Joyful Spring

 

Words

"The saddest words 

are those that are left unspoken."

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"The Opposite of Love is Indifference."

 Psalm 11

In the Lord I take refuge;


How can you say to my soul, 

“Flee as a bird to your mountain;

For, behold, the wicked bend the bow,


They make ready their arrow upon the string


To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.

If the foundations are destroyed,


What can the righteous do?”

 

The Lord is in His holy temple; 

the Lord’s throne is in heaven;


His eyes behold, 

His eyelids test the sons of men.

The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked,


And the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Upon the wicked He will rain snares;


Fire and brimstone and burning wind 

will be the portion of their cup.

For the Lord is righteous, 

He loves righteousness;


The upright will behold His face.

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Good Old Books

~Thank you to Patriot Post

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A Little Levity

 

When I survey the Wondrous Cross

 When I survey the wondrous cross


On which the Prince of glory died,


My richest gain I count but loss,


And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,


Save in the death of Christ my God!


All the vain things that charm me most,


I sacrifice them to His blood.

See from His head, His hands, His feet,


Sorrow and love flow mingled down!


Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,


Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,


That were a present far too small;


Love so amazing, so divine,


Demands my soul, my life, my all.

~Isaac Watts

"When I survey the wondrous Cross": Hamburg

What a Name!

Man of sorrows what a name

for the Son of God, who came

ruined sinners to reclaim:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

in my place condemned he stood,

sealed my pardon with his blood:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Guilty, helpless, lost were we;

blameless Lamb of God was he,

sacrificed to set us free:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

He was lifted up to die;

"It is finished" was his cry;

now in heaven exalted high:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious King,

all his ransomed home to bring,

then anew this song we'll sing:

Hallelujah, what a Savior!

~Bliss

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White as Snow

Isaiah 1:18

...“Come now, and let us reason together,”

Says the Lord,

“Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool."...

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I can be White as Snow!

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"He said, 'It is Finished.'"

Alas! and did my Savior bleed


And did my Sov’reign die?


Would He devote that sacred head


For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I had done


He groaned upon the tree?


Amazing pity! grace unknown!


And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide


And shut his glories in,


When Christ, the mighty Maker died,


For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face


While His dear cross appears,


Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,


And melt my eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay


The debt of love I owe

:
Here, Lord, I give myself away,


’Tis all that I can do.

-Isaac Watts

John 18,19:28-30

..."After this, Jesus, knowing that all things 

had already been accomplished, to fulfill 

the Scripture,  He said, “I am thirsty.”

 

A jar full of sour wine was standing there;

so they put a sponge full of the sour wine 

upon a branch of hyssop and brought it up 

to His mouth.

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, 

He said, “It is finished!” 

And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit."...

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We Live in a Precarious Life

We know what it is like to have a cat think we have bent over just for them to sit on us.  

This is may be what has happened with this photographer - he has a great photo to take and then his cat takes advantage of his owner for a nice sit down.

In this life what can we do when life is tough?  

Where can we go when life is precarious?

PRECARIOUS:

adjective

-Dangerously lacking in security or stability.

-Subject to chance or unknown conditions.

-Based on uncertain, unwarranted, or unproved premises.

A Precarious Life in the Scriptures:

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

..."Therefore we do not lose heart, 

but though our outer man is decaying, 

yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For momentary, light affliction is producing 

for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond 

all comparison, while we look not at the things 

which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; 

for the things which are seen are temporal, 

but the things which are not seen are eternal."

Romans 5:-1-11

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, 

we have peace with God through 

our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also 

we have obtained our introduction by faith 

into this grace in which we stand; 

and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

And not only this, but we also exult in our 

tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings 

about perseverance; and perseverance, 

proven character; and proven character, 

hope; and hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out 

within our hearts through the Holy Spirit 

who was given to us.

For while we were still helpless, at the right 

time Christ died for the ungodly.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man; 

though perhaps for the good man someone 

would dare even to die.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, 

in that while we were yet sinners, 

Christ died for us.

Much more then, having now been justified 

by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath 

of God through Him.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled 

to God through the death of His Son, much more, 

having been reconciled, we shall be saved 

by His life.

And not only this, but we also exult in God through 

our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have 

now received the reconciliation...."

Romans 12:9-13

"...Let love be without hypocrisy. 

Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; 

give preference to one another in honor;

not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, 

serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering 

in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to 

the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality."...

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More scriptures to help lift your head and remind you who holds onto you no matter what is happening in this life. 

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He is a shield about me and He lifts my head!

I have known many Christian women who have had traumas, heartaches, and agonies in their lives and yet they choose to find JOY in life because of the LORD. 

On the other hand I have known many Christian women who -with traumas or without traumas- can barely find any joys in life.

I have lived in sadnesses, known traumas, and agonies. I am nothing special. I can be sad, very sad, but I choose to rise to the reality of the LORD who loves us and glorify Him by living in JOYS - even if crying, I can live in His JOY. He lifts my head everytime!

Let Him lift your head also!

Psalm 3

O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!


Many are rising up against me.


Many are saying of my soul,


“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.

But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,


My glory, and the One who lifts my head.


I was crying to the Lord with my voice,


And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.


I lay down and slept;


I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.


I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people


Who have set themselves against me round about.

Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!


For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;


You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.


Salvation belongs to the Lord;


Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.

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Sweet as Honey: give your griefs to Him

Commit now all your griefs 

and ways into His hands;

to His sure truth and tender care, 

who earth and heav'n commands.

Who points the clouds and storm 

He gently clears your ways;

He shall direct your wandering feet, 

He shall prepare your ways.

Give to the winds your fears;

hope, and be undismayed;

God hears your sighs and counts your tears,

God shall lift up your head.

Through waves and clouds and storms

He gently clears your way;

soon end in joyous day.

Still heavy is your heart?

Still sink your spirits down?

Cast off the weight, let fear depart,

and every care be gone.

He everywhere has sway,

and all things serve His might;

He every act pure blessing is,

His path unsullied light.

Far, far above your thought

His counsel shall appear,

when fully He the work has wrought

that caused your needless fear.

Leave to His sovereign sway

to choose and to command;

with wonder filled, you then shall own

how wise, how strong His hand.

~Gerhardt

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FYI: Lyrics are different wherever you look, but this link rendition is beautiful with the guitar. :o)