Monday, July 28, 2008

My New Career.....Midwife


If you have ever taken the time to look at the blogs I link on the right hand sidebar, you will notice that most of them are written by Christian agrarians. Believers who are making their living off their own land, using their own hands. When I first started writing in this little corner of blogdom, I hadn't stumbled upon these blogs just yet. But I have been, for a long time, a suburban gal who wished she lived in the country or a little town.

I don't even remember how I first found these blogs, but one led to another which led to another. I now regularly peruse Scott's blog in upstate New York, I find others through his links, I read Northern Farmer whose writing reminds me so much of our cattle rancher friend here in Colorado, I read what the faithful saints are doing in Missouri, others in central Texas, a family in Canada, a family in Idaho, and a mama in Tennessee with her three boys.

It was the family in Tennessee who asked for ideas for a new name for their farm. I submitted an idea, and with some tweaking, they used it! Me, who has never given birth, has now helped birth a new name for an entire farm! Now, how cool is that?! My grandfather would have been proud!

(I stole this picture from the Tennessee Farmgirl blog. It's of her three boys after a hard day's work.)

Sunday, July 27, 2008

"My God, How Wonderful Thou Art"


My God, how wonderful thou art,
thy majesty how bright,
how beautiful thy mercy seat,
in depths of burning light!

How dread are thine eternal years,
O everlasting Lord,
by prostrate spirits day and night
incessantly adored!

How wonderful, how beautiful,
the sight of thee must be,
thine endless wisdom, boundless power,
and aweful purity!

O how I fear thee, living God,
with deepest, tenderest fears,
and worship thee with trembling hope
and penitential tears!

Yet I may love thee too, O Lord,
almighty as thou art,
for thou hast stooped to ask of me
the love of my poor heart.

No earthly father loves like thee,
no mother, e'er so mild,
bears and forbears as thou hast done
with me, thy sinful child.

Father of Jesus, love's reward,
what rapture it will be,
prostrate before thy throne to lie,
and gaze and gaze on thee!


These words were written by Frederick Faber (1814-1863), British theologian, preacher, and hymnwriter. Having converted to Catholicism as an adult, and being a strong supporter of congregational singing, he wrote hymns that had lyrics which would be suitable to Catholics. Many of his hymns are sung in Protestant churches as well (sometimes with minor changes to the lyrics).


Go here to see a video of a New Zealand choir singing this hymn. (Remember to stop the blog music first...scroll down on the right to find the pause button.)

Thursday, July 24, 2008

You Are With Me


Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

I have a friend who volunteers as a victim's advocate with the Sheriff's Department. What the job usually entails is helping people who've unexpectedly lost a loved one. She's been musing lately that when you strip away the veneer and the things that entangle us in this world, what we really have left is: learning what to do with death.

A quick pass through the girls' clothing area in Target last week illustrated this perfectly. There were colorful girls' t-shirts hanging on the racks, but on the front of the shirts were skulls outlined in sequins. One design even had a cute bow on the skeleton's head. (Perfect back-to-school wear for your first grader, don't you think?)

Many people don't want to contemplate death because it's something to be feared and avoided. Instead, they flirt with it. They pierce their bodies in all sorts of strange ways, participate in dangerous extreme sports, and wear clothing with "cute" skulls. They want to be in control of this strange phenomenon called death. If they downgrade it, ignore it, or gussy it up, perhaps it won't be such a scary thing.

I know of three people who have died in the past week and they leave behind grieving loved ones. But all three people have joined their Heavenly Father, and that's something to rejoice in!

(Golden Gate Canyon State Park, Colorado, July 2008, taken by my husband)

Sunday, July 20, 2008

"For the Fruit of All Creation"


I got my "hymn fix" again today from Sing For Joy. I just discovered that you can listen to the entire broadcast online. (If you choose to listen, don't forget to silence my blog music which has an icon on the right if you scroll down a bit.)

Some of today's scripture readings had an agrarian theme to them, so many of the chosen hymns followed suit. It seems quite appropriate, given that farmers are working long hours tending and then gathering in crops as they mature.

For the Fruit of All Creation

For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
gifts bestowed on every nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping,
thanks be to God.

In the just reward of labor,
God's will is done.
In the help we give our neighbor,
God's will is done.
In our worldwide task of caring
for the hungry and despairing,
in the harvests we are sharing,
God's will is done.

For the harvests of the Spirit,
thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit,
thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
for the truths that still confound us,
most of all that love has found us,
thanks be to God.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Stand Firm


"If you do not stand firm in your faith,
you will not stand at all."


Isaiah 7: 9b NIV


My husband snapped this shot a few days ago while he and the boys were hiking from their campsite to a fishing hole. It makes me wonder about the people who originally built this structure. Did they finish it? Did they ever live in it? Why did they leave the area? Did they go on to build something more permanent in another location?

I recall from my reading of the Laura Ingalls Wilder books that log cabins were always planned to be temporary structures until something more suitable could be built. Has something that was supposed to be temporary in my life, instead lulled me into a stupor of satisfaction? The fact that I'm not at ease about many things should prove to me that this is not the case.

As I've been reading Michael Bunker's series on Off-Grid Living, this photo and verse were quite sobering. His writing is pretty radical for this suburban gal. I want to be realistic, but I don't want to use the excuse that my husband and I are too old to make a wholesale change in our lives. I pray that we come to uncover how to be faithful and pleasing to God.

(An aside: In the original Hebrew, this verse is a play on words, which makes for difficult translation. Some commentators say that the NIV reflects the intent of the pun quite effectively.)

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Happy Birthday!



We have so much for which to be thankful. Our son turned 14 today. He's such a good kid and brings us much joy. It's hard to believe he's growing up so fast. This summer I am doing research on colleges so I can plan a solid curriculum for his high school years. (Exciting and daunting all rolled into one!) And it just doesn't seem that long ago that we brought him home from the airport.

Here he is doing his favorite thing (fishing). My husband took our son and four other boys up camping (his second favorite thing) two days ago as our son's big present. The boys ranged in age from 10 to 16, all from Scouts and/or church. They got along splendidly and had a ball.

God bless you, Son. May you walk with Him all the days of your life. And may the dear woman who gave you life, be comforted by the Lord to somehow know that you are loved and cared for and thriving.


Sunday, July 06, 2008

"Lord of All Hopefulness"


Sing for Joy, always posts the four scripture readings for each Sunday, and includes appropriate music to go along with the texts. One of today's suggested hymns is "Lord of All Hopefulness." The melody is the same one used for "Be Thou My Vision." The lyrics were written by Jan Struther (1901-1953), the British author who penned the original Mrs. Miniver story. (Struther was actually the pen name for Joyce Anstruther, later Joyce Maxtone Graham and finally Joyce Placzek. Unfortunately, the lyrics are still under copyright, so I can't print them here.)

Here's a nice version sung by a boys' choir in England. Be sure to first silence the blog music on the right.

(photo is of choristers from Winchester Cathedral)

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Independence Day Eve



I was taking my son's sheets off the clothesline. The sun's unmistakable fragrance still clinging to them, although the source of that familiar scent had just recently disappeared behind the mountains.

It was then that I spied the large bird out of the corner of my eye. 'Probably a goose,' I thought at first, not giving it much thought. And yet, it was alone. My mind perked up a bit. 'Perhaps a blue heron,' I decided as I removed the pillowcases. I searched for those tell-tale impossibly long legs trailing behind, but there were none.

Just as the creature glided noiselessly overhead, I realized I had almost missed its signature white feathered head and tail. I was being blessed in my chores by a bald eagle! God, in His infinite mercy and majesty, had reminded me of His truth while I humbly removed the clothespins and wash from my line.

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.


Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

More Like Gomer









As I was reading Hosea last week, I was struck with his obedience to God. Infidelity is obviously life-shattering to the person who is sinned against, and God asked Hosea to practice his obedience in some very difficult ways.

But as amazing as Hosea's obedience and forgiveness are, what's more amazing is that God wanted to redeem His people, even though there had been generation upon generation of unfaithfulness towards Him.

It's so easy for us to look down our noses at Gomer and hautily think that we would never flaunt our sin in the way she did. And yet, I don't think God made sure this story was included in the Bible just so we would marvel at Hosea, but so we would see God's love and forgiveness towards Israel. And, of course, ultimately towards ourselves. We like to think we're like Hosea, when we are no better than Gomer. Yet, God in His infinite mercy has chosen to forgive us and redeem us.

Let us rejoice and praise Him!