ODE TO A HOUSEWIFE - A silly song of encouragement to mommies

When I was having our two kids in 1979 and 1980, it seemed like so few women had the opportunity to be home with their kids.  I appreciated that opportunity so much!  It was sort of lonely sometimes.  I wrote this as an encouragement to them.

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I HEAR HIS VOICE...

Tonight, I lay in bed and through the open window I begin to hear that magical sound that always thrills my soul.  The breeze is blowing through the tops of the pine trees and as millions of pine needles brush one against the other they make a whispering sound and emit a piny fragrance.  I inhale deeply and savor it. 

It is sweet and comforting.

And as the breeze turns into a wind it grows louder.  It's almost as if the mountains themselves are hissing along with the trees.  Now the tallest pines and oaks begin to creak as the tree-tops start to sway and bend.  I know that in the morning the weakest of the branches will have been naturally pruned and snapped off by the force and will lie on the ground.

It is powerful and exhilarating.

And now the sky begins to sprinkle down it's icy, life-giving bounty.  First rain and then hail and finally gentle flakes of soft downy snow.

It is magnificently beautiful.

And every nuance, every fragrance, every gentle or even alarming sound of this storm only leads me to ONE PLACE!

GOD!  His voice, His gentleness, His power, His grace!!

MY FATHER ABBA!

We filmed this video in the area around our home.  It is NOT professional but it demonstrates the bounty of God in His creation.  I set it to the song "The Voice of God" by 4 Him.  CLICK HERE

I AM EVE - Seeing myself in the women I've come to know in the Bible

 

 

I Am Eve

I am Eve:  I defy the One Who created me.  I choose to do the very things that separate me from living in oneness with Him.

I am Rahab:  I seek satisfaction in things and people that bring no fulfillment.

I am Bathsheba:  Breaking my promises.

I am Sarai:  I have trouble believing that God can keep his promises.

I am Naomi:  Feeling at times abandoned.

I am Ruth: Seeing that there is one true God and He is to be followed no matter what the cost.

I am Esther:  Pleading before my Heavenly Father’s throne for strength and guidance when my actions will impact others.

I am Sarah:  Following my husband to a new land knowing God has a wonderful, but unknown plan for us there.

I am Mary:  Astonished that God chose me to be a vessel through which He would do His work.

I am Martha:  Getting distracted with all the busy activities and missing what really matters.

I am Sally:  Lost, Blind, Found, Saved, Doubting, Struggling, Faithless, Faithful, Prayerless, Prayerful, Astonished, Distracted, Transformed, Hopeful, Growing, God’s Woman – Eternally!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



LIKE A TREE FIRMLY PLANTED

 

LIKE A TREE

 

My husband and I just had a wonderful vacation in Costa Rica!  It was so relaxing.  We did NOTHING adventurous.  We checked into a lovely resort and didn't tour any farther than our feet could carry us.  We walked into the nearby village and ate lots of (too much) wonderful food.

We took long walks on a gorgeous almost empty beach with aqua blue ocean waves crashing on the white sand. 

On one of our walks we saw this amazing tree clinging precariously to a cliff.

 

 

It's roots have become wooded tenacles stretching, reaching, pushing into every possible crack and crevice in order to survive without succumbing to gravity's pressure to bring it down.

 

How different is the tree described in Psalm 1

How blessed is the man... (whose) delight is in the law of the Lord.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water...Its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he propers.

 

What am I delighting in?  Am I craving the delicious warmth of my sweet Savior's presence?  Am I comforted and rejoicing in peace with the One who loves me so?

 

Well, maybe ... Sometimes I am.

But I want to more.

 

 



 

 

 



FOLLOWING BY FAITH

Following by Faith

Last Sunday I did music at church.  That always means that my husband and I have to drive separate cars because I have to be there so early.  After church we were going out with a group of friends for lunch.  I took my "gear" to my car while my husband found out where everybody was going to eat.  He got into his truck and waved me to follow him.  He pulled his truck out of the church parking lot and I set my eyes on his bumper and followed.  I had no idea where we were going but I knew he did.  I knew that if I got caught behind a slower vehicle, he'd pull over and wait for me.  He'd make sure I didn't get lost along the way.  He would keep me in his mirror and guide me where ever we headed.

How like this is our walk through this life?

We know the ultimate destination is eternal life in the Lord's presence. 

And the road there - well - Jesus leads us all along the way.

We follow

We don't turn to the right or left

We set our sights on Him

Even when He seems so far ahead

Almost out of our line of sight sometimes

He slows

And leads

Tenderly

Patiently

Gently

Fixing our eyes on Jesus the Author and Perfector of our faith.

A LITTLE PRESPECTIVE - Seeing what matters

   As a little girl, I can remember one summer playing on the front lawn when something on the sidewalk caught my eye.  There was a trail of ants marching dutifully in a line across the pavement.  Some were heading one way and some coming the other.  Some had cumbersome loads of useful bits of leaves and dead bug carcasses that they were hauling into their little ant kingdom down a hole in a crack in the cement.

   So busy … so constructive … so focused.

  They were completely unaware that this little seven year old girl would spend the next half hour trying to make the trip a little more challenging for them.  First I placed my little pink clip-clop in their way.  They seemed a bit distressed but soon found their way around the sides and continued their trek.  Then there was a garden hose, a leaf and finally a little water.

   Very determined little creatures, ants are!

   Never could they begin to understand the complexities of my world.  Ants think that bringing treasures to their queen is all that matters.

 

   We are ants.  No.  Not the bug kind of ants.  The little earthly creatures that hustle about thinking what we’re doing is so very important.  But God looks down and wants us to understand Him.  He wants us to acknowledge Him as Master and Creator.

   Sometimes, I look up.  And I begin to understand HIS world.  It’s huge and amazing.  It’s wonderful … mostly because …

  He loves this little silly ant; this worthless, pitiful   …and busy ant.

 

Colossians 3:1-3 Reminds me –

   Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Click HERE to hear us sing it (may take a few minutes to load) 

I MET WITH YOU - Rejoicing in the privilege of casting all my cares on HIM!

I met with You alone in wakeful hours last night

Just a bit discouraged at my unworthy fight

Again as ever always You welled up deep within

My heart laid bare before You and You forgave again

I met with You this morning; came to worship with the saints

The children sang Your praises in full voice without restraints

They wriggled, danced and lifted hands in such abandoned way

It nearly broke my heart in two to hear you loved that way

I met with You today as my shepherd taught Your Word

He faithfully etched into me the truths I read and heard

Unfolding wondrous mysteries; enlightening corners dark

The hating world - the loving Lord; the contrast ever stark

I met with You this afternoon while praying for those I love

A growing peace seemed to increase I’m so unworthy of

The lost, the sick, the weak, the blind weigh heavy on my heart

Your yoke is easy; weight is light if shared right from the start

I’ll meet with You this evening when day turns into night

Prepare a meal, relax and heal but always keeping sight

Of why I love to live a life that’s set on honoring You

For late last night I feared the fight.  I’m glad I met with You!

I HAVE LEARNED - on learning contentment

Click https://valleybible.net/MusicMinistry/Music/Audio/IHaveLearned.mp3 to hear me sing it.

Philippians 4:11-13

I have learned to be content

In whatever circumstances I am. (repeat)

I know how to get along with humble means

And I know how to live in prosperity

I know the secret of being filled and going hungry

Both of having abundance and of suffering need

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

Music: Sally Bentley & Matt Bentley

Lyrics: Scripture