Shine, Jesus, Shine

Shine, Jesus, shine.

Fill this land with the Father’s glory.

Blaze, Spirit, blaze.

Set our hearts on fire.

Flow, River, flow.

Flood the nations with grace and mercy.

Send forth Your word, Lord

And let there be light.

---

Lord, the light of Your love is shining,

In the midst of the darkness shining,

Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us,

Set us free by the truth You now bring us,

Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine.

Fill this land with the Father’s glory.

Blaze, Spirit, blaze.

Set our hearts on fire.

Flow, River, flow.

Flood the nations with grace and mercy.

Send forth Your word, Lord

And let there be light.

---

Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,

From the shadows into Your radiance,

By the blood I may enter Your brightness,

Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,

Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine, Jesus, shine.

Fill this land with the Father’s glory.

Blaze, Spirit, blaze.

Set our hearts on fire.

Flow, River, flow.

Flood the nations with grace and mercy.

Send forth Your word, Lord

And let there be light.

---

As we gaze on Your kingly brightness.

So our faces display Your likeness.

Ever changing from glory to glory,

Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.

Shine on me. Shine on me.
Shine, Jesus, Shine.

Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit, blaze

Set our hearts on fire

Flow, River, flow

Flood the nations with grace and mercy

Send forth Your word, Lord

And let there be light.

Song: 'Shine, Jesus, Shine'

Words and music by Graham Kendrick

Prayer For Safe Travel

I have a prayer request from my heart to yours today. Our son, Mr. J., boarded a plane headed for Amsterdam just over an hour ago. He and several other men are part of a district leadership team from the denomination in which he is ordained. They will arrive in Amsterdam after many hours of travel ready to meet with missionaries and Christian workers there to see what is happening in ministries in that part of Europe.

Some time during the next week they will travel to Brussels, Belgium where they will also spend time with missionaries in that area and be part of the ministries there. One purpose for this trip is to observe how God is using those ministries to reach the people of Europe with the love and grace of God. And they certainly will be an encouragement to those they visit.Before heading home in about a week they will spend time in Leiden, Netherlands with missionaries and ministries there and they will participate in some creative ways God is using His children in that part of our world.Their schedule is full but they hope there will be a bit of time to see some of the area where they travel. If not, they don't mind - they know they will be blessed by the beauty of the Kingdom of God on the other side of the world. I know they will return home with changed hearts. They will certainly have a new perspective on life and I know they will have an increased burden to pray for our brothers and sisters in other lands. And, perhaps, there will be new ways to assist the ministries so far from home.

We are thrilled and in awe that our son was chosen to be part of this team. The team is headed up by the District Superintendent and three other district leaders in Oregon. A number of other ministers make up the team that was chosen for this task. Would you pray with me for their safe travel and the mission they have undertaken? Even though we are not travelling with them we are still part of the team - and you can be, too. If we pray for them and the task before them we play an important role. They need us to hold them in our hearts and in our prayers as they go. And would you pray for the dear ones they leave at home? From my heart to yours - thank you. And may you be blessed as you pray for them and for the responsibility God has given them 'for such a time as this'.

Scripture quote from Esther 4:14

Photos from allposter.com

Hide and Seek

Have you ever had something in your home that had to be there and you didn't like the way it looked but you couldn't make it go away? I think most of us deal with things like that and we live with it - until one day a brilliant idea 'pops' into our brain and we know exactly what to do to disguise or hide it! Well, I have had one of those 'things' for way too long. I've thought about it, experimented with some possibility and I finally found exactly what I wanted to make my not-so-pretty necessity look like it belongs in my living room. I've been looking at this sub-woofer speaker - part of the surround sound system - for w-a-y too long!A day or two ago I suddenly had a brilliant idea. I tried it and I love it! I knew I wanted to cover it up but I also didn't want to affect the sound it produces. It had to be something fairly thin and it had to be something that sound could travel through. If you recall my recent rummaging and thrifting finds you may recognize one of my pretties as the answer to the dilemma. The thin, rather tired linen piece with the gorgeous hand-crocheted lace was perfect for the speaker. It blends in with the color of the speaker and the color of our new entertainment center. White and antique white. The beauty of the old linen adds exactly the right touch to the sterile look of technology. Adding a basket of silk plants gave the look I wanted. Just right. Perfect! I love it!!When you come down the hall from the bedrooms you see this view now. It's just right. What a change.I'm always amazed how something so simple can make such a big difference. And how something found while rummaging and thrifting can bring such pleasure and make the whole room come to life. It took a while to find the solution to my problem. But it was worth waiting for! It was a game of Hide and Seek. No, it was really Seek (the solution) and Hide (the problem). An old game played in a new way!

You Are God's Idea

Today we celebrate two people who were God's very special ideas.

Our dear son came into this world, into our hearts and into our arms thirty-five years ago today. We have never been the same since that day. Mr. J., you were an answer to prayer and a miracle to our hearts. We love you very much and are more proud of you than our words can express, dear son.

Eleven years ago today God blessed us again when our first grandchild was born. Miss A., you are a precious young lady and we can't imagine life without you. You bring joy to our hearts and smiles to our faces. We love you - you are so special and we will treasure you always.

Celebrate today, dear ones. It's your special day! There's no one like you - you were custom designed by God above. He planned and packed you on purpose for His purpose. You were set apart for special work that God knew only you could do. When I read this little devotion I thought it was written just for you two today. You were both created by God - His design.

God planned and packed you on purpose for His purpose.

Heaven's custom design.

At a moment before moments existed, the sovereign Star Maker resolved, 'I will make ________.' Your name goes in the blank. Then He continued with, 'And I will make him/her _______, _______, and _______ and ________ and _______.' Fill those blanks with your characteristics. Insightful. Clever. Detail oriented. Restless. And since you are God's idea, you are a good idea. What God said about Jeremiah, He said about you: 'Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work.'

Set apart for a special work.

From: 'Cure for the Common Life'
Written by Max Lucado

Photo: 'Hope - Baby Hands and Feet'
Photographed by Laura Monahan
From allposter.com

Rummaging and Thrifting

Yesterday seemed like the beginning of rummaging and thrifting season. Early in the day I picked up my dear little mother and we drove to a neighboring community to get my cousin, Mrs. C. Our first stop was at a big church rummage sale where I bought a few household odds and ends and some wonderful old linens. I couldn't resist this delicate piece of fabric with a sweet embroidered edge and beading for ribbon at the top.

I found two little blue heart buttons still on the card, a 'circle' of hand-crocheted trim. . .And a thin, old dresser scarf with beautiful crocheted edging on both ends.Not long after we left the rummage sale we drove by a flea market! I made a quick turn-around and pulled into the parking lot. There were a lot of things I easily could have brought home with me but I had to be strong and not buy it all. The moment I saw this cup and saucer I knew it was mine. The birds on the cup and on the saucer are similar to the Western Meadowlark, the State Bird of Oregon. And they are yellow!Just as I turned to walk toward the car I spied this cute little shoe. And I knew it 'had my name written all over it'! The yellow background with sweet blue and pink butterflies captured my heart. It had to come home with me. The price was right and soon it was safely tucked in my bag.Our day continued with stops at two nice thrift stores and lunch. I bought quite a few books, a nice wall clock, and a big basket. I'll read the books and then pass them on to my dear mother and my cousin. I have plans to use the basket in my Christmas decorations - and I'm certain I'll come up with other things between now and then. The clock will be on the wall near the hot tub so we can enjoy quick moments of relaxation in the water when we don't have the time to leisurely forget the rest of the world.

The weather was perfect! Blue skies and sun. We had a great time. The best part was just being together - the three of us, away from home and loving every second of our day. More than once one of us would say, 'Oh, this is just what I needed today!' As we travelled home we dreamed and planned up more things to do together. And things to include my sweetheart and Mrs. C's hubby. We planned thrifting and garaging and rummaging days for the three of us girls and excursions for all five of us. We have places to go and things to buy. We're going to be busy. If you come by before we leave, I'm sure there will be room in the car. We can squeeze you in. Think of the fun we could have!

An Expo Experience

I shared here that I was going away for the weekend to spend with a dear friend and to attend the annual Sewing Expo near Seattle. What a weekend! It was filled with things to see, things to learn, things to buy and, best of all, time with a friend who is dear to my heart. Unfortunately, this year no photography was allowed - and it was strictly enforced. I'm not sure why but I suspect it was to protect copyright laws and to prevent vendors' ideas and projects from being copied and sold by some not-so-innocent photographers. As I walked through the rows and rows of vendor booths with wonderful and, at times, nearly magical things to see I felt so bad. I felt bad that I couldn't share them with you - bad that you couldn't see them. There were booths of buttons and laces and ribbons, booths of beyond-your-fondest-imagination needlework, booths of fabrics to delight your heart, booths of sewing machines of all kinds and tools to help you craft the finest possible creations.

I took several classes and there were many more I would have enjoyed. I learned a lot of wonderful tips and tricks and got answers to questions that needed an answer. The teachers were among the 'who's-who' of the sewing world. My favorite was taught by Nancy Zieman of 'Sewing With Nancy'. She is a great teacher and she has the best sense of humor. I loved it when she dropped something on the floor behind her podium. She laughed and said if she were taping her weekly television program she would have said "Cut", the camera would have stopped, she would have picked it up and they would have gone on. Instead, she had to lean down and pick it up while we all sat and watched. In the future I will definitely sign up for more of her classes. And there were others whose wit and knowledge made class time pass far too quickly. And I learned a lot from people around me. Some of the best tips and tricks were overheard while standing in line waiting to get into class. And quiet conversations over lunch with a stranger who asked to share the table with me were among the special moments.

What did I buy? Not as much I would liked to bring home! I gave myself a budget and I took cash to back up my budget. I bought several patterns and a book, some sewing 'tools' and gadgets and odds and ends of little things I couldn't leave behind. My wish list still has quite a few things on it and it didn't even include any big items. I didn't buy any fabric this year. I thought about it. Long and hard. And I decided there was nothing I couldn't live without. And I really need to finish some projects and use fabrics from my stash before I add more. I avoided the large, open areas where machines of all kinds were being demonstrated. I knew if I even watched them at work I would want one. I purposely didn't go near the dealer who handles my machine, the machine I haven't begun to really learn. I knew I would be told that my machine couldn't possibly do what the new ones can do and I didn't want to hear it! I wanted to come home and love my machine and take up the challenge to learn everything it could possibly do. The bottom line? I wanted to be contented with what I have!

The trip north was fantastic! The weather was perfect - a crystal clear day with blue skies, mountains standing majestically nearby and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest at its finest. And the best part of all was time with my sweet friend. Time in her home where I was warmly welcomed and cared for. Even her dear little dog was happy to see me. I can't wait to visit her again. And I'm looking forward to returning to Expo next year. Next time I'll have a wish list longer than my arm! Guess I'd better start saving my pennies and dimes now so I'll be ready.

Photos compliments of allposter.com

Winner

Lord

How did it happen

That You chose me

To belong to You?

Whatever the reason

One thing is certain:

I won.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. John 15:16

From "The One Year Book of Bible Promises with writings from Ruth Harms Calkin"
Photo by Nancy Garbarini, compliments of Allposter.com