Treasures...

Mom and I went thrifting today and ended up at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It's mostly building supplies, paint, kitchen cabinets and the like - but, I found a treasure hidden in the framed artwork. It was a beautiful piece of counted cross stitch needlework, such a perfect design. I wondered to myself how anyone could give that away. As I looked around the store, I realized that many treasures had been given away, but to a place where people could find them and make a home for them again. Some one, instead of throwing away kitchen cabinets, had donated them - so they could be used by someone else. So many people today, in spite of everything they have - throw away - treasures. I was then reminded of these verses: Matthew 6:19-20. “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. What treasure have I laid up in heaven?

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,

    the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

    and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God

    and we are the people of his pasture,

    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

    as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,

where your ancestors tested me;

    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

For forty years I was angry with that generation;

    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,

    and they have not known my ways.’

So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Psalm 102

Hear my prayer, Lord;

    let my cry for help come to you.

Do not hide your face from me

    when I am in distress.

Turn your ear to me;

    when I call, answer me quickly.

For my days vanish like smoke;

    my bones burn like glowing embers.

My heart is blighted and withered like grass;

    I forget to eat my food.

In my distress I groan aloud

    and am reduced to skin and bones.

I am like a desert owl,

    like an owl among the ruins.

I lie awake; I have become

    like a bird alone on a roof.

All day long my enemies taunt me;

    those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

For I eat ashes as my food

    and mingle my drink with tears

because of your great wrath,

    for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.

My days are like the evening shadow;

    I wither away like grass.

But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;

    your renown endures through all generations.

You will arise and have compassion on Zion,

    for it is time to show favor to her;

    the appointed time has come.

For her stones are dear to your servants;

    her very dust moves them to pity.

The nations will fear the name of the Lord,

    all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

 For the Lord will rebuild Zion

    and appear in his glory.

He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;

    he will not despise their plea.

Let this be written for a future generation,

    that a people not yet created may praise the Lord:

“The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high,

    from heaven he viewed the earth,

 to hear the groans of the prisoners

    and release those condemned to death.”

So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion

    and his praise in Jerusalem

when the peoples and the kingdoms

    assemble to worship the Lord.

In the course of my life[b] he broke my strength;

    he cut short my days.

So I said: “Do not take me away, my God,

in the midst of my days;

    your years go on through all generations.

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,

    and the heavens are the work of your hands.

They will perish, but you remain;

    they will all wear out like a garment.

Like clothing you will change them

    and they will be discarded.

But you remain the same,

    and your years will never end.

The children of your servants will live in your presence;

    their descendants will be established before you.”

Wikipedia has the answer to....

Oh my goodness, I've been sewing today and pondering the invention of the sewing machine. So, I went to one of my favorite sites "Wikipedia" to see who invented it. What an article, you need to read it - no one person is actually given complete credit. The article does have some interesting videos that show how it makes the locked stitch. I confess, I was overwhelmed! But, in spite of everything going on today, I enjoyed taking an old embroidered dresser runner and creating a small pillow. I think I am going to figure out what to do with all the tatted doilies I have - so much work went into them. I am "upcycling"....how about you?

Psalm 104

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Lord my God, you are very great;

    you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment;

    he stretches out the heavens like a tent

and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.

He makes the clouds his chariot

    and rides on the wings of the wind.

He makes winds his messengers,

    flames of fire his servants.

He set the earth on its foundations;

    it can never be moved.

You covered it with the watery depths as with a garment;

    the waters stood above the mountains.

But at your rebuke the waters fled,

    at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;

they flowed over the mountains,

    they went down into the valleys,

    to the place you assigned for them.

You set a boundary they cannot cross;

    never again will they cover the earth.

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;

    it flows between the mountains.

They give water to all the beasts of the field;

    the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

The birds of the sky nest by the waters;

    they sing among the branches.

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;

    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

He makes grass grow for the cattle,

    and plants for people to cultivate—

    bringing forth food from the earth:

wine that gladdens human hearts,

    oil to make their faces shine,

    and bread that sustains their hearts.

The trees of the Lord are well watered,

    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.

There the birds make their nests;

    the stork has its home in the junipers.

The high mountains belong to the wild goats;

    the crags are a refuge for the hyrax.

He made the moon to mark the seasons,

    and the sun knows when to go down.

You bring darkness, it becomes night,

    and all the beasts of the forest prowl.

The lions roar for their prey

    and seek their food from God.

The sun rises, and they steal away;

    they return and lie down in their dens.

Then people go out to their work,

    to their labor until evening.

How many are your works, Lord!

    In wisdom you made them all;

    the earth is full of your creatures.

There is the sea, vast and spacious,

    teeming with creatures beyond number—

    living things both large and small.

There the ships go to and fro,

    and Leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

All creatures look to you

    to give them their food at the proper time.

When you give it to them,

    they gather it up;

when you open your hand,

    they are satisfied with good things.

When you hide your face,

    they are terrified;

when you take away their breath,

    they die and return to the dust.

When you send your Spirit,

    they are created,

    and you renew the face of the ground.

May the glory of the Lord endure forever;

    may the Lord rejoice in his works—

he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,

    who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the Lord all my life;

    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

May my meditation be pleasing to him,

    as I rejoice in the Lord.

But may sinners vanish from the earth

    and the wicked be no more.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

Praise the Lord.

Nice things people do for us...

I found a website that helps you create your handwriting into a font, this is Peter's Casual Roman. Enjoy!

Psalm 94

The Lord is a God who avenges.

    O God who avenges, shine forth.

Rise up, Judge of the earth;

    pay back to the proud what they deserve.

How long, Lord, will the wicked,

    how long will the wicked be jubilant?

They pour out arrogant words;

    all the evildoers are full of boasting.

They crush your people, Lord;

    they oppress your inheritance.

They slay the widow and the foreigner;

    they murder the fatherless.

They say, “The Lord does not see;

    the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;

    you fools, when will you become wise?

Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?

    Does he who formed the eye not see?

Does he who disciplines nations not punish?

    Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?

The Lord knows all human plans;

    he knows that they are futile.

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,

    the one you teach from your law;

you grant them relief from days of trouble,

    till a pit is dug for the wicked.

For the Lord will not reject his people;

    he will never forsake his inheritance.

Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,

    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked?

    Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

Unless the Lord had given me help,

    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”

    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

    your consolation brought me joy.

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—

    a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?

The wicked band together against the righteous

    and condemn the innocent to death.

But the Lord has become my fortress,

    and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

He will repay them for their sins

    and destroy them for their wickedness;

    the Lord our God will destroy them.

Places that seem like home...

I went back to the mall today and visited the store I worked in for over a year. I walked in and I was home, it felt the same. I even helped a customer out, because the sales associate was busy. I didn't stay too long, but it was good to visit. I live too far away to work there now - but, it's okay. I'm busy around the house, doing more for/with Peter and Mom. Cooking more, trying out new recipes, which I really enjoy. In spite of everything, it was good to feel at home - that means it was a good experience in my life. I'm glad for every good experience I have had! Now, I am "singing a new song."

Psalm 93

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;

    the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;

    indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

Your throne was established long ago;

    you are from all eternity.

The seas have lifted up, Lord,

    the seas have lifted up their voice;

    the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

    mightier than the breakers of the sea—

    the Lord on high is mighty.

Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;

    holiness adorns your house

    for endless days.

Psalm 96

Sing to the Lord a new song;

    sing to the Lord, all the earth.

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;

    proclaim his salvation day after day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

    his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

    he is to be feared above all gods.

For all the gods of the nations are idols,

    but the Lord made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty are before him;

    strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations,

    ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;

    bring an offering and come into his courts.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness;

    tremble before him, all the earth.

 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”

    The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;

    he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;

    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;

    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.

Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,

    he comes to judge the earth.

He will judge the world in righteousness

    and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Just that kind of day...

We have a contract on our condo. We are hoping all goes well to a closing on May 1st. It will be nice to be free to fully connect here in Franklin.

Today, I have been spending time on "drawers and boxes". Every once in a while I open a box hidden away somewhere and try to incorporate it into the household. Sometimes it works - sometimes not, but in spite of everything, I was able to recycle, put away, use for display - a whole box - while doing laundry and making lunch. Just one of those slow, deliberate days. A day that is good for remembering the grace of the Lord, humming an old hymn and rejoicing in the bright sunshine - even my koi are swimming around. The birds are happy too, so many songs at the same time, quite a symphony!

I pray you have enjoyed this day as well, may the favor of the Lord rest upon you.

Psalm 90

Lord, you have been our dwelling place

    throughout all generations.

Before the mountains were born

    or you brought forth the whole world,

    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn people back to dust,

    saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.”

A thousand years in your sight

    are like a day that has just gone by,

    or like a watch in the night.

Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—

    they are like the new grass of the morning:

In the morning it springs up new,

    but by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger

    and terrified by your indignation.

You have set our iniquities before you,

    our secret sins in the light of your presence.

All our days pass away under your wrath;

    we finish our years with a moan.

Our days may come to seventy years,

    or eighty, if our strength endures;

yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,

    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

If only we knew the power of your anger!

    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.

Teach us to number our days,

    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Relent, Lord! How long will it be?

    Have compassion on your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,

    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,

    for as many years as we have seen trouble.

May your deeds be shown to your servants,

    your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;

    establish the work of our hands for us—

    yes, establish the work of our hands.

Refreshment Sunday...

In our church, today is refreshment Sunday. I hope you are having a good day!

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

 He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

    his understanding has no limit.

The Lord sustains the humble

    but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;

    make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;

    he supplies the earth with rain

    and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle

    and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

the Lord delights in those who fear him,

    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;

    praise your God, Zion.

He strengthens the bars of your gates

    and blesses your people within you.

He grants peace to your borders

    and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

He sends his command to the earth;

    his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool

    and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

    Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;

    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

He has revealed his word to Jacob,

    his laws and decrees to Israel.

He has done this for no other nation;

    they do not know his laws.

Praise the Lord.

Peter wandering the woods...

This morning my Mom and I went to an antique store to pick up a couple of things I decided to buy. Peter said he was going to the woods. He loves poking around, watching the birds, naming the trees and looking for treasures. When he had his stroke a few years ago, he had to retire from his job, as arborist for Vanderbilt University. This was a man that was as home in a tree as on the ground. The weakness on his right side kept him from climbing - which he loved to do. He has recovered, somewhat. Peter still can't climb or carry heavy things; but he can walk - and walk he does. Before we moved he was walking at least three miles a day. Now, probably more.

He is happy, in spite of everything - leaving his job and limping a little through life, has been good for him. Peter now has time to read - he will talk to anyone about C.S. Lewis (I am rolling my eyes now)*, G.K. Chesterton and others. He likes to make walking sticks and has gifted many a man or woman with them - they are beautiful. He likes to grocery shop for me, go figure. 

He misses his banjo music, I think he sounds wonderful. But, when you are used to playing 25 miles a minute, 10 miles a minute won't cut it. Peter does continue to practice and I believe God will help him to fully recover. He gets tired, but who doesn't. He doesn't like to stand around, but who does.

He has brought home a deer antler, several rocks for the koi pond area and two days ago wheeled home a tree trunk, again, go figure. Peter is happy, he is loving his life and loving his Lord.

I hope you have a great day at church tomorrow! *I like Lewis, but sometimes Peter likes to run on

Psalm 89:1-19

 I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;

    with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known

    through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

    that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

    I have sworn to David my servant,

‘I will establish your line forever

    and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

The heavens praise your wonders, Lord,

    your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?

    Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;

    he is more awesome than all who surround him.

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty?

    You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the surging sea;

    when its waves mount up, you still them.

You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;

    with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;

    you founded the world and all that is in it.

You created the north and the south;

    Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.

Your arm is endowed with power;

    your hand is strong, your right hand exalted.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

    love and faithfulness go before you.

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

    who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

They rejoice in your name all day long;

    they celebrate your righteousness.

For you are their glory and strength,

    and by your favor you exalt our horn.

Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord,

    our king to the Holy One of Israel.

Once you spoke in a vision,

    to your faithful people you said:

“I have bestowed strength on a warrior;

    I have raised up a young man from among the people.