We Gather Together

Thank you to Hymns that Preach:

“WE GATHER TOGETHER” is listed as a Thanksgiving hymn in most modern hymnals but its origin predates our first American Thanksgiving.  It began as a Dutch folk song and was crafted into a celebration hymn of petition and praise to God for His guidance and deliverance through times of religious persecution in 1597. 

Some of the political overtones in this hymn are apparent. For example, the phrase, “The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing,” is an allusion to the persecution of Christians under the policies of Spain.  The Dutch Protestants struggled against Spain for their political independence, and against the Catholic Church for their religious freedom.   Thousands had been massacred and hundreds of homes burned by the Spanish in 1576 during the siege of Antwerp.

In 1597, in the Battle of Turnhout, Prince Maurice of Orange defeated the Spanish occupiers of a town in, what is now, the Netherlands. 

Prior to that battle, they had been prohibited from worshiping under the Spanish king, Phillip II.   The Dutch Christians celebrated the victory by borrowing a familiar folk melody and giving it new words.  The very first line, “We Gather Together” was a bold, political declaration of their new freedom to worship together. The hymn first appeared in print in a 1626 collection of Dutch patriotic songs.

Had Prince William of Orange, the brother of Maurice, not led the Dutch to throw off King Phillip’s rule, there, likely, would not have been any safe haven for English, Welsh, and Scottish Protestants who had fled from persecutions under the Roman Catholic and the Anglican national leadership.  

Some of those Dutch Christians were the Puritan Pilgrims.  They brought the hymn with them to the New World in 1620. 

The thanksgiving feast held at the Plymouth Bay Colony might never have occurred had there not been victories like the one this hymn celebrates.

Dutch Christians rarely sang anything, in their church services, that was not directly from the pages of Scripture (primarily the Psalms).  But in 1937, the Christian Reformed Church made a controversial decision to permit other hymns to be sung in church.  “We Gather Together” was chosen as the first entry in their new hymnal.

Today, even though much of our nation has turned away from God, our “gathering together” in the name of the Lord still stands as a remembrance of those times of oppression, persecution, and death, in Scotland and England.  And, so we give thanks to God for His protection, for His providential care, and for His abundant blessings.

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He is with us always no matter what comes! 

Praising the LORD!  Glory to His name!

Thankful for sparkling moisture!

After a spring and summer of much rain and even flooding we have had almost a month with no rain at all until our misty rain yesterday and today.  It has been so gently and quietly falling.

As I looked out front in this overcast morning I saw little "orange" jewels sparkling in our flowering crab tree as the moisture hung on each berry which was left from the foraging of the Robins and Cedar Wax Wings earlier this autumn.  It was lovely and I was so thankful to enjoy it!

Who can clean up that mess?

MUTTS

Psalm 34:4
"I sought the Lord, and He answered me,
And delivered me from all my fears."

Hope, not a false hope

Psalm 42

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So my soul pants for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God;
When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my food day and night,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
These things I remember and I pour out my soul within me.
For I used to go along with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and thanksgiving, a multitude keeping festival.
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him
For the help of His presence.
O my God, my soul is in despair within me;
Therefore I remember You from the land of the Jordan
And the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life.
I will say to God my rock, “Why have You forgotten me?
Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”
As a shattering of my bones, my adversaries revile me,
While they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

See what a great love!

1 John 3:1-3
"See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. 

For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. 

We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

This is the will of God, your sanctification.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

"Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. 

For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 

For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 

For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 

So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you."

So blessed!

Even when we think we have nothing, we are so blessed by God.

*

"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.

I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for the Lord sustains me."

Psalm 3:3-5

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The LORD hears His child's cry

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Brownie Play Offs

When all has been heard

Fear God, and your enemies will fear you.
--Benjamin Franklin

*

"The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

What we owe to so many

It's Veteran's Day with Snoopy

Thank you for serving our country

With the tears from mothers' eyes

The Unknown Soldier
[Referencing  World War I]

There’s a graveyard near the White House
Where the Unknown Solder lies,
And the flowers there are sprinkled
With the tears from mothers’ eyes.

I stood there not so long ago
With roses for the brave,
And suddenly I heard a voice
Speak from out the grave:

“I am the Unknown Soldier,”
The spirit voice began,
“And I think I have the right
To ask some questions man to man.

“Are my buddies taken care of?
Was their victory so sweet?
Is that big reward you offered
Selling pencils on the street?

“Did they really win the freedom
They battled to achieve?
Do you still respect that Croix de Guerre
Above that empty sleeve?

“Does a gold star in the window
Now mean anything at all?
I wonder how my old girl feels
When she hears a bugle call?

“And that baby who sang
‘Hello, Central, give me no man’s land’—
Can they replace her daddy
With a military band?

“I wonder if the profiteers
Have satisfied their greed?
I wonder if a soldier’s mother
Ever is in need?

I wonder if the kings, who planned it all
Are really satisfied?
They played their game of checkers
And eleven million died.

“I am the Unknown Soldier
And maybe I died in vain,
But if I were alive and my country called,
I’d do it all over again.”

Billy Rose

Some Gave All

Loyalty, Patriotism, and choosing to serve the One and Only

This year we attended a Veteran’s Honor Flight as they returned to the celebration at the airport, and also the next Honor Flight’s Orientation day which was a month from their flight.  Both of these events were very well done and quite honoring to Veterans and their families.

While we sat before the orientation I would say that most people could probably not truly explain the emotions they would go through as we all watched the slide show of the Veterans from World War 2 through Vietnam, and also listen to the patriotic music which was popular during those eras.

Watching the Veterans who are excited and honored to go on a flight to Washington D.C., watching their happy families with ages from newborns to older than the veterans, seeing the Volunteers doing everything to honor the Veterans and their families, to even the skirl of the Bag Pipes is very special, all of which is full of a range of emotions for those of us “on the outside looking in”.

It is truly difficult to express the depths of emotions, the patriotism, and the loyalty to our nation.

But this is only a shadow, a faded picture of the people whose love, devotion , and honor they choose to give to the One and Only God for the rest of their lives for His marvelous grace through Jesus Christ who saved us from our sins.  The LORD now calls us His children.  We were bought with a price, Jesus blood!

The joy I have witnessed this year on the Veterans’ faces, the Guardians, all the families who love their Vet, and the Volunteers - even the other passengers who are just waiting for their own flights who are at the Airport and are surprised and touched by the reception and comradery for the Vets, this joy is truly indescribable.

Even so, our joy as Believers of the God of the Universe is far beyond what I have experienced.

When we meet up with another Believer we haven’t seen for a while, when we meet a Believer we have never met, or when we meet a Believer we just saw yesterday, we find such unexplainable joy!  It is because we are connected to the LORD, we are related, we understand where each of us have come from, where we are in life, where we will be in life when Jesus returns. Our eternal hope!

Veterans are connected to other Veterans no matter which war or whatever age, but Believers have ties to each other that will last an eternity.  Our “family” is the Body of Believers.  When our human family denies us, we can count on the Body to still be our family, to love and encourage us.

Most of all we have an Awesome God who gave us life - life eternal with Him!  This is such a beautiful connection we have in each other. We are safe together no matter where we are in this world.  On this earth we have begun our eternal life with Him, but the best is yet to be with Him in glory!

Patriotism in the USA in these last generations is many times “tied”  or “woven” into our Christian faith.  It was how our culture use to be. Sadly, this has been fading as our culture has turned away from God.

As the LORD’s child  we are far and above more blessed.  We can praise the LORD for our country which was founded on Judeo-Christian principles, but we can praise Him even more for His grace and mercies which He showers on those of us who choose Him!

Who will you choose today?

Joshua 24:14-15
“Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Thankful for our freedoms

Parenting

ROSE is ROSE

Even so, I will exult in the LORD!

I made your world famous gingersnaps yesterday.  It brought back all those happy, joyful memories.

Soon enough I remembered your eventual entrapment, but this did not take away the truth.  The truth is these were real memories, and they were happy, joyful times even if you deny them now because of your own choices.

My agonies are beyond any words. The LORD is the only One who knows and comprehends my pain.

I am in His hands.  He lifts my head.  He reminds me who I am in Him. He carries me in the storms.

Well, it is not about me, and so I was once again reminded that the LORD also holds you in His hands.  He is the Hound of Heaven and I can trust Him with your life.  

His name is glorified during this storm, and I am trusting that somehow, someday His name will be glorified when it is all over.

*
"Though the fig tree should not blossom
and there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
and the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
and there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation,
The LORD God is my strength,
and He has made my feet like hind's feet,
and makes me walk on my high places."
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Something so teeny tiny!

Praising the LORD for His marvelous creation!

photo from friends, Chris and Tom, western U.S.

Who can save us?!

Peanuts

"Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
John 14:6

"He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
Acts 4:11-12

God's creation in action: dew on Ladybug

This wonderful photo is not my own, but I had to share it.

In the past we have purchased live Ladybugs to release in our yard.  The fruit is that I often see them in our yard now.  The joy to see His creation up close and personal is indescribable.  No matter what I am doing, I stop and enjoy this special insect.

Some day, in glory, what extraordinary beauty will we see?!

Praising the LORD!

The definition of a Humdinger and a Smidgen

Rose is Rose

God's grace is not flippant!

A grateful thank you to Ralph M. Peterson at Hymns that Preach for this excellent post:

WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS

"Last week I was irritated by a post, on a Christian internet site, from a guy who was arrogant and boastful in his sin.  I don’t have time to read it all but here are a few brief excerpts:

“I am a very unconventional, yet very classical and traditional, Christian. What I don't understand is how the Church can be so legalistic.  …The gospel is free grace, extended to sinners.  (Our) righteousness comes from Jesus… with (His) invitation to ‘Come as you are!’

“I do not live by a strict set of rules…and you may find me cussing, smoking cigarettes, and laughing at cruel (or dirty) jokes.  I live with my pregnant girlfriend, unmarried, and I stumble in how I walk with the Lord.  I also live by faith in Jesus Christ and trust that His promises will be fulfilled in my life.

“The Father loves us unconditionally; because Christ fulfilled all the requirements to be satisfied on my behalf.  His free grace covers and cleanses me from all unrighteousness.”

That young man is confused as to the nature of the gospel.  He holds to a common and dangerous heresy called Free Grace.  He claims to have received the free, gift of God’s grace, yet he shows no remorse for his sin, nor a need to repent.  He acts like, just because he once “accepted Jesus,” God is okay with it. 

Well, guess what?   God is NOT okay with it.  In his letter to the Romans, Paul asked a rhetorical question, “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his WONDERFUL GRACE?  

And then he answers with the obvious- OF COURSE NOT!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?”

And later he leaves them with a command, “Do NOT let sin control the way you live; do NOT give in to sinful desires.”    (Rom. 6:1,2,12)

It is true that God’s grace is freely bestowed on all those He saves but grace isn’t something trivial.  In fact, in most of our hymns about God’s grace, it is almost always described with superlative adjectives like Amazing, Marvelous, Infinite, Matchless, Magnificent, and Wonderful.  That kind of grace is not cheap; it comes at a great cost.  If we’ve never been grieved or tormented by the magnitude and consequences of our sin against God, then we can’t understand just how great His grace really is.

The Song, WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS, might seem like a fun, frolicking little praise song but the author, Haldor Lillenas, captured the awesome greatness of God’s grace with phrases like "broader than the scope of my transgressions,” and "greater far than all my sin and shame."

That’s the kind of Grace we need; not just some flippant sort of favor from a warm and fluffy god who, with a wink and a nod, accepts us the way we are.  God’s grace is effective; when He saves us, He begins to clean us up.

*That kind of grace is inexhaustible; it reaches to “all the lost.”  And it’s “all-sufficient;” it’s enough for all our needs.  

*It is even sufficient for “the most defiled,” and, in the words of the songwriter, it is sufficient for even me, and believe me, I am especially thankful for that because my sin was so great that the Son of God suffered and died on the cross so that I could be pardoned.   

*He took the burden and the penalty of my sin on Himself and He covered me in His righteousness.  That is the WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS.

*

Praise the LORD!

His grace is matchless!

Indescribable!

It is deeper!

Higher!

All sufficient!

Sparkling!

Broader than any sin!

Greater than any shame!

Let us magnify the precious name of Jesus!

PRAISE HIS NAME!

*

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden, setting my spirit free;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus reaches me!

Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
the rolling sea;
Wonderful Grace, all sufficient for me, for even me
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
sing it!
Greater far than all my sin and shame
my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching to all the lost;
By it I have been pardoned, saved to the uttermost.
Chains have been torn asunder, giving me liberty;
O the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
the rolling sea;
Wonderful Grace, all sufficient for me, for even me
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
sing it!
Greater far than all my sin and shame
my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!

Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaching the most defiled;
By its transforming power, 
Making me God's dear child,
Purchasing peace and Heaven, for all eternity;
And the Wonderful Grace of Jesus, reaches me!

Wonderful the matchless Grace of Jesus,
the matchless Grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
the rolling sea;
Wonderful Grace, all sufficient for me, for even me
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
All sufficient Grace for even me.
Broader than the scope of my transgressions,
sing it!
Greater far than all my sin and shame
my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
PRAISE HIS NAME!

written by,  H. Lillenas / Lari Goss

Mentoring

Rose is Rose

Hello, People! Have a nice life!

Three months ago we were enjoying one of our National Parks.  It was wonderful, spectacular, special, and very, very crowded with other vacationers.  Our stay was the longest we ever have, and we were able to see as much as we desired to see.  It was wonderful! A precious gift to be there.  

During our whole adventure, probably half of the people we saw were American and the other half were from around the world.  As we began our days there it was completely different than when we visited ten years ago. Sadly, the culture has changed so very much since then to where common courtesy and manners are almost completely absent.

If we all have been paying attention to the culture of the world, we know that as a whole we are sliding into a very "me" type people.

Judges 21:25 
"In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit."

This scripture rang in my head every where we went when the people were careless, rude,  and thoughtless.  It was all “me me me me me me me!”

Frustration in God’s beautiful creation!  

This trip, which we had waited for a very long time to enjoy, was becoming a burden. After a whole day of dodging others, and being seemingly invisible to many of them, we were mentally exhausted from dealing with all of it.  Our very first day, and we found ourselves growing inwardly angrier and more bitter at “the people” who surrounded us every where we went.  By that afternoon in the solace of our car we spoke about it, and realized we were not resting in the LORD as we dealt with all of this chaos among His beauty.

Change of plans.

From that moment we changed our thinking and our plans.  We once again were resting in Him no matter the chaos we found ourselves.  We would now begin to awake very early and get out to hike etc. before the major crowds were out and about.  This helped enormously for our frame of minds, and we were able to have calmer mornings along with other people who had the same idea.  

With our thinking changed we also gave our frustrations to the LORD as they happened, and considered these certain people and prayed for them as they continued any rude behavior.  Considering these people in a godly manner reminded us that we are all sinners, and perhaps these people were not saved from their sins by Jesus' precious blood.  

Praise the LORD for opening our hearts!

Each day was now different.  The crowds were the same and the thoughtlessness of people, in general, continued, but we were able to truly rest in Him throughout each incident.

Matthew 5:45
"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

Showers of blessings from God.

On one of our last days in the early morning before the crowds began to show up, we were enjoying a falls at an overlook, and were blessed by a child‘s words.  

She was about eight years old, and she was with her father and smaller brother as they came up to the overlook deck in which we were standing.  Well behaved, her joy and excitement bubbled over as she talked to her father all about the river and falls below.
  
Soon enough as she continued to look around, her head rose up and noticed that over the river chasm there was another cliff across the way like where we were all standing, and there were brightly colored clothes on the people on the other side.  Her smiles became bigger as she joyously proclaimed to them as her family walked away,  

“HELLO PEOPLE!  HAVE A NICE LIFE!”

Out of the mouths of innocence I heard how we should be thinking. Praise the LORD for how He works in us! 

People are sinners.  There are those saved by God's grace who are sinners, and those who are not saved who are sinners.  All of us made in His image.  All of us should be regarded with respect, honor, and dignity.

Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."

  

To be made more like Jesus

Hope and a Future
by Joni Eareckson Tada

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"    Jeremiah 29:11

Walk into a Christian bookstore, or into the homes of many believers, and you will often see today's verse hand-embroidered and framed, hanging up for all to see and be encouraged.  It's a beautiful promise and an oft-quoted favorite of many Christians.  It's easy to see why.  Everyone enjoys the idea that God's plans for His children are to prosper them and not harm them, to give hope and a future, bright with possibilities.

But let's take a reality check.  

The context of this verse is striking. It was, in fact, part of a letter written by the prophet Jeremiah and placed into the hands of the exiles being dragged off to Babylon.  The enslaved Israelites not only faced a long, difficult journey east across the desert, but once they arrived, they would be forced to labor for their conquerors, much as their ancestors in Egypt did.  

*Many of them would never see their homeland again. Yet God gave this invigorating and encouraging promise to inspire the captives.  They were not to lose heart.  

One day, the Lord would deliver them and bring the nation back to Jerusalem.  

*Despite the heartbreak of captivity, God's purpose was not to harm His people.  Yes, they would feel the sting of slavery and hardship, but it ultimately meant a prosperous future.

*In the past, have you assumed that today's verse was your guarantee God would keep at bay pain and disappointment, trials and tribulations? 

*God's purpose for us is to make us more like Christ; and this will mean hardship.  So what is the hope and future all about?  Christ in you, the hope of glory!

Holy Spirit, guide me into all truth when I read Your Word this week.

from More Precious than silver

Autumn

Simple joys from the LORD

Merle the Squirrel loves our purple petunias!

We think he has decided to stay!

*

Logic 101

Autumn in the Mid-West

The importance of really listening.

Rose is Rose

Learning from the LORD

Choosing to learn from the LORD no matter what our circumstances.

Our life situations can be very, very tough.  This is an understatement when we are in horrendous situations.

This pumpkin formed and grew throughout the summer, wedged between the wall and electric pipeline.  No matter the situation this pumpkin was in, it grew and matured to fruition.  It will not be round, but it can still be a pumpkin.

When we are in our difficult life circumstances we can choose to allow ourselves to become angry, bitter, lifeless...  The other option in our difficult situations is to run to the LORD in all our trials.  

He is our solid rock.  He is our strong tower.

In my experience and in the experiences of those whom I know, our own personal trials and tribulations may continue in the long run, but our choices to follow the LORD, read His Word regularly, rely on Him in all things, and actually rest in Him among the chaos of life, is why we have peace.  It is His peace which passes all understanding. It is why we continue to grow closer to Him. It is why we have a precious relationship with Him, and a beautiful testimony even in our struggles.

Now, the fact is that this pumpkin is deformed because of its circumstances.  We can not make it round, so the comparison of this pumpkin compared to each of us who are in agonies can't continue - unless it represents our choices to not draw closer to the LORD, and so we do become grumpy, angry, cruel, etc.

When we are in our agonies, a truth is that our trials can mar us - on the inside or the outside - physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.  Even so, we can still find our safety in the LORD.  No matter what pain we endure, we can continue to grow closer to Him and find ourselves healthier in every way than those who choose poorly. 

*Physical abuse is NOT okay*  Seek out help from trusted family, friends, church body, law enforcement.
*

Proverbs 18:10
"The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is safe."

Psalms 18:1-3, 31
“I love You, O Lord, my strength.”
The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,
And I am saved from my enemies."

"For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God"

*