks, that was some great baseball. I hope you were able to watch it, although I wouldn't blame some of you for going to bed in the 7th inning. Joseph and I fought to stay awake and watch it and I'm so glad we did. Rollins made it worth our while. Who cares if we're tired today, we are one game away from another World Series! I do believe October is our favorite month of the year. Yep.

Chewing On Humility

But on this one will I look"
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
Isaiah 66:2

So then my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19-20

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Ephesians 4:29

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Philippians 2:3-4

"A calling is simply God's shaping of your burdens and beckoning you to your service to Him in the place and pursuits of His choosing. Finding your home in your service to Christ is key to noticing the threads designed just for you. It gives you that hand-in-glove sensation and provides the security of knowing that you are utilizing your gifts and your will to God's ends first, not for yours. When your will becomes aligned with God's will, His calling upon you has found its home."
Ravi Zacharias in "The Grand Weaver"

Good Quotes

Information is not truth - until it performs transformation.
Adrian Rogers

The measure of God's love for us is not how much He allows us to suffer, but the the victory and peace He gives in the midst of our hardship.

I do not pray in order to change my circumstances. However, I do pray in order that my will would be changed to be in alignment with my Father's will.

We are never good enough to achieve, only blessed to receive. Our righteousness will always fall short, but God's grace is sufficient to cover our inadequacy. H. Blackaby

We are to love and serve others as unto Him. Not for our own accolades or glory or even to earn our eternal life. But we do it because He did it first and commands us to do the same - in HIS name.

To Be Holy Is To:
Have enough sense to choose the things that will bless us, to choose the stuff that will free us and not curse us.
Pastor Richard Mills

My goal in life is to please God.
I do this by becoming more like His Son, Jesus.
God does not expect me to be perfect, but He does expect me to be growing.

Bloom Where You're Planted!