My Shepherd Will Supply My Needs

I was listening to an instrumental CD by Joshua Messick who plays the hammer dulcimer.  I have had it for many years.  Every time I hear this song, I am drawn to it.  I did not know the title of the song because I never looked.  Genius me.

I found it on You Tube.  It is one of the most beautiful hymns and has the most comforting words.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUvxPGxZt-s

My Shepherd will supply my need:
Jehovah is His Name;
In pastures fresh He makes me feed,
Beside the living stream.
He brings my wandering spirit back
When I forsake His ways,
And leads me, for His mercy’s sake,
In paths of truth and grace.

When I walk through the shades of death
Thy presence is my stay;
One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.
Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread;
My cup with blessings overflows,
Thine oil anoints my head.

The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days;
O may Thy house be my abode,
And all my work be praise.
There would I find a settled rest,
While others go and come;
No more a stranger, nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

Gold, Silver, Bronze

We have been watching the Olympics at our house...not avidly, but almost nightly.  Time and again, the 'favored to win' either doesn't qualify or just plain wipes out.  The snow flying in the air is no help and I keep wanting to clean the tv screen as it 'fogs up'.
I have learned alot about curling and no, it isn't about hair, but actually a gentleman's game likened to golf, holding to a high standard of honor and integrity.  No swearing or bad manners and always good sportsmanship...and women play as well.  (Actually my least favorite to watch.  Lots of screaming at these odd shaped balls sliding down the ice.  But I am probably showing my ignorance.) Kudos to them.
I prefer the summer Olympics...simply because snow is foreign to a south Texas girl like me. If we see a flake every ten years, schools close and highways are sanded as if we can't maneuver a car in icy conditions....well, actually we can't and we look like idiots on the news. I digress.
Back to the games.  This year it seems that the winners are equally happy to be the recipient of any color medal.  The bronze is as treasured as the gold...and yet, I can't remember the name of one bronze winner from the past. Or silver for that matter.  However, you should not go by me, the least athletic person I know.  I love the sport in front of me and when it's over, it's over.
There is a race I can run. Speed does not dictate the winner.  I will share the prize with many...and we will all be deliriously happy and grateful to cross the finish line in any order.  It is important to run well, so as to bring glory to the Judge. No one will remember my name, save One. Come and join me in this lifelong pursuit.  You can help me and I will help you.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27  Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 

Revelation 20:12   And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 

Revelation 22:12-13  "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." 

These words awaken fear and love in me.  Fear of the cost...and love for the Redeemer who deserves my best effort.  Love for my Redeemer must be my motivation.  I love Him because He first loved me. How off track I get at times.  I often veer out of bounds, fall down, take my eyes off of the finish line, or just quit altogether.  I forget the prize awaiting me and the One for Whom I am running.  So...Lord, help me get back up, refocus, and press on...because it's the only thing that matters.  Run with me.

More Hosea

Hosea 10:1 Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased, the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. 
This has been true of me so many times.  The more I am blessed, the more I look for more pleasures. I want for more.
Prophets were sent by God to warn the Israelites to turn to the LORD.  Over and over again this occurred and each time the Israelites turned to idols and anything else that struck their fancy. My, how stubborn they were!  How hard-headed! Well, people are the same in any century. I am just as stubborn, just as fickle.
There ARE no prophets today with direct words from God.  We have God's holy word now -  complete, unchanging, and eternal. There are no new revelations, except in the hearts of men who turn to Him and repent - as He reveals His truth to them.  What was true in Hosea's day is true in my day.  People still seek pleasures rather than God and still His call goes out.

The Move

Yesterday was our last Sunday in our old building that we have rented for 10 years.  It was bittersweet.
We have had different landlords as the building changed owners a few times. (It was actually a gym owned by the church next to us - who went through several pastors - before it was sold to the current owner.)  All have been very good to us and we are grateful to God for watching over us during each transition.  Though the 'gym turned sanctuary' has been for sale again for a few years, it was beyond what we could afford.  God has been gracious to lead us to a church building around the corner which is affordable and meets our needs.  We are grateful.  We still await the occupancy permit that is supposed to come this week as the month ends.  Our landlord has said we could stay and use it this Sunday if we need to, but we have already moved everything.
Below are some pictures of our members at work.

My current students signed the tree in my room.

Some of my former students coming back to sign my tree.

Taking pictures of those taking pictures.

Here comes Tommy looking for me.

Molly and Annie

Andrew

Jack

No one wants to leave.

The money counters:  Clint and George.  Jesse and Maggie assisting.

Tommy's old office.

Our empty library.

Our old foyer.  Notice the surviving poinsettias.

Taken as I was leaving an almost empty church parking lot.

See the steeple in the far distance?  That is our new church!
Wow!  Look at our trash!

A Little Wisdom From Hosea To Get Me Through...

My life seems out of my control....at least it does in my head. There are a million things I should be doing - but I am choosing to write on my much neglected blog.  There will always be a 'horizonful' of things to be done, but they are not all mine to do.
However, I can allow them to leave me feeling deflated and over whelmed.   The month of January brings blues for me...I am like a balloon with a tiny hole, slowly running out of holiday zeal and leftover energy.  My house is silent and dusty...a cave for hibernation. This is not good, you know.
A couple of weeks ago, Tommy and I were in a wreck.  The fault was not ours but, boo boos happen either way.  We are thankful no one was really hurt, except my car which will survive after a few weeks in the repair shop.  My air bag and seat belt left bruises, but I am on the mend.  I try not to ask why things happen...well, at least not out loud.  God is sovereign over all and He will always do what is best for me and I find that comforting.

"Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down and he will bind us up."  Hosea 6:1
Everything that happens to me has a purpose.  Sometimes it is hard to see and some things I may never understand, but faith in God and our Lord Jesus sustains me in the rough places.
God would rather have my love than any sacrifice I might hold before Him.  He wants my heart.
"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."  Hosea 6:6
I lost my mojo, my 'get up and go', my game...for a while.  But with my face toward the Lord and my spirit refreshed, I am up for all He calls me to do.  It is time to get busy.

Church Work Day

The sanctuary

Our new church building needs a few repairs before we can pass inspection for occupancy.  (Aren't you glad that God doesn't require our bodies to be repaired before He takes residence?  Just repentance.)  My mind, body, habits, inadequacies, thoughts...all need an overhaul, and the Lord will help me to make those repairs. The visible and invisible ones.

But...back to the work day.  We met last Saturday and worker bees arrived in droves.  It was a real blessing to see so many happy people ready to break a sweat together. Below are some of the lovely faces at Providence.

David G, Daniel S, and Josh B showing up for work.

Jane in the kitchen

Rachel T and Jennifer P in the storeroom.

Kevin S and Chris G

Julie D watching little ones.

Eric M and Cris S

Hannah S and Cheryl O

Michele G, Cassie G, Tori T, Madi T, Elizabeth (Lizzie) J

David A

Barry W - the astronaut and Elder

Tommy D, Craig S, Bruce S - three Elders

Kristen J running the office that day

Dallen G, Jack J, Layton G, Sam J, Seth W, Joel W

Karen L, Amy J, Betty L, Kimberly S, Susan S

Szilvia A and Shiloh G

Me and Szilvia

Jonah T and Kasie H

Judy L on playground duty

David G and a new found friend

Brett F, our move director

Molly H and Eszter A

My old room.

My new room.  Needs work.

We have another work day coming up and I will be busy with the transformation.  I am glad that God does all the transformation work inside me.  He is the only one who can clean up that mess.