Pilgrims progress - coming UP out of the wilderness

I heard a very good sermon last Sunday on coming up out of the wilderness. Preached from Song of Solomon. The bride was leaning on her beloved as she came up out of the wilderness - a lovely picture of the believer leaning on Christ. It is like the poem ...

Footsteps in the sand

One night a man had a dream.
He dreamt he was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand:
one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him,
he looked back at the footprints in the sand.

He noticed that many times along the path of
his life there was only one set of footprints.

He also noticed that it happened at the very
lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he
questioned the LORD about it:

"LORD, you said that once I decided to follow
you, you'd walk with me all the way.
But I have noticed that during the most
troublesome times in my life,
there is only one set of footprints.
I don't understand why when
I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied:

"Oh my precious. precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
I didn’t leave you, it was then that I carried you."

... well worth a listen!

Guidance

I was reminded this evening when we sung this hymn how, several months ago, when in one of life's dilemas I noticed that the children's memory verse for the week was: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psalm 32v8. It was a great help and comfort to me and I was able to be still and wait, in the knowledge that my heavenly Father has his eye upon me.

How blest are they whose trespass
has freely been forgiven,
whose sins are wholly covered
before the sight of heaven.

So let the godly seek thee
in times when thou art near;
no whelming floods shall reach them
or cause their hearts to fear.

"I graciously will teach thee
the way that thou shalt go,
and, with my eye upon thee,
My counsel make thee know.

“but do not be unruly
or slow to understand;
be not perverse, but willing
to heed My wise command."

Then in the LORD be joyful,
in song lift up your voice;
be glad in God, ye ransomed:
rejoice, give thanks, rejoice!

The Psalter,1912

What worthless worms are we ..

We sung this hymn on Sunday evening, it reminded me of my Grandad who chose it for his Golden wedding celebration and we also sung it at his funeral.

What a GREAT GOD we have, we are so undeserving of his infinite mercy.

Great God, how infinite art Thou!
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praise to Thee.

Thy throne eternal ages stood,
Ere seas or stars were made:
Thou art the ever living God,
Were all the nations dead.

Nature and time quite naked lie
To Thine immense survey,
From the formation of the sky
To the great burning day.

Eternity, with all its years,
Stands present in Thy view;
To Thee there’s nothing old appears;
Great God! There’s nothing new.

Our lives through various scenes are drawn,
And vexed with trifling cares;
While Thine eternal thought moves on
Thine undisturbed affairs.

Great God, how infinite art Thou!
What worthless worms are we!
Let the whole race of creatures bow,
And pay their praise to Thee.

SNOW!!!

This morning brought snow & the children listening intently to the local radio to see if their schools were closed - but to no avail - they were open booo!

Anyway I took the opportunity to try my camera out in "snow" mode....

Camera arrived



My new camera arrived today, so I've been trying it out. Not very good results yet. I have a lot to learn! It wasn't very good indoors taking the children as either they kept moving, or I moved the camera. I tried to take some shots in the garden, with limited success - lets hope we see some improvements over the months!




I tried to get the berries in focus , but not the leaves! Didn't work, did it?

In the beginning ...

I am waiting the arrival of a new camera. I have the bag and the memory card, but not the camera yet. Hopefully by the weekend I will have the camera too. I hope to learn how to take good pictures, instead of just point and click. Amongst other things this blog will track the progress of my photography skills.