God is Love

Have you ever felt like you were being attacked by someone who was misjudging you? Have you ever been misunderstood, as someone has believed the worst about you, when you were reaching out to that person in love? I have. One summer day, I found myself in a situation where I had unsuspectingly stepped into a brewing storm. I was shocked, hurt, stunned. After I escaped into seclusion, the tears which had started turned into heart wrenching sobs. I tried to think of how God must have felt when this world rejected and misunderstood Him when He had sent Christ to save them. To express my feelings, I wrote this song:


Verse 1:
A guilty world of sinful souls, rejecting their Creator.
A slighted God looking from above at mankind against it’s Maker.
Misunderstanding reigned in life, a result of sin’s rebellion;
Betrayal, anger, and bitter strife, required God’s salvation.

Chorus:
But as His Son died upon a tree, nailed and bruised in agony,
So few would turn to look above and see that God is love.

Verse 2:
The remedy for sinful man is by many not elected,
The consequences still abound as salvation is rejected.
There will be time, God did decide, to give men to repent,
Not willing that any should perish or die His only Son He sent.

Verse 3:
A selfish, stubborn, rebellious world still refuses to love their Maker,
Instead they love their sinful pleasures rejecting the Savior.
Their hearts are given to idols here as they worship at their feet,
But the broken heart of a loving God reaches down for man to meet.

To listen to a sound clip of this song, click here

Step Out of the Ship

Have you ever thought about where you're looking? Not physically, but spiritually? Lately I've been challenged to think about where my spiritual eyes have been - are they on myself, others, circumstances, probabilities, or are they on Christ? I can tell when I'm looking at myself, because I find no hope within me to do anything right. Why should I think any differently? Didn't Jesus say, "Without me ye can do nothing?" (Jn.15:5). Have you ever felt like the Romans 7:14-25 man, that when you would do good, evil is present with you, and how to perform that which is good you find not? Have you ever cried out, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?" Look at what Paul's prescription for this malady is: "I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom.7:25). All of our hope is in Jesus Christ. We are to rejoice in the Lord, not in ourselves (Phil.4:4); Christ is my life, living in me (Gal.2:20); I am to reckon myself dead to sin and alive to God through Him, not myself (Rom.6:12-13). When I take my eyes off of Christ, and put them on the storms of life around me, my feet begin to sink beneath the stormy waters. The only way I can walk on water is by looking unto Jesus. It doesn't make any scientific sense, but it makes spiritual sense.
A few years ago, I wrote a song called, Step Out of the Ship. The idea for writing it actually came from a comment my dad had made to someone about how they were looking at the waves in their life, and as a result, how they "fell." I was then reminded of the Biblical account in Matthew 14:23-33. Matthew tells the story of Jesus walking on the water towards His disciples, and how Peter stepped out onto the sea by faith, walking on the waves towards Jesus. But then, instead of keeping His eyes on Christ, he started looking at the wind. It was then that he began to sink. But then he wised up, and he called out to Jesus, Who immediately reached out and grabbed him. That was the smartest thing Peter could do in that situation. I wonder how many times I've been there, and instead of calling out to Christ, I've tried to figure out how I can get myself out of the waves...turn your eyes on Christ, and walk on water!

Verse 1:

The disciples of the Lord were in a ship,

Toiling in their rowing on the sea.

When out walking on the waves they saw a man,

And they wondered in fear who it could be.

For when they saw that man they were afraid.

They were troubled and cried out in fear.

But Jesus quickly spake unto them,

Saying, "It's I, be not afraid, be of good cheer."

Chorus:

Step out of the ship, put your feet upon the water,

Come while the Savior calls to you.

Turn your eyes from the wind,

Keep your eyes upon the Savior,

Come while He calls for you.

Verse 2:

Then Peter answered him, and said, "Lord,

If it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee."

Then Jesus answered him, and said, "Come."

And Peter left the ship for the sea.

But when he saw the wind he was afraid.

He began to sink, and to the Lord cried out.

But Jesus quickly stretched forth His hand,

And said, "O thou of little faith, why dids't thou doubt?"

Smile

Doesn't this face make you want to smile?

How about this one?

They make me smile :-)

He Restoreth My Soul

I'm back! I hope people still read this, as it's been over a month since I've written anything on here. I will seriously try to keep posting something in the future :-)

Life is good. And life is good because I have a good God, a living God, Who works all things out for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose - the purpose of being conformed to the image of His Son. I've entitled the name of this post He Restoreth My Soul because I have been so amazed at just how God is restoring my soul, and with how much detail He has been doing it. Can I just take a minute and tell you about how wonderful my God is?

Let me preface this: The book of Job starts out with a godly man being slammed with horrible trials that were not chastisements or punishments. Now, I'm no Job; but if such a good man like him could go through such terrible disasters, then who do I think I am to not face any trials or troubles in my life? If Jesus Christ - Who did no sin - had to go through such painful circumstances in His life and didn't even deserve to suffer, then who do I, a sinner, think I am that I won't face any difficulties in my life? Anyway, in Job 1:21, Job makes this statement: "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Recently, I felt like the LORD had taken everything away from me. I tried to figure it out, as to why it all happened. Like Job, I failed to understand (Job 42:3). All I did understand was that sometimes the LORD gives, and the LORD takes away: my response must be, "Blessed be the name of the LORD." At first, I struggled. I didn't like what had happened. But then I started to see the good hand of my God upon me. Instead of looking at what I had lost, God began to show me that He was replacing everything He had taken away - and He was replacing everything to the detail and more! When I started looking at my life from this new perspective, I literally laughed, amazed that the LORD would do something so wonderful and would put His fingerprints all over His work so I would know it was Him! The blessings were (are) numerous, the kindness of God was (is) overwhelming, and my faith in Him was (is) strengthened as I realized what was happening, and felt the LORD telling me, "In My own good time all you lost will be replaced, down to the detail." And what does this have to do with Job? Have you seen the end of the Lord, that He is very pitiful? (James 5:11). What did God do for Job at the end of the trial? "the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."(Job 42:10). The same living God Who was Job's God is my God. And His character has not changed. I am living proof and will testify that even today He truly does restore souls, and replaces what His children lose. I'd like to share a song I wrote about a year ago, when I was going through trials in my own life, and I had no answer for. Perhaps the words will speak for themselves...

Verse 1:

There've been times in my life when I thought the LORD did bless;

And I wondered what I'd done to deserve a gift like this.

But then there have been times when evil did fall,

And I wondered what I'd done to deserve a judgment call.

As I thought of all that happened - the good and the bad -

And what could have been different, what changes I could've had.

But now it is all over; Time its course has run.
Yet still I wonder why God's allowed what has been done.

Chorus:
But now I know, like Job, God gives and takes away.
Even though Satan God's hand may sway.

But I know that He's allowed it, and through the storm I'll say,

"Blessed be the name of the LORD, Who gives and takes away."

Verse 2:

Like with Abraham and Isaac, sometimes God will stay

The hand of death and sadness, and let hope light the way.

But other times, like with Jesus, God allows His loved to die.

For the good it will bring others, that new life they may find.

Verse 3:

O Christian in great struggle, give thanks in everything.

For your Father up in Heaven, great good for you will bring.

You've seen the end of Job, how the Lord is very pitiful.

And in His own good time He makes all things beautiful!

Chorus:
For now I know, like Job, God gives and takes away,

Even though Satan God's hand may sway.

But I know that He's allowed it, and through the storm I'll say,

"Blessed be the name of the LORD Who gives and takes away."
"Blessed be the name of the LORD Who gives and takes away."

Oh, and before I sign off, one more newsflash. Check out my brother's new blog! http://www.jaredspangenberg.blogspot.com/. He's one of the most spiritual men I know - a deep thinker, an honest man, a practical person, who just wants to follow Christ. Of course I'm a prejudiced older sister, right? :-) Seriously, check it out. May you be encouraged in the goodness of our living God!

This and That

As I'm not one to really post about my life on the world-wide web, I guess I shall post a few thoughts from life over the past week or so :-)
1. Friends of ours had a beautiful baby girl born this week. She's a perfect, cute newborn, that God was very good to give to this sweet couple. I enjoyed holding her, and seeing her tiny little features. On top of all that, I won the contest that we played at her baby shower, of guessing the closest to the date and time of her birth, as well as other details. These friends will be taking me out to eat as a prize - yay! Thank you Lord, for babies.
2. The weather has been beautiful - absolutely gorgeous. Thank You, Lord, for nice days.
3. I got to see my nephews this week, and play with them. Little "C" had his first pool-encounter-of-the-year on our front lawn, in the little green turtle sandbox-turned-pool. He had so much fun splashing me...actually, I think he enjoyed seeing my reaction, hehe. Thank You, Lord, for family and little children.
4. We had a good time at our other friends' house last night. Good start to a Bible study us girls are doing, then we watched a movie. Thank You, Lord, for friends.
5. I realized this week that my relationship with God has been growing greatly recently. It's sweet, it's comforting, and I truly have a living God Who answers prayer the way He knows is best. It's almost like we're really "walking" together. Thank You, Lord, for caring about me like this.





Well, how about some pics?
Little "C" loved, loved, loved the water!







Little "E" loved the outdoors :-)

New Music Happenings

I've had two new advancements to my music endeavors that'd I' like to share :-) First, my blog has been "moved" to my music website - http://www.psalmstriss.com/. If you click on the home page, there's a link on the left side called "My Blog." Creative title, isn't it? But then again, if you're reading this, you probably already found that out :-) If you're on blogger, can you go to my psalmstriss site and read it? That is where blogger is supposed to redirect it. In case you're wondering why, I'm trying to get more hits on my psalmstriss website, so that's why the blog is over there.

Second, after trying to troubleshoot a slight problem on my blog, I realized I had never checked to see if the Rainstorm CD I had sent to CD Baby had made it to digital distribution - aka, made it to iTunes yet or not. So, off I went to iTunes, found the search option, and typed in my name...and found that the Rainstorm CD is on there! Woo-hoo!

So, that's where I'm at now in my musical adventure! Now enough talk, and time for a picture. Well, we just got back from a weekend trip to the shore. It is so beautiful down by the water. In fact, I shall post a picture of the absolute beauty of the bay... thanks for taking the pic, Katie!

It's Been Awhile...

It's been awhile since I last posted on here...so now I'm finally getting around to it :-) I'm starting to get back into my music world, so that's a good thing - gives me things to post about. Last night I was at the home of good friends of ours, the "J's," who have an awesome piano! I was able to record 4 songs there. It just inspires me to redo all my songs; but that takes a long time. All the recording, editing, and mixing take awhile. I wish I could just do everything perfectly the first time, but, alas, it doesn't always happen that way.

I suppose I should post about the story behind another one of my songs. but before that, which will be another post, there should really be some pictures on here. So, I shall post about last night.

This is the "studio" where I recorded at our friends' house. This piano is so neat! It can harmonize a voice into different parts. I love that feature.

And of course, if one is up in the area, no outing is complete without a visit to the two most adorable little men: C & E.

This is "C" on the go, as you can see, unless it's the camera quality (this was taken on my phone). Little man played shy when he saw me, until I picked him up. Then he wouldn't let me put him down to pick up "E" when he started crying. So we played, and we pushed a few cars across the floor. I also deflected an object that went flying from his hands in the direction of little "E's" face. All in all, it was a great night :-)

Sins' Scars

As we go through life, we can’t help wounding others with our words, actions, and reactions. We ourselves also suffer the consequences of others’ wrong choices. Sometimes, the wounds we suffer at the hands of others leave scars that take a long time to fade away. On the other hand, we sometimes inflict wounds on others that leave scars in their lives. The worst types of scars are the ones that we don’t think we deserve. In other words, when we are innocent and suffering for others’ sins; not because of something we did, but because of what someone else did. They are the hardest to bear, and I wonder how many people actually have good attitudes when that happens. We tend to lash out in anger at those who’ve hurt us. How many of us would actually respond in love to those who’ve wronged us? How many of us would actually volunteer to suffer for someone else’s mistakes so they could go free? Before we pass judgment on other people, we should look at ourselves. Is there anyone in life that we have wounded, who is bearing sins’ scars for us?

For those of us who are saved, the Bible promises that some day we will get new bodies. God will wipe away all tears from our eyes, and there will be no more sorrow and no more crying (Rev.21:4). All the scars that we’ve accumulated in this life will be gone! Thank God for that! However, there is One in Heaven Who will never lose the scars of my sin; Someone Who never did anything wrong, yet suffered for everyone else’s wrong choices – and He did it willingly, in love. He is the Lamb of God, and when we see Him in heaven, we will see as the Lamb that was slain (Rev.5:6). Thank God for the Lamb that was slain for our sins, and that He chose to bear our scars, so that we didn’t have to…

You can listen to a clip here

Verse 1:
Every day in life we make choices;
How we live, how we act, what we say.
And sometimes we will wound or be wounded,
Leaving scars that take long to fade away.
But we have hope that someday we’ll all be changed.And the scars we had will all fade away.When all sorrow and tears are over,
And we enter God’s eternal day.

Chorus:
But there’s One in Heaven called “the Lamb,”
Who, for us sinners, was slain.
And although the price of sin He has paid,
The scars it left on Him will never fade.

Verse 2:
Someday we will gaze upon this Lamb,
And behold His riven hands and His side.We will cast down our crowns at His pierced feet,
And remember it was for us that He died.
But for now, in Heaven He does plead,
For the ones who from sin He has set free;
As we await His call to incorruption,
When death is swallowed up in victory.

Chorus:

Bridge:
And I thank God for this Lamb that was slain,For salvation only comes through His name,
And I will sing eternally of this Lamb Who died for me,
Behold, the Lamb of God!

Chorus:

Closing:
And although the price of sin He has paid,
The scars I left on Him will never fade.

I'm Finished!

I can't believe it - I'm finally finished! I just completed my last assignment, and I am now finished with Bible Institute! It's been about 11 1/2 years, but now it's over. I'm done, and will be getting my certificate in June. I'm done with my Bachelor's, I'm done with my Master's, and now I'm done with Bible Institute. What next? Well, hopefully no more school :-) Now it's time to apply everything I've learned. Look out world, here I come!

Photo taken from ktlnphotography.blogspot.com

To Be Conformed...

So often, we have the wrong view of what God is up to in our lives. We think we know what He is doing, and we set our hopes accordingly. When our expectations fail, we become depressed, disappointed, discouraged. “Where is God?” we say. “Why did He do this to me?” we despond, thinking He is out to “get us,” that He’s punishing us for sins we committed. We rack our minds, trying to think of why the supposed punishment was inflicted, thinking that if only we would have done better, or will make amends this time, that the Lord will be happy, and will give us what we want, as though He is a genie and we can control Him with our actions. “But look at everything that happened, Lord. It sure looked like You were going to do this, and then everything exploded in front of me. Why did You even torment me with the hope of fulfilled desires?”

Wrong thinking. Wrong expectations. I’m waiting for the wrong thing. God’s thoughts are not my thoughts, and His ways are not my ways. His end, over-arching, overall purpose for my life is not something that is tangible. It is not something physical, a person, place or thing. It cannot be seen with the mind that doesn’t think like Him. It is un-tangible. It is not something we can see by sight, but only by the eyes of faith. It is only for the spiritual, seeking person, for it is the purpose of God, Who cannot be seen with physical eyes. It is only for those who will grasp by faith the only thing they understand – the character of God; that He is good, and He is love. It is for those who take the clearly revealed will of God, “in everything give thanks,” and realize that through all the evil and sin they must weave their way through life in, God means it all for good in the end. It is to grasp by faith that what things I would have counted gain for myself, I must count loss for Christ; that I must count ALL things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. Am I willing to suffer the loss of all things, and count them but dung that I may win Christ? Am I willing to place that much value on Christ? Am I willing to purposefully and mindfully choose Him to be in that place in my life; to make Him my first desire, and to suffer the loss of all things for Him; to place Him above my own ideas of gain? In God’s reckoning book, being conformed to the image of Christ – an un-tangible thing – is the most important thing for a Christian. In fact, the Father has predestinated us to it – that is what life is all about (Rom.8:29). This is the whole purpose of God for any saved man. Anything and everything that happens can be “the will of God” if we realize that through it all, there is an unseen Hand that created or allowed the circumstances we are in to conform us to the image of Christ. Without this conformity, there is no purpose or power in life. But the promise is there - the promise of satisfaction, for the psalmist said, "I SHALL be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." After all, that is what we were created for in the first place (Gen.1:26).

To Be Conformed

Verse 1:

I was created for Your pleasure (Rev.4:11), and for Your work employ (Jn.15:16)

To bring forth fruit unto perfection will be my greatest joy (Jn.15:16;Lk8:14)

To transform my mind to think the way You want me to (Rom.12:1-2)

As I reckon myself as dead to sin but alive unto You (Rom.6:11)

Chorus:

To be conformed to the image of Your Son

To be like Jesus when all is said and done (Rom.8:29)

And Father if You are for this Who can be against the One (Rom.8:31)

Who for me spared not His Son? (Rom.8:32)

Verse 2:

Can I do unto others as I'd have them do to me? (Lk.6:31)

Can I pray like Jesus prayed in Gethsemene?

Can I say, "Not my will, but Thine, Lord, be done in the end?" (Lk.22:42)

Do I have no greater love than to die for my Friend? (Jn.15:13)

Verse 3:

This life I now live, for Your sake I must lose

For if I would find my life, Your way I must chose (Mt.10:39)

But I know some day it'll be worth it all when with You I awake,

For I shall be satisfied when with Your likeness I awake! (Ps.17:15)

If I Never Faced A Rainstorm

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.” Ps.107:1. In January of 2007, as a substitute teacher, I was sitting at a desk in a classroom. It was French class, so there really wasn’t much I could do but be a presence in the room for the students. As I sat there, I contemplated where I was in life; and I realized it was not where I had intended to be. You see, when I was younger, I had my whole life “planned out.” But, nothing had gone the way I thought it should. I was not who I wanted to be, and not where I wanted to be. But, then I thought about who I was, as in, I thought of all the experiences I had had, and who I had become, and even though it wasn’t what I had wanted, it was what God had made me into. I started to become thankful for what God had done in my life – no, life hadn’t gone the way I thought it should have, but it had made me who I was, the person God had been shaping me to be. As I sat there, in that French class, at another teacher’s desk, I wrote out the basics for the first verse of this song:

Verse 1:
As I think back on my life, and the way that things have gone,
And I think about what could have been, or differently been done;
I wonder why things didn’t happen the way I thought they should,
But what I thought was meant for evil I see now was for my good.

CHORUS:
For if I never faced a rainstorm, I would never seek for shelter,
So if I never had a problem, Lord, I’d never seek You for an answer.
If eternal life is knowing You, then this small glimpse I now see
That all my life You’ve been there, with Your good hand guiding me.
And so I thank You, Lord, for loving me so
And now I thank You, Lord, for those times when You said “No.”
For although my life’s not gone the way that I had always planned,
Lord, now I see, You have been so good to me.

As time went on, God began working in my life in a powerful way, and the result was the next two verses. I think they pretty much speak for themselves :-)

Verse 2:

When I think about Your thoughts, how they’re so different from mine,And how the ways I think of for myself are so far below thine.
When I realize where You’ve brought me, through many trials and tears,
I see I never would have chosen the path that got me here.

Verse 3:
I think of all the things in life that threaten to despair.
And how Your Word says not to think it strange at trials beyond compare.
How it comforts me to read that You know just how I feel.
In my infirmity You understand and offer grace that’s real.

A verse in the Bible pretty much sums it all up: “A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” (Pr.16:9). By the way, if you want to hear a clip of the song, click here, and the song is called "The LORD is Good."

A Link and a Picture

Well, I suppose it’s time for a new post :-) Here’s a neat link to check out:

My mom’s homeschooling blog: (She writes for a Homeschool magazine called Homeschool Enrichment) http://homeschoolenrichment.com/members/blog/maribeth/


Also, a picture for your viewing pleasure of two of my most favorite little men:

Little Did They Know

I’ve been reading a biography on Oswald Chambers entitled, Abandoned to God. It is such an inspiring book. If Oswald could be used of God, so can I. Anyway, Oswald went through some tough times before he got married later in life. His wife, Gertrude (Biddy) Hobbs had left school early in life to help her mom, and also so her older brother and sister could keep their education going. But did Biddy fall into despair over her lot in life? No. She studied shorthand, and when she was able to work full-time she could take 250 words a minute. Most people can’t even talk that fast. But there was a purpose for this. Oswald and Biddy married in 1910. They had one daughter, Kathleen. Together, Chambers and his wife opened a Bible school, and Biddy took notes of Oswald’s lectures. You see, Oswald didn't write his sermons out - he only had outlines. Later, when they went to Egypt, since Chambers became a chaplain to the British troops, Biddy continued her “job” of taking notes of her husband’s lectures. In 1917, at the age of 43 and after only 7 years of marriage, Oswald Chambers died from complications after an emergency surgery for appendicitis. He left behind a wife and four year old daughter.

What did Biddy do at this time? Did she wallow in grief and self-pity? No. She got out her notes on her husband’s lectures that she had taken by short-hand, and wrote them out. My Utmost for His Highest was published in 1927, ten years after Oswald’s death.
It seems Oswald needed someone who would take notes of his lectures, who would be able to get them published after he died. Little did he know what God’s plans were.

That reminded me of my song Little Did They Know…After going through a confusing and trying time in my life, I turned to the Bible for answers. I found “answers” in three specific stories in the Bible. Of course, my understanding of these accounts wasn’t as elaborate as it is now, so I’ll give you the updated version :-) First, the account of the Israelites at the Red Sea came to mind. The Lord had just delivered them from bondage in Egypt, and now they were on their way to the Promised Land. Their deliverance had been so great! Such miracles, such mighty showing of the Almighty’s power. But now, where were they? They were stuck; and they had a huge problem. The Red Sea was in their way. They couldn’t get through it. What had God done? Why did He lead them here? On top of that, the Egyptians were coming after them. The Israelites were trapped. Had God done all those great things to get them out of Egypt only to destroy them a few days out, to give them back into the hand of their enemy? It didn’t make sense! Why did the Lord Who delivered them lead them to such a problem – the Red Sea? Didn’t He know it was absolutely impossible for them to overcome this obstacle? But little did they know that their great problem – the Red Sea – would become their greatest gift.
First, the Lord blocked the Egyptians. Then, through the night, when the Israelites couldn’t see what was going on, when they were supposed to be resting, the Lord was parting the waters of the great Sea. In the morning, there was a pathway of dry land reaching to the other side. And now, the impossible orders were given – go through the waters. What? Are you serious? I would have been scared to death. Go through the Sea? What if the water comes crashing down on me? What if the walls of water don’t stay up? I’ll drown for sure! But no, the command was clear. Go through the Red Sea. So the Israelites did. They walked through on dry ground. And they all made it to the other side. But then they looked behind them. The Egyptians were coming through too! But this pathway through the obstacle wasn’t for them. It wasn’t their pathway of faith. They should never have gone through it. But they did. And as they went, the Lord caused the wheels to fall off their chariots. They were stuck. Then, the unthinkable happened: the waters came crashing down. The Egyptians army was drowned, destroyed. The Jews’ oppressors would never be seen by the Israelites again. They were truly free. God had turned what had seemed to be their greatest problem, the Red Sea, into their greatest gift. After they had gone through those waters by faith, the Lord used those waters to deliver them.

Second, the story of Hannah and Samuel came to mind. Hannah wanted a son. She had a husband, and he loved her greatly, more than his other wife (ok, that was a problem). But she wasn’t satisfied. She saw her husband’s other wife having kids, and everyone knew that the reason Hannah didn’t have children was “her fault.” For years this went on, with her enemy provoking her and Hannah getting upset. Finally, in bitterness (yes, bitterness) of soul, she prayed to the Lord. She promised Him that if He gave her a son, she would give him back to the Lord. This was exactly what God had been waiting for. He was looking for a final judge for Israel, and this judge had to be raised in the ways of the Lord, in Shiloh. But priest Eli had forfeited this privilege by not restraining his sons, and instead of producing godly offspring, had produced two sons who turned out to be such wicked men. So God had to “import” someone. But this would have to be done willingly by someone else, a mother who would give her son to the Lord by giving him to this failure of a father and priest. The eyes of the Lord must have run to and fro throughout Israel to find someone on who’s behalf He could prove Himself strong. Hannah was chosen, and all those years of provocation and bitterness were bringing her to the point where she would ask God for a son, and in doing so, would promise to give him back to the Lord all his days. Therefore, as soon as Hannah surrendered her desire to the Lord, God heard her prayer. Hannah believed; the proof is that her countenance was no longer sad. And then she conceived, and bore a son. His name was Samuel, which means “God heard” or “asked of God.” Now, Hannah could have changed her mind after Samuel was born, and kept her son. She could have said, “You know, I’m having second thoughts. Eli didn’t do a very good job of raising his kids, so I think I’ll keep Samuel here. He’ll get better spiritual training with me.” But no, that’s not what Hannah did. She kept her promise, and gave him to the Lord, entrusting him to the Lord in the hands of Eli. Her trust was ultimately in God, not man. And on top of that, after she dropped off Samuel, she praised God! How in the world did she do that? But you know what? God honored her. He gave her 5 more kids! Little did Hannah know that her greatest problem – not having a son – would turn out to be her greatest gift. She would forever become the mother of Samuel, and would have a place in the never-ending Word of God. Oh, and she also got five more kids :-)

Finally, there was Jesus Christ. His disciples thought He was going to redeem Israel, that the time of restoration had come. They believed Jesus was the Messiah, but they misunderstood how He was going to deliver them. God’s view and plan of Christ’s life was completely different from theirs. They thought Christ had come to conquer; but He had come to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many. When they saw Him die, all their hopes and dreams were dashed, thrown to the ground and trampled on. This was completely against their plans. Christ wasn’t supposed to die! Had they been so blind? Had they so misunderstood? Wasn’t He the One they had been waiting for? For three days they were in despair. They ended up hiding in an upper room somewhere. But then Jesus appeared! He was alive! He had risen from the dead. The Holy Spirit came. They understood now the purpose of Christ. Their lives were transformed. They became completely different people. What they had thought was their greatest problem – Christ dying on the cross – became God’s greatest gift to the world: the chance of salvation to all who believe.

Every Christian will face something in their lives that will be similar to these great saints of old. Maybe it’s a “Red Sea,” or the lack of something you really want, or maybe your hopes and dreams have died. Look up – think like Joseph in Genesis, who knew amidst all his troubles, that God meant it all for good. In God is to be my trust and hope. I’ll find His promises in the Bible, and there are more stories that go along with this subject: Joseph (OT), Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Mary, Joseph (NT), Paul, Peter, John. I recently heard a preacher say, when bad circumstances come into your life, they will make you bitter or better, and the choice is yours. Ask God to make you better, not bitter, and remember: You have no idea what He has planned on the “other side.” BTW, you can hear a clip of it here

God led Israel out of Egypt’s bondage, right out to the Red Sea
But the Sea became a problem when they saw the enemy.
What had God done? Why did He leave them there? They faced such an obstacle.With the enemy behind and the water in front, escape seemed impossible.
But God had a plan and He parted the Sea; they walked through on dry land.God used the waters to then drown their enemies and wash their bodies up on the sand.

A woman named Hannah had a problem, no child she could bear.
No one seemed to understand or seem to care.
So she took her problem and went to God, and asked Him for a son,
She promised she’d give him back to Him and the battle then was won.
For this was what God had been waiting for, and Samuel soon was born.
Five children more did follow him, but Hannah’s firstborn was the Lord’s.

On a cross, Jesus died, bleeding for our sins.
His disciples didn’t realize He was delivering them.
Their hopes where gone, their dreams had died, their spirits sank so low.
Where was God in this injustice, as Messiah’s blood did flow?
But three days later they saw God’s purpose in an upper room.
After Christ arose triumphantly, leaving behind an empty tomb!

Christian in your life today are you facing your own Red Sea?Or like Hannah you’ve been praying in bitter agony?Like Christ’s disciples your hopes have died and your dreams lie on the ground?
Make the choice to lift your eyes to God, for in Him your hope is found.
You’ll find God’s promises in Your Bible if you search it far and wide.
You have no idea what God has planned on the other side!

How little do you know, that your greatest problems won’t bring your greatest gifts?
Only God can take your tragedies, and turn them out like this.
How little do you know, that when the path you travel
doesn’t go where you think it should;
God is waiting to take your circumstance, and turn it out for good.
How little do you know!

Vacation View

We're having a good time in Williamsburg. So many interesting things...yesterday we learned the history of how Williamsburg became a national historic spot through the generosity of John D. Rockefeller, Jr. He was raised in a Baptist church, but later turned to the inter-denominational side of things. He gave to religious causes, but it seems most of his money went towards philanthropic endeavors...not that there's anything inherently wrong with that - he really did a lot of good for the world - but I wonder how much real treasure he laid up in heaven, or what he could have done for missions and such. Anyway, I'm not him, and God gave him the responsibility of all that money, so I'll leave that between him and God :-) He seemed like a generous guy, with a good family life - loved his wife, had good kids.

We also learned about apprenticeship, and what was required of young men and women (usually by the age of 14) who became apprentices. Here's a sample of some rules they were required to follow:

What the Apprentice must do for the master:

- To serve faithfully

- To obey his lawful commands

- Not to haunt ordinaries, taverns, alehouses, or playhouses

- Not to allow damage to be done to his Master, nor see it done by others without giving notice to his Mastaer

- Not to waste his said Master's goods, nor lend them unlawfully to any

- Not to play at cards, dice, or any other unlawful game whereby his Master might have damage

After reading these rules, it made me think of how they could apply to Christians serving Christ...I think life would be a whole lot different if people were this faithful to the Lord as the apprentices were to their masters. It also reminds me of something I heard Sunday morning from the visiting preacher. He told the true story of a man he knows who was a soldier in WW2. During an intense battle, when so many were dying around him, this man decided he was as good as dead, and so instinct took over and he did what he was trained to do, not thinking that he would survive. But he did survive. Later, after becoming a Christian, and then a preacher, he applied this to the Christian life. So I got to thinking: As long as we are alive unto ourselves, we'll not do much good for Christ. Isn't there a saying about how a man isn't ready to live until he's ready to die? We must count ourselves - and everything about ourselves, our desires, affections, dreams - as dead, as not having a part in our thinking. Our only reason for life is Christ Who lives in us. After all, Jesus said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it." (Mark 8:35). That's a very true verse, and takes a real step of faith to lose your life for Christ's sake. After all, it sure doesn't make any earthly sense. But in heaven's reckoning, it makes perfect sense. One must believe, like Moses (Heb.11:26), that Christ will reward him in heaven someday for what he gives up in trust to Him here on earth, and that the reward will be worth it.

"Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Rom.6:11

I Do Have A Living God

To go along with my last post, I would just like to say – I truly have a living God, and He has made Himself very real this week. Within one week’s time He answered four specific prayers when I went to Him completely empty of myself, telling Him there was no way I was ever going to accomplish what I needed to do that day if He didn’t step in. And you know what? He came through! God is real, and His power is evident, even to those in the world. There is no natural explanation for the four answers to prayer I saw this week, except for this – I have a living God!
By the way, for family or friends reading this, we’re on vacation in VA. We’ll be heading over to the colonial town of Williamsburg tomorrow, and we’re looking forward to it. We were also able to attend Grace Baptist Church of Petersburg this morning, and I was able to meet up with Mr. Byron Foxx, a Christian music publisher from Bible Truth Music. I don’t know why this opportunity came up, but I’m looking forward to what the living God may have in store for the music He has given me…in His time, of course :-)
Although I’ve been learning things all week from the scriptures, here are some good verses to think on:
Ps. 27:14 – “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”
Pr.3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

I Have A Living God

Since one of the intentions of this blog was to post about my songs, I figured I’d get back to that purpose, starting with the song, I Have A Living God. (You can listen to a clip of it here).

The basis of this song goes back several years. One Sunday night, one of my six brothers gave a testimony to our church about what God was doing in his life. After graduating with his master's degree, he was offered a nice job with the government. After much prayer, seeking and fasting, he turned it down in order to pursue the Lord's leading in His life, which he believed was to forsake his nets and follow Christ (Mk.1:19). God's blessing on his life soon became evident as he was provided with a house and a wife :-) He was living proof that a man can forsake all for the gospel's sake, and God will take care of him. As he expounded on everything that had happened, he gave the reason for it all, saying, "I have a living God." That thought was embedded in my mind. Years later, as I was teaching in a public high school, I observed many things going on in the lives of my students - tragedies, distress, broken hearts. One day, as I was thinking of all the situations that unsaved teenagers go through, I realized that basically the same situations happen to all people, lost or saved. So as a Christian, what made the difference for me in my response to circumstances compared to the response of a person who doesn't know Christ? It is this: I have a living God, a God who is alive and works on my behalf for my good. I am not like the world. I have Someone who I can turn to when life throws its darts at me. And He is not just any God - He is, like Judah's King Hezekiah said, the living God (II Kings 19:4,16). And that makes all the difference.

"As I look around the world, and I see the people near,

And I face the same things they do, from just living on down here;

Will I respond the same way they do? Will I worry, stress, despair?

Have I forgotten that I'm different, that I can cast away my care?

I have a living God, I'm not like the world

I have Someone to turn to when life's darts at me are hurled.

I have a living God; He is not dead.

He is real and He's alive. I will trust in Him instead.

As I look back can I remember how He led me through each day.

Do I think He won't continue to guide me His way?

Will I wallow in despair, or will I claim the victory?

For King Jesus already won, and He gives that right to me!

I have a living God, I'm not like the world

I have Someone to turn to when life's darts at me are hurled.

I have a living God; He is not dead.

He is real and He's alive. I will trust in Him instead."

(This is my brother, his wife, and their first son at an international bazaar last year. The traditional Chinese dress was given to them by friends :-)

Anyone Want to Vote?

Hello blogworld! Can you do me a favor? My sister has entered one of her photos in a Reader's Digest photo contest. If you go on over to her blog, you can find the link to the voting site, and you can cast your vote for "Grandpop Love." It's anonymous, and you can give the photo whatever rating you want. So, go ahead and try it. Thanks!

My Buddy

Recently, my family and I have gone through some troubled waters. Although it's been rather difficult, there has been one little ray of physical sunshine through all of this (besides comfort from God): my nephew, Caleb. Recently I was thinking about this little guy, and all the joy he’s brought to our lives, and how he’s lightened up my own personal life just by his existence. I know his aunts, uncles and grandparents on the other side of the world could say the same thing about him :-) Without his presence, I think my own troubled waters would have been deeper. I know he’s only my nephew, but I really do love that little man. And then I got to thinking. Why do I love him? What has he ever done for me? He’s cost me money, he’s cost me time, and he’s cost me gas in my car (long story). He’s vomited on me, hit me in anger, kicked me, been mad at me, misunderstood me, thrown a toy on my head with all his might, and cried in my arms. He’s brought me no material profit, no worldly gain, and has never done anything substantial for me. And yet, I love him. I have sheltered him from cold, placed his needs above my own, fed him, changed him, and cuddled him, and yet my love for him continues to grow. When he looks at me with his beautiful blue eyes, it melts my heart. When he smiles at me, when he recognizes me, when he clings to me for protection (those uncles teasing him again ), it makes it all worth it. I have never hated him, never been mad at him, and never wished I didn’t know him. Why do I love him? I love him because he is my nephew (and he’s the cutest toddler in the world!). His acceptance is based on who his parents are (my brother and sister-in-law). He did nothing to earn my love – I had it for him before he was even born. It was given the moment I found out he existed inside of his mother. Nothing will ever change that.

Now, here’s where the spiritual part comes in. God is not my aunt or uncle – He’s my Father, and He told me to call Him that. He loved me before I was born, before I was even saved. Why? I did nothing for Him. I’ve rejected Him, ignored Him, slandered Him, hated Him, misunderstood Him, and spit in His face. I’ve gone my own way, done my own thing, and ruined His plans. And yet, He loves me. Why? I’ve cost Him His time, life, and resources. Yet He has sheltered me and put my needs above His own. I bring Him no profit, and I never could do anything that would repay Him for what He’s done for me. Yet He loved me before I was born, and continues to love me still. His love was there ready to be given to me because of Who Jesus is. My acceptance in God’s eyes is based on Jesus Christ. It’s not because of me. I’m only accepted in the Beloved. And perhaps, when I love God with that innocent child-like love that Caleb loves me with (and all his aunts and uncles and grandparents, even in Africa!), when I trust Him that what He does and allows in my life is allowed by a good God Who is love, it must bring my heavenly Father joy. When I rest in Him, perhaps that makes being a “Father” worth it all. As for Caleb and I, I don’t know what the future holds. But I know that little guy will always have a special place in my heart. I love him with all the love an aunt can have. And I think, in his little way, he loves me too. And I know that God’s love for me is so much greater than my love for my nephew. I’m thankful for my brother and sister-in-law for allowing me to be a part of my nephew's life, and for God’s little ray of sunshine to me – my buddy, Caleb :-)

If We Could See...

I recently came across this poem, and put it to music. You can listen to it here. I later found that it was written by a man named Norman J. Clayton, and that it was already a song. However, I've never heard the original tune, so if anyone happens to find it, and could let me know, I'd appreciate it.

If we could see beyond today as God can see;

If all the clouds should roll away, The shadows flee,

O'er present griefs we would not fret,

Each sorrow we would soon forget,

For many joys are waiting yet

For you and me.

If we could know beyond today, As God doth know,

Why dearest treasures pass away, And tears must flow;

And why the darkness leads to light,

Why dreary paths will soon grow bright;

Some day life's wrongs will be made right -

Faith tells me so.

"If we could see, if we could know," We often say,

But God in love a veil doth throw, Across our way,

We cannot see what lies before,

And so we cling to Him the more,

He leads us till this life is o'er;

Trust and obey.

A First Post

What does one write for their first post? The reason for the blog? That's a good place to start. First, I suppose I'm on a quest to not waste my life, and it seems that can only happen if a person makes much of God. Perhaps, to some degree, I can fulfil part of that purpose here. Second, I used to be nervous about having a public place on the internet. But then my sister got a blog, and I figured since I already have a website, it seems as though my personal information is already available. (BTW, that's the next thing I need to do - link to my website, at http://www.psalmstriss.com/). That is where I'll be uploading all my songs, both audio and sheet music. I've also applied to place my music on iTunes, but it doesn't seem to be going as smoothly as I hoped. It's seems like I've done everything I'm supposed to, but when I search for my music, it doesn't show up! :-) Anyway, to go along with my first reason for this blog, I would also like to use this space to tell the stories of my songs. I like to call them my songs of deliverance - "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah." Ps.32:7.

And for those who want to know more about me, or are wondering where the term psalmstriss came from, you can check out my "profile" here. Well, that's about all for now. Oh, I almost forgot. I am an aunt to the four most adorable children in the world! Maybe I can figure out how to upload pictures of them soon :-)