Hold Me Jesus

Well, sometimes my life
Just don't make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

CHORUS:
So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It's so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

CHORUS

Surrender don't come natural to me
I'd rather fight You for something
I don't really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I've beat my head against so many walls
Now I'm falling down, I'm falling on my knees

And this Salvation Army band
Is playing this hymn
And Your grace rings out so deep
It makes my resistance seem so thin

CHORUS

You have been King of my glory
Won't You be my Prince of Peace

~Rich Mullins~

Getting Ready

I love to know ahead of time when company is coming. I am a lazy person by nature and don’t always have my house “company ready.” Something I think would be great, would be to to throw open the door with pride and allow someone to see my gleaming home.

But if you drop in unannounced (and if you are in the neighborhood, I hope you do!) don’t expect too much. You will see the piles of books, the half-finished projects, and clean laundry in baskets, unfolded (the dirty laundry, I try to hide!) . Hopefully those dishes won’t be in the sink. You will likely see the computer, smack in the middle of the living room, left on someone’s blog where I got interrupted for everyday life. That is my reality.

But if you call me (maybe) I might be able to make sure the vacuuming is done, the bathrooms are cleaned, just maybe those pesky dishes will be put away and it is possible I might have something more than coffee, tea and my favorite butter cookies for a snack.

It is possible.

Preparing takes a lot of work, but given the chance it is a joy to offer hospitality to our friends and family.

There are two times of preparation during the liturgical year, Advent and Lent. Both are times of spiritual housecleaning, if you will. Times to prepare our heart for the glorious feasts of Christmas and Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Time to renew our hearts and return to the One who loves us more deeply and more perfectly than any love we find in humanity.

The times of preparation are great gifts to us. We are given time to prepare. The arrival date is announced. Company is coming! Clean out the cobwebs of sin and indifference. Wash the windows of our soul. Even though we have welcomed Him into our hearts before, we have a chance to renew the joy of our first experience, our first love for the Maker of the Universe. The Maker of us, the one who knew us in the womb.

During Advent we prepare with joy for the coming of the Christ Child, The Price of Peace the Son of God, King of Kings, all wrapped in one tiny little being of an infant. What a beautiful mystery and what a joy.

We all know that the stable was likely to have been cold and the smells of the animals was heavy in the air, it was likely dusty or muddy. But it is a moment, for us, of joy. I think that is why we often drape the Holy Family in white or gold or lovely impractical colors in our nativity—our small gift to the Infant Jesus; our gift we weren’t there to bring over 2000 years ago. Advent is a path to rejoicing. We decorate our houses and prepare a birthday celebration.

Lent, too, is a path to rejoicing. Even more glorious than Advent, Lent culminates in Easter, Resurrection Sunday, the Victory over death and sin.

But to get to Easter we mush pass through a dark valley of Good Friday/Passover, Holy Saturday, the day of darkness and lingering doubt for the apostles, the quiet, quiet waiting.

In the 40 days of Lent we confront why it was necessary for our Savior, the One who knew no sin to suffer for all our sins; to die the painful death we, not He, deserved. He allowed Himself to be totally stripped of His glory, that we may be grafted in to the Vine, that we may someday join Him in heaven.

Lent for me offers an ugly mirror to clean. Oh, if someone looked at my life they could say, I could say, there aren’t BIG sins there. You know, the sins that land you in prison, the sins and scandals that make the headlines.

But that mirror is dark and shabby, smoky and dirty from all the little, petty offenses. And sometimes it is easier to sweep those under the rug and forget that they, too, are the cause of the lashes of the whip, the gouges of the thorns, the hammering of the nails

The rug needs more than vacuuming. The carpets need torn up and replaced. Cobwebs are clinging to the walls. Those dishes are still in the sink.

Company is coming. I need to get busy and prepare.

Behold, what Manner of Love the Father Has Given Unto Us

Joel 2:12-18

Even now, says the LORD,
return to me with your whole heart,
with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments,
and return to the LORD, your God.
For gracious and merciful is he,
slow to anger, rich in kindness,
and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent
and leave behind him a blessing,
Offerings and libations
for the LORD, your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion!
proclaim a fast,
call an assembly;
Gather the people,
notify the congregation;
Assemble the elders,
gather the children
and the infants at the breast;
Let the bridegroom quit his room
and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar
let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep,
And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people,
and make not your heritage a reproach,
with the nations ruling over them!
Why should they say among the peoples,
'Where is their God?'"

Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land
and took pity on his people.


2nd Corinthians 5:20-6:2

Brothers and sisters:
We are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.

Working together, then,
we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says:

In an acceptable time I heard you,
and on the day of salvation I helped you.

Behold, now is a very acceptable time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.


Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Take care not to perform righteous deeds
in order that people may see them;
otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms,
do not blow a trumpet before you,
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets
to win the praise of others.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you pray,
do not be like the hypocrites,
who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners
so that others may see them.
Amen, I say to you,
they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room,
close the door, and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

"When you fast,
do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.
They neglect their appearance,
so that they may appear to others to be fasting.
Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast,
anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting,
except to your Father who is hidden.
And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."




Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

Repent, and believe in the good news. Mark 1:15 (NIV)

And saying, The [appointed period of] time is fulfilled (completed), and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent (have a change of mind which issues in regret for past sins and in change of conduct for the better) and believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to) the good news (the Gospel). Mark 1:15 (AMP)


Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 1 John 3:1 (KJV)

Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God's living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That's why the prophet said,

The old life is a grass life,
its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;
Grass dries up, flowers droop,
God's Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you. 1 Peter 22-25 (The Message)

Grains of Gratitude

Better late, than never.

Oh, I know it’s Tuesday. But I am still grateful for:

Spending time with family over the weekend. Celebrating a happy birthday of a handsome young man.

Safe travel to and from, accompanied by my youngest son.

A safe and pleasant weekend for my oldest son and my husband who stayed home due to rehearsal requirements.

Two brothers who missed each other tremendously over the weekend. They called and talked to each other while we were away and even when we were in the car driving home. (How did we manage before cell phones??) They were so happy to see each other that they didn’t argue for at least ten, maybe fifteen minutes after we arrived!!!

I’m glad to hear that I was missed, too. The guys were perfectly capable of surviving without me, they said they missed me—my presence. Why? I have no clue, but I’m sure grateful for their love.

For a busy week ahead.

The Grains of Gratitude meme began with Christine at Brady’s Bunch.

What are you grateful for?

BOOK GIVEAWAY...and mice update...and stuff

You still have about 24 hours to enter the book giveaway.

Christian fiction. Suspense thriller. Legalese thrown in. Some nice romance.

Check it out. Leave me a comment on the review post if you want to be entered.

Oh...and the mice...arent' swimming in the dog's water bowl anymore. They've quieted down.

Mostly.

I am not jumping and screaming (go ahead--laugh at me) as much when the toast pops up from the toaster.

And my husband was amazed I would blog about mice. After 16 1/2 years you'd think he would know me better.

But he did come to my rescue when I fell down the stairs this morning. With a full cup of coffee in hand. That I was bringing to him. And the old cat's food dish in the other hand.

Eau de Café au lait. My new perfume and also the color of my walls.

I'm not making this up, people.

Register to win the book when you're done snickering.

What Color Are You?

Just for fun.

I will warn you that I wasn't impressed with all of the options, some were...ummmm...suggestive. Not terrible, but, I don't want my boys reading it. So there you have it.

But I liked the description.

VIOLET

You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and believe strongly in your personal morals.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

So...What color are you?

Hate, Hate, Hateful...

Yucky, yicky, icky!!!

Stomping my foot and throwing a big ole hissy fit!

They're baaaaaaaa-aaak!!

And I'm not talking about him.

Or this.

And that is JUST WRONG.

I'm talking about this.

AGAIN!

They showed up here. Then I thought they went packing. But I was WRONG, WRONG, WRONG and the awful little nasty things invaded yet AGAIN!

Yes, I do realize I am shouting a little, teensy, weensy bit.

I hate, hate, HATE, HATE mice.

The only good mouse is a dead mouse.

Or these...they were cute. I even give them away sometimes. And people like them.

The cat is busy

I suppose at 17 he deserves some rest.

But did I mention I have MICE!!!

Almost as bad as the mice...were the ANTS!!

Sigh...I'm sure that's just around the corner.

President's Day

Day by Daybook...

FOR TODAY ...FEBRUARY 16, 2009...

Outside my window...sunny and chilly.

I am thinking...of all the places I need to go--six or possibly seven. Can I fit it all in?

I am thankful for...gas prices went down a little more. They could go down further, if you ask me!

From the learning rooms...going to see Firebird, Apollo, and Nine Sinatra Songs this week.

From the kitchen...I'm hoping for some inspiration.

I am wearing...pink pj bottoms, a white t-shirt, and a lime green sweater (classy, I'm telling you).

I am creating...jewelry this week in my "spare" time.

I am going...to Iowa this weekend.

I am reading..."...And Ladies of the Club" and Eragon (still). They are such contrasting books and yet have really touched me.

I am hoping...all of the illness that has plagued our house will be gone.

I am hearing...the dog snore, the clock ticking.

Around the house...I still have a lot of work to do, although I washed all the bedding over the weekend.

One of my favorite things...being in Church.

A few plans for the rest of the week:GET GROCERIES!!! I've been playing clean out the cupboards for as long as I can. Pack!! Run around like a crazy woman.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...


Visit Peggy at the Simple Woman's Daybook to find more daybookers.

Memememememes....

I'm slowly catching up with some blogging blessings and blogging fun that have come my way.

lilly at Reading Extravaganza has tagged me for a meme:

The rules for the tag are simple.Link to the person who has tagged you.Write down six things that make you happy.Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it. Then tell the person when your entry is complete.

Six things that make me happy? Only six? Let's make it six things that make me happy with a book. 'K??

1) Books that capture my fancy within the first paragraph.

2) Characters that are so real I dream about them.

3) A book so rich I want to read it again.

4) Books with sequels that are already out so I don't have to wait two years for the next installment

5) New books (or previously undiscovered books) by a beloved author.

6) When I find a book on my list at the Half Price Book Store for $2 or less.

I will tag:
Barbara
Carrie
Mrs. Pogle
Esther
gemma

AND YOU!! If you haven't played it is always fun to think of things that make you happy.

You don't have to make yours about books--just things that make you happy. Make it fit you! Play only if you want & have time.



Barbara at Stray Thoughts also tagged me for The Bookshelf Meme

Tell me about the book that’s been on your shelves the longest... That's kind of hard to say because I have so many books. My father's copy of The Robe and The Silver Chalice are on my shelves. He knows that. We talked about them the last time he was here. There are a couple children's books called The Summerfolk and another called All Horses Go to Heaven (that's what it's called--not a theological opinion). They've been part of my personal library for forever.

Tell me about a book that reminds you of something specific in your life (i.e. a person, a place, a time, etc.)... Marguerite Henry and Walter Farley both wrote about horses. When I was growing up, I was as horse crazy as they come. I remember repeatedly, we are talking over and over and over, checking their books out from the library. I recently read Misty of Chincoteague with Boo and it took me back to the huge old library where I remember some of my happiest times. Walter Farley wrote The Black Stallion series; Marguerite Henry wrote about 40 different stories about horses; Misty had foals and they got stories, but it was from reading her books and Farley's that I traveled to other countries, rode on the backs of unrideable horses, cleaned stalls, groomed coats, picked hooves, drove carts and so many other horse experiences. I can still smell the horses and hay...

Tell me about a book you acquired in some interesting way (gift, serendipity, in a used bookstore, prize, etc.)...
"...And Ladies of the Club.." by Helen Hooven Santemeyer is one of my all time favorite books. I first read it over thirteen years ago. Somewhere along the line I lost my first copy. I kept thinking..."Well, you already read it more than once. Why do you need to have it?" I wanted to read it again. And again. About two years ago I found a copy at a garage sale and since then have found a couple extra copies that I've been able to share with friends. At over 1000 pages it is a mountain of a book, but full of American history and memorable women.

Tell me about the most recent addition to your shelves... I picked up an old, old collection of Oscar Wilde's stories for $3 at (you guessed it) The Half Price Bookstore. It has The Picture of Dorian Gray, a story I've been meaning to read for a long time.

Tell me about a book that has been with you the most places... All of those books mentioned in the first question have followed me where ever I've gone. You can ask my family and friends--I don't travel light. My books go with me.

Tell me about a bonus book that doesn’t fit any of the above questions...Oh, I can't write about just one!! But maybe a set will do. I have my mother's collection of "Amish" books; some by Beverly Lewis and some by Wanda E. Brunstetter. They are good books that are refreshing to read.

The Rules
1. Tag 3-5 people, so the fun keeps going!
2. Leave a comment at the original post at A Striped Armchair, so that Eva can collect everyone’s answers.
3. If you leave a comment and link back to Eva as the meme’s creator, she will enter you in a book giveaway contest! She has a whole shelf devoted to giveaway books that you’ll be able to choose from, or a bookmooch point if you prefer.
4. Remember that this is all about enjoying books as physical objects, so feel free to describe the exact book you’re talking about, down to that warping from being dropped in the bath water…
5. Make the meme more fun with visuals! Covers of the specific edition you’re talking about, photos of your bookshelves, etc.

I took long enough on getting these out that I'm not posting visuals. I am cross-posting this also at Joyful Days Reviews & Recipes.

I will tag:

Kim
lilly
Renee

Only if you have time and want to play!

Whew!! That was some mememememeing...