(No, I do not claim to know anything about French. I'm speaking... Frenchlish. It's like Spanglish, but it's French.)
Anywhoo, coming out of a long this-blogless stupor! The Amoretti Blog is having a giveaway you should all go enter.
In other news, life is getting a little weird on the homefront. Our relationship with our neighbors is seemingly falling apart (it was never great) but our little church is pulling together and going strong. We'll turn 7 in 7 days!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
My Crossroads
Well, I've finally come to that point I've been waiting and praying for... a chance to pick one road or the other, a chance to choose between two good things and be given the grace to choose the better, and chance to do something different, a chance to serve Him in a way I couldn't ever have come up with myself.
And I hope that does make you all dreadfully curious, but I'm very sorry-- I can't tell you what it is right now. I will very soon, as soon as I can be sure I'm not getting ahead of reality. But the way certain events have played out recently has helped me reach this conviction, this decision, and I'm excited! To see the goodness of God portrayed so vividly in my own life, to finally wake up and smell the Providence... ooh, it's incredible.
Reality has touched rather close to an old private joke of mine, and it's very strange.
I would truly appreciate it if you would pray that God would give me wisdom to make the choices that honor Him.
And I hope that does make you all dreadfully curious, but I'm very sorry-- I can't tell you what it is right now. I will very soon, as soon as I can be sure I'm not getting ahead of reality. But the way certain events have played out recently has helped me reach this conviction, this decision, and I'm excited! To see the goodness of God portrayed so vividly in my own life, to finally wake up and smell the Providence... ooh, it's incredible.
Reality has touched rather close to an old private joke of mine, and it's very strange.
I would truly appreciate it if you would pray that God would give me wisdom to make the choices that honor Him.
Monday, September 25, 2006
Psalm 37
This hit me today:
Psalm 37
1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Psalm 37
1Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
2For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
3Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
4Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
5Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
7Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
8Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.
10For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
11But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.
16A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
17For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous.
18The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.
19They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.
21The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
25I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.
26He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
27Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.
28For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.
29The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
30The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
31The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.
32The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him.
33The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
34Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
35I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.
36Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.
37Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
38But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.
39But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.
40And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
A Sabbath Prayer
When all I have left for you is nothing
Because I have given it all to everyone else
And tried to use it to make me happy
Since I forget I am only happy when I please you.
This is when I love you most
Not because I have anything left to love with
But because you break me
And give me a new body.
When I am part of that new body
Because I am not the whole body
We are stronger, fuller
But only when you dwell in us.
So today when you call us
Heal us
But you do more than heal
Oh Lord, you have fed us.
Because I have given it all to everyone else
And tried to use it to make me happy
Since I forget I am only happy when I please you.
This is when I love you most
Not because I have anything left to love with
But because you break me
And give me a new body.
When I am part of that new body
Because I am not the whole body
We are stronger, fuller
But only when you dwell in us.
So today when you call us
Heal us
But you do more than heal
Oh Lord, you have fed us.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
O People Blest
A favorite hymn:
O people blest, whose sons in youth,
In sturdy strength and noble truth,
Like plants in vigor spring;
Whose daughters fair, a queenly race,
Are like the cornerstones that grace
The palace of a king,
The palace of a king.
O people blest, when flock and field
Their rich, abundant increase yield,
And blessings multiply;
When plenty all thy children share,
And no invading foe is there,
And no distressful cry,
And no distressful cry.
O happy people, favored land,
To whom the Lord with liberal hand
Has thus His goodness shown;
Yea, surely is that people blest
By whom Jehovah is confessed
To be their God alone,
To be their God alone.
from CyberHymnal
O people blest, whose sons in youth,
In sturdy strength and noble truth,
Like plants in vigor spring;
Whose daughters fair, a queenly race,
Are like the cornerstones that grace
The palace of a king,
The palace of a king.
O people blest, when flock and field
Their rich, abundant increase yield,
And blessings multiply;
When plenty all thy children share,
And no invading foe is there,
And no distressful cry,
And no distressful cry.
O happy people, favored land,
To whom the Lord with liberal hand
Has thus His goodness shown;
Yea, surely is that people blest
By whom Jehovah is confessed
To be their God alone,
To be their God alone.
from CyberHymnal
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Blessings
As a Christian, I never have any good reason to be bored. If there is absolutely nothing else to do (and I'm not saying you should wait until then. Goodness!) you can always pray. I know sometimes there are particular things it's hard to focus on in prayers, and while perhaps we should work to overcome this, there's always something you can pray about. I must admit that when I am extremely happy and hyper, it can be difficult for me to successfully (although maybe I should not use that word in reference to prayer) pray for my suffering brothers and sisters. Might these be times when I am happy in my own sinful humanism, since true joy should bring us closer to Christ, and being closer to Christ should make you more like Christ, and being more like Christ should make you eager to pray for the persecuted? I think that's a yes.
But... we can't spend all our prayers just beseeching God for mercy, since that is not how we were taught to pray. We were taught to also give thanks!
[I imagine some of you are sitting there and asking yourselves, "But does Hannah do any Christian acts but give thanks?" Odd as it seems, you're right, this is a shortcoming of mine-- in my eagerness to avoid thinking about other more difficult things, I often fall back into lazy thankfulness. (and I certainly do more than my fair share of complaining and whining.) But sometimes it is what I "do best", or what I know others see in me. So I guess that's why I talk about it all the time. At least, I hope so.]
So when you have nothing to do, count your blessings (okay, don't count them, unless you like to count to insanely and infinitely high numbers you can't actually get to). There are so many things you can thank God for. Some are pretty obvious, and some are the subtle little ones no one bothers to think of. And it's okay to lump 'em all together sometimes, but it makes you so much more aware of God's goodness to you if you actually take a moment to look at all the things He's given you! Of course, you'll miss many, but that shouldn't stop you from looking!!
One of the very amazing things God has done for me is to give me a weekend in August when no one in my church or surrounding CRE churches is getting married, so friends from these churches can visit! It is spectacular to see so many of my friends getting married, and spectacular to see the (dare I say it) fellowship that will come from my birthday gathering. All these gifts!
But... we can't spend all our prayers just beseeching God for mercy, since that is not how we were taught to pray. We were taught to also give thanks!
[I imagine some of you are sitting there and asking yourselves, "But does Hannah do any Christian acts but give thanks?" Odd as it seems, you're right, this is a shortcoming of mine-- in my eagerness to avoid thinking about other more difficult things, I often fall back into lazy thankfulness. (and I certainly do more than my fair share of complaining and whining.) But sometimes it is what I "do best", or what I know others see in me. So I guess that's why I talk about it all the time. At least, I hope so.]
So when you have nothing to do, count your blessings (okay, don't count them, unless you like to count to insanely and infinitely high numbers you can't actually get to). There are so many things you can thank God for. Some are pretty obvious, and some are the subtle little ones no one bothers to think of. And it's okay to lump 'em all together sometimes, but it makes you so much more aware of God's goodness to you if you actually take a moment to look at all the things He's given you! Of course, you'll miss many, but that shouldn't stop you from looking!!
One of the very amazing things God has done for me is to give me a weekend in August when no one in my church or surrounding CRE churches is getting married, so friends from these churches can visit! It is spectacular to see so many of my friends getting married, and spectacular to see the (dare I say it) fellowship that will come from my birthday gathering. All these gifts!
Monday, July 03, 2006
It's good to be home
To begin with-- thank you to everyone for your prayers for a safe and blessed trip-- it was both those things!
And thank you to all of you who got back to me about hopsitality. You all had some very helpful advice-- Rebecca, I was able to put to practice what you said, today-- I baked a whole bunch of goodies for my pastor and his son (since the mother in that family is/will be gone for a while). Natalie-- you are absolutely right... you told me something I probably already knew deep down in my heart of lazy hearts! And JFC-- as soon as my dad gets home from a men's forum, I'll take up your suggestion and use it! I am pretty thick sometimes, I should have thought to do that again first. Sometimes I forget that my positions and skills in this family change and grow. Thank you all again!
I posted this on my xanga as well:
Hey everyone!
Today, I was thinking about how much God has blessed me my entire life... I can't remember a time when I didn't know that I was washed in Jesus' blood, and a member of His church-- and that's such a precious joy! Looking back over my life, all I can see is God's faithfulness. Well, I guess perhaps I can see some other things-- my foolishness, my doubting attitude-- but God has kept me close to Him. Through none of my own merit am I here today... if I do any great things, they are through Christ!
One thing I am particularly thankful for is my godly church-- Christ the Redeemer. We have been given a special closeness, and it is amazing to belong to this faithful branch of the Body-- this family of mine! It is particularly wonderful to have so many godly young people as friends... I know that some long-distance friends of mine don't share this-- they have no "local" Christian friends their age-- so I treasure this gift especially. And I rejoice that God has opened my eyes and changed my position to be able to consider friends 5,6,7,8,9 years older than me (and 1,2,3,4,5 years younger) close to my age!
On my Xanga there is a picture of some of us... I can't get this picture to work on blogger.
This song has recently... touched my heart. I know what some of you are thinking, but at present I cannot come up with better words for what I have felt. :-)
Joy in the Journey (by Michael Card)
------------------
There is a joy in the journey,
there's a light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life,
and freedom for those who obey.
And all those who seek it shall find it,
a pardon for all who believe.
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind
To all who've been born of the Spirit,
and who share incarnation with Him;
who belong to eternity, stranded in time,
and weary of struggling with sin.
Forget not the hope that's before you,
and never stop counting the cost.
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost?
There is a joy in the journey,
there's a light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life,
and freedom for those who obey.
And freedom for those who obey.
And thank you to all of you who got back to me about hopsitality. You all had some very helpful advice-- Rebecca, I was able to put to practice what you said, today-- I baked a whole bunch of goodies for my pastor and his son (since the mother in that family is/will be gone for a while). Natalie-- you are absolutely right... you told me something I probably already knew deep down in my heart of lazy hearts! And JFC-- as soon as my dad gets home from a men's forum, I'll take up your suggestion and use it! I am pretty thick sometimes, I should have thought to do that again first. Sometimes I forget that my positions and skills in this family change and grow. Thank you all again!
I posted this on my xanga as well:
Hey everyone!
Today, I was thinking about how much God has blessed me my entire life... I can't remember a time when I didn't know that I was washed in Jesus' blood, and a member of His church-- and that's such a precious joy! Looking back over my life, all I can see is God's faithfulness. Well, I guess perhaps I can see some other things-- my foolishness, my doubting attitude-- but God has kept me close to Him. Through none of my own merit am I here today... if I do any great things, they are through Christ!
One thing I am particularly thankful for is my godly church-- Christ the Redeemer. We have been given a special closeness, and it is amazing to belong to this faithful branch of the Body-- this family of mine! It is particularly wonderful to have so many godly young people as friends... I know that some long-distance friends of mine don't share this-- they have no "local" Christian friends their age-- so I treasure this gift especially. And I rejoice that God has opened my eyes and changed my position to be able to consider friends 5,6,7,8,9 years older than me (and 1,2,3,4,5 years younger) close to my age!
On my Xanga there is a picture of some of us... I can't get this picture to work on blogger.
This song has recently... touched my heart. I know what some of you are thinking, but at present I cannot come up with better words for what I have felt. :-)
Joy in the Journey (by Michael Card)
------------------
There is a joy in the journey,
there's a light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life,
and freedom for those who obey.
And all those who seek it shall find it,
a pardon for all who believe.
Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind
To all who've been born of the Spirit,
and who share incarnation with Him;
who belong to eternity, stranded in time,
and weary of struggling with sin.
Forget not the hope that's before you,
and never stop counting the cost.
Remember the hopelessness when you were lost?
There is a joy in the journey,
there's a light we can love on the way.
There is a wonder and wildness to life,
and freedom for those who obey.
And freedom for those who obey.
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