"The King of Love"

We were joined in church today by three dear friends from our old church. One of the hymns today was this one. I love the melody, an ancient Irish tune. (I seem to be a sucker for anything from the Emerald Isle.)

Thank you, Lord, for the little foretaste of heaven, where we will sing praises to you with our brothers and sisters in the faith.


"The King of Love My Shepherd Is"

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

"What Is That To You?"

Sunday's Gospel reading was from John 21; where Jesus appears to His disciples while they are fishing and later reinstates Simon Peter. Simon Peter, seeing John, asks, "Lord, what about him?"

Jesus answers, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow Me."

These words of Jesus became very real to me many years ago when we struggled with infertility. I saw friends and family all around us getting pregnant, while we weren't. I often asked God why we couldn't we get pregnant, too. When I read these words in John 21, I could picture Him saying, "If I want her to have 10 children, what is that to you? You must follow Me."

I often forget that the same sentiment applies to me today. Sometimes I wish I had more stylish clothes, a newer car, a nicer house, vacations, fewer bills, family members who were believers, etc.

It doesn't matter what things I wish I had or what trials I am experiencing.

It all boils down to this: I am to follow my Lord, Jesus Christ.

Alleluia, Sing to Jesus

This was our recessional hymn today. It has deep spiritual truths which are found in so many of the old hymns. Probably most remembered for writing the words to "What Child Is This?" William C. Dix penned the words to this hymn in 1867.








"Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!"
Alleluia! sing to Jesus! His the scepter, His the throne.
Alleluia! His the triumph, His the victory alone.
Hark! the songs of peaceful Zion thunder like a mighty flood.
Jesus out of every nation has redeemed us by His blood.

Alleluia! not as orphans are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! He is near us, faith believes, nor questions how;
Though the cloud from sight received Him when the forty days were o’er
Shall our hearts forget His promise, “I am with you evermore”?

Alleluia! bread of angels, Thou on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful flee to Thee from day to day:
Intercessor, Friend of sinners, Earth’s Redeemer, plead for me,
Where the songs of all the sinless sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal, Thee the Lord of lords we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary, Earth Thy footstool, Heav’n Thy throne:
Thou within the veil hast entered, robed in flesh our great High Priest;
Thou on earth both priest and victim in the Eucharistic feast.

A Small Victory in the Fight for Life

Thank you to U.S. Supreme Court Justices Kennedy, Roberts, Alito, Thomas, and Scalia who voted with the majority to uphold the current ban on partial birth abortions. Praise God!

Shame on Eve Gartner of Planned Parenthood who said, "This ruling flies in the face of 30 years of Supreme Court precedent and the best interest of women's health and safety." Of course, she fails to admit that the best interest and safety of females doesn't count if they're still in the womb.

Ruby Red Glass

At the risk of sounding like I'm promoting the famous expensive coffee shop you find all over America...

I hadn't been in one for about a year, but I found myself there on Sunday afternoon while waiting for my son to finish a Scout activity. I perchanced to read this very interesting quote on my tea cup:

"I don't know if something can be too colorful. Color is one of the great properties of glass and is more intense in glass than any other material. Imagine entering Chartres Cathedral and looking up at the rose window: you can see a one-inch square of ruby red glass from 300 feet away."

Dale Chihuly
Artist and glassblower

When you are inside a church, the intensity of the sun illumines those small pieces of colored glass in the windows, just as the Son illumines the Father for us.

Conversely, when it is dark outside and you are looking INTO a church that is lit up, you can see the colorful stained glass windows from your vantage point. We need to be like that beautiful window. Lit from within by our Lord, and laying open the truth to those in darkness.

(photo of the rose window at Chartres Cathedral, France)

1 + 1 + 1 = ???

A family member stopped by today and handed me three articles from the newspaper. Judging from past conversations, I think I know the not so subtle implications.

It wasn't quite what I had in mind during my prayers this week for some encouragement.


#1 Protective Parents Not Preparing Kids

#2 To Prof, Saxon Math Doesn't Add Up to Much
[We use Saxon Math.]

#3 Virtual Debate: Online Education, Funding in Lawmakers' Spotlight
[We don't use any public school based online education.]

"Come Ye Faithful"

My husband and I played in a small chamber group at this church this morning. Having never been to an Orthodox church before, it was an interesting place to spend Easter.

We were there to play the Mozart Sparrow Mass and other music, but I enjoyed being able to join in with singing this wonderful hymn.

Below are the first two verses of the hymn. Go here for all five verses. [Note: The melody we sang today was the first of the alternate melodies listed, the Ave Virgo Virginum (1544) which is much better than the Sullivan (1872) melody the website uses.]



"Come Ye Faithful"

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth Israel into joy from sadness;
Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.

’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.

Good Friday

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, "Woman, behold thy son!" Then saith He to the disciple, "Behold thy mother!" And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, "I thirst."

Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar; and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
John 19: 25-30 (KJV)

He Fills the Void

I am drained.



This evening I held my daughter, rocking her in my lap, while she cried, "I want my mommy."



She didn't mean me.



She meant her birth mother. Lately, she feels abandoned by her birth mother. Confused over why this young woman would place her for adoption.

I opened my Bible to show my daughter all the verses I've highlighted that apply to adoption. They are all over the place. God constantly tells us, when He adopts us into His family, we are full heirs. He fills the void in our hearts.

Dear Lord, help my daughter see the truth that we love her totally. That You love her totally. Heal her hurts. Fill the void in her soul. Give me strength. Give me patience. Show her your presence.

Just for fun..My New Title

Thanks to Lanier at laniersbooks, I now have a new title, and I'll be expecting you to use it from now on!

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Exalted Highness Duchess Deborah the Wholesome of Peevish St Victor Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

The honorable wife of:

Venerable Lord Steven the Charitable of Chalmondley St Peasoup

The much adored mother of:

Very Sir Lord Brendan the Ceaseless of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Milady the Most Honourable Anna the Paragon of Bampton Underhoop