The Indian Song

A couple of weeks ago, Daniel's piano teacher pulled me aside...

"I have to warn you that I have assigned the Indian Song this week. I'm SO sorry."

You see, apparently boys REALLY like to play this catchy, rhythmic, obnoxious tune OVER AND OVER AND OVER!!!

We discovered - yup, it's true!

I had heard this tune SO many times that week, I was so happy when Monday rolled around again - I knew FOR SURE he would pass the song and move on... I mean, I heard it SO many times and I knew without a doubt that he knew it PERFECTLY!!!

So, this week, Daniel is practicing away at the circus song (which, believe me, is NOT much better!) He stops after awhile and says, "Mom, do think that's enough?" "Oh, I think so," I reply! (thankful it is over with)

"Sweet!" he says. "Now I can play the Indian Song!!!"

I would be remiss here not to tell you that although I hated listening to this song over and over and over again; there was something that was drawing me in... and while the kids played outside I thought I'd sit down and try it... in secret of course. Oh, but it WAS fun - and I finally gave in and played it while they were INSIDE - and we discovered that you can do a marvelous duet with the Indian Song, a mom, and a 10 year old boy =)

..."giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." Colossians 1:12

I spent a lot of time my high school years, training to qualify for regionals, for state... I worked hard to compete, to be the fastest, to win the race! It took sweat, it took tears, it took determination. It was so satisfying to win - so amazing to cross that finish line first and to see all the hard work pay off!

Sometimes I work SO hard in my life to win the race... and rightfully so. Paul tells us to run the race as if to get the prize! But this verse reminds me that on my own merit I did not even qualify to be in the race! No matter how hard I trained, how hard I pushed, how many tears and how much determination - I didn't even meet the basic requirements!

"And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumsision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross." Colossians 2:13,14

The requirements in place were contrary to my nature - I could never make it on my own merit! The Father took it out of the way - nailed it to the cross - and when I came to the cross I was qualified - by His Son's merit - to run the race!!!

Not only am I going to run the race - I get to win the prize!!! He 'qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.' And what is that inheritance? Ephesians 1:11 says, 'in whom we also have obtained an inheritance,' also translated, 'we were made His inheritance.' Both ideas are true - we are His inheritance, and He is ours! Among and above other things, He is my inheritance! He is the inheritance of ALL those who have come to the cross!

'qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light'

I have always loved pictures of the sunrise! This one I took on a lake in Georgia. We were out fishing early and it was so calm and peaceful; it was breathtaking, really. I think one of the reasons I love light so much is that I hate darkness. Even as an adult I have to admit - I am afraid of the dark!

And so, I really love to think about the fact that Christ is the true Light;

that God commanded the light to shine out of darkness;

that His light has shone in our hearts;

that we are commanded to walk as children of light!

I Peter 2:9 is a favorite verse of mine, especially Steve Green Hide 'em in Your Heart style =)

"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light"

So, how about you? Have you come to the cross; are you qualified to run the race; will you claim your inheritance? If so - take the opportunity today to give thanks to the Father who qualified YOU and proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light!!!

Tender Mercies

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies. Colossians 3:12

This year we are reading through the Bible as a family. Since we are doing that all together, I decided that on my own I would really try to do more in-depth personal study. I am currently working on Colossians - reading it over and over and over. It amazes me how each day something new will pop out at me - there is so much for me to learn and apply! Currently, this is the phrase that I am looking at

... therefore...put on tender mercies...

As far as I can tell, the therefore refers back to vv. 1-4 (I am not allowing myself to use commentaries :) ) Why should I put on tender mercies? Because
1- I have been raised with Christ
2- I have died and my life is hid with Christ in God
3- someday, I will appear with Him in glory

therefore! My response (for one) is to put on tender mercies!

I would eventually like to look up the specific meaning of this, but for now, these verses of the example of Christ have really been impressed upon me...

First, in Luke 1, when Zecharias is prophesying about John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord, when he says, "for you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God, with which the Dayspring from on High has visited us."

It is through our God's tender mercy that the Messiah came to forgive sins!!!

Second, Lamentations 3:22,23 "through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning."

It is the Lord's mercy that gives me each day! And His mercies are new to me each day! Oh, how I need that!

So, I am to imitate Christ and put on tender mercies. Not just be merciful - but do it in a gentle way like our Saviour is so gentle with us. That has been a huge task for me! I think the first thing the enemy attacks when my husband is on the road is me! He knows my patience wears thin - the kids test more when their daddy is gone - and I am not very good at being merciful. Oh, but when I do find it in myself to be merciful - it rarely ever comes with tenderness!

Maybe this is why my Father is giving me this verse to focus on. Maybe, just maybe He is wanting me to grow up in this area to become more like His Son!

there's a wideness in God's mercy

like the wideness of the sea

there's a kindness in His justice

which is more than liberty

Rejoice in today!

This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

The kids and I were reading this today, along with a devotion on some of the different days God made - each unique in its own way: the day of creation, the day of the incarnation, the day of redemption, etc... There are many wonderful days to come as well - the day of rapture, the day of His appearing, the day of judgment...

I started to dwell on the day that God created, knowing it would be the day of incredible suffering for Him as He watched His only Son go to the cross! It is beyond my comprehension what it cost Him, the suffering He endured... yet He willingly allowed it, and Christ willingly obeyed. In fact, the scripture says that knowing what lay ahead of Him, He set His face steadfastly to go to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51)

What about my day, your day? Can we follow the example of the Lord today and press forward, no matter what it may hold? Not each of the Lord's days were the same as that one - but each had the same meaning - looking forward to the cross! Wow - it reminds me of what I live for today - to bring glory to Him; to prepare for the day when I meet my Saviour face to face; to tarry and sow while I sojourn here on earth...

There was a day in history - and it played out exactly as He said it would - the day that Christ rose from the grave! It is the day that gives purpose to my life, that makes that day that He endured at Golgotha a triumphant one!!! A day that makes me understand how each day we can say, "This is the day that the Lord hath made - let us rejoice and be glad in it!"

On Sunday we sang a song that tells the story of that day, and the days to come - and how we are to respond to it! Don't be afraid to belt it out!!! ;)

Rejoice and be glad! The Redeemer has come!

Go look on His cradle, His cross and His tomb.

Sound His praises! Tell the story, of Him who was slain!

Sound His praises! Tell with gladness, He liveth again!

Rejoice and be glad! Now the pardon is free!

The just for the unjust has died on the tree!

Sound His praises! Tell the story of Him who was slain!

Sound His praises! Tell with gladness, He liveth again!

Rejoice and be glad! For the Lamb that was slain

O'er death is triumphant, and liveth again!

Sound His praises! Tell the story of Him who was slain!

Sound His praises! Tell with gladness, He liveth again!

Rejoice and be glad! For our Lord is on high:

He pleadeth for us on His throne in the sky!

Sound His praises! Tell the story of Him who was slain!

Sound His praises! Tell with gladness, He liveth again!

Rejoice and be glad! For He cometh again!

He cometh in glory - the Lamb that was slain!

SOUND HIS PRAISES - TELL THE STORY

OF HIM WHO WAS SLAIN!

SOUND HIS PRAISES - TELL WITH GLADNESS

HE LIVETH AGAIN!

2009- Here I come!

I would have to say that my life is an adventure... I married a man full of ideas, and I knew when I married him that I would have to be flexible - VERY flexible!!! I really never know what day to day is going to bring! I laugh that I actually carry a schedule, because a lot of times what I have written in gets changed - I have, at least, learned to write in it in PENCIL!!!

In the midst of the craziness, I have a few things that never change, and that is indispensible to me. I don't make big goals - 'I have to do this by such and such a date' , because it would be foolish - I'd almost be sure to be setting myself up for disappointment and failure.

But the truth is, I have always operated this way! And that's one thing that makes us such a good team! And I'm thankful for the Lord preparing me ahead of time for the life He was going to place me in.

Maybe that's why I've never been big on New Year's Resolutions. I mean, really, it just wouldn't work well for me... but the Lord gave me this back in 1993, and it has been what I have returned to each year. It perfectly fits everything that I would want to continue to grow in , and also I'm thankful to be able to look back and see how God has worked in me since then. So, you may remember from last year, but this is it...

May the mind of Christ, my Saviour

Live in me from day to day

By His love and power controlling

all I do and say

May the Word of God dwell richly

In my heart from hour to hour

So that all may see I triumph

only through His power

May the peace of God, my Father

Rule my life in everything

that I may be calm to comfort

sick and sorrowing

May the love of Jesus fill me

as the waters fill the sea

Him exalting, self-abasing

this is victory!

May I run the race before me

strong and brave to face the foe

Looking only unto Jesus

as I onward go

May His beauty rest upon me

as I seek the lost to win

And may they forget the channel

seeing only Him!

Happy 2009! I pray that all of you will grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord this year! His riches are endless, His goodness to you unfailing - if you know Him as your Saviour today - this year can only be better than the last, because every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before!!!