BLOW UPON MY GARDEN
In the Song of Songs, the Beloved says to her Lover: “Awake north wind, and come south wind! Blow upon my garden that its fragrance may spread abroad.” (Song of Songs 4:16)
Throughout Scripture, including the psalms, we learn how the Lord would have us respond when He brings the north wind (the hard things of life) and also, when He brings the south wind (the sweet things of life). The purpose of our lives is to glorify God, to let His fragrance be spread abroad. That can happen when our heart is right, whatever weather He ordains.
Let’s start with the hard things, finding some insight from Lesson 4 in A Woman of Worship and Psalm 42, and then move to the sweet things, finding insight from Lesson 5, and a few of the many psalms that model and exhort thankfulness.
We’ve gained some new sisters in our last post, for whom I’m so thankful. I’m praying for each of you, that our sharing may be honest and thoughtful, and that together we will help each other be ready for either the north wind or the south wind.
Take a question a day, two if you like, and listen to the songs, if you have them, to help your heart.
NORTH WIND
1. In Psalm 42, the north winds are blowing, and the psalmist keeps asking the same question of himself.
A. What is the repeated question?
B. The psalmist is taking his soul in hand and asking her, “Why are so you upset when you know that your hope should be in God, who can never be shaken?” The psalmist realizes he has displaced his hope in something that can be shaken. List some of the things or people you have placed your hope in that could be shaken.
2. If you have the song from A Woman of Worship on Psalm 42, listen to it. There are two voices — one if the male psalmist, asking his soul “Why are you downcast?” Then there is feminine voice who keeps singing back, “Put your hope in God.” What is your interpretation of these two voices? (If you have other songs based on Psalm 42 you’d like to recommend — please tell us about them and why you like them!)
3. If the North Wind is blowing in your life right now, would you be willing to take your soul in hand and ask her, “Where have you displaced your hope?” If so, what do you learn? (This is our chance to pray for you to put your hope in God.)
4. We’re starting to get to know one another in this blog. Is there someone whom you’ve seen put her hope in God when the North Wind is blowing? What have you seen?
How has His fragrance spread abroad?
SOUTH WIND
5. If you have A Woman of Worship, listen to the song “Give Thanks” and share your thoughts. What other songs of thankfulness can you recommend that stir your heart? How might you better sing them on a daily basis?
6. Read Psalm 78:1-16
A. Summarize verses 1-4 in one sentence.
B. You could call this passage “forget not.” Find some verses that re-iterate this theme. What are we to “not forget?” Why?
C. What verse stands out to you from this passage and why?
7. Let’s practice thankfulness right now for everyday life. List a few simple pleasures that you do not want to forget.
8. I’ve a video of my daughter Anne speaking at her Dad’s funeral about “giving thanks.” http://www.deebrestin.com/about/steve-brestin/
(Scroll down under the About Dee section.) What do you learn?
9. How does practicing thankfulness as a daily habit, when the South Wind is blowing, better prepare you to respond when the North Wind blows?
How might you better incorporate practicing the habit of thankfulness? Specific ideas are welcome!
Question #1.
A. Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?
B. For me it is tempting to do both- people and things. The first big shaking event was when I put my hope in the woman who discipled me many years ago. It didn’t start out that way. I put her on a pedestal first of all because of her close walk with Jesus, and second of all, because she was one of the original navs taught under Dawson Trotman. The rock star mentality we so easily thrust on other believers I did to her. It is ugly and wrong.
As time went on, the pedestal I put her on got higher, so high I lived to please her. Anyway, long story short I was shaken after a while, but learned a lot from it and it was good that it happened.
As far as “things”, it is easy to put my hope in my husband’s jobs, or the economy and whether or not we are going to be taxed to the point of barely being able to survive come January 2011. What if our country goes into a real depression in the future? Will I trust God? What if everything was taken away-electricity, everything. What would come out of me? Do I put my hope in my children, or husband in general? I am really going to chew on this.. This is convicting but good because some yuk on the inside will come to the surface I know. I am working on how I am going to view it. I almost didn’t want to answer these questions!
A. Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why hast thou forgotten me? I have placed my hope in my husband to take care of Kendra & I way too much, which can be shaken because I need to put my hope ONLY in God. Kendra depends upon us & I depend upon my husband for encouragment & relief from the daily resoncibilities. And he is such a good daddy to her. I ask myself what if God was to take him from us? What a horrible lesson that would be to depend upon God. I want to be thankful for the “south wind” that we enjoy now so if the bitter “north wind” should hit us I will have been in the right mindset of praising God everyday & putting all my hope in him. The song “Thank you Lord” on psalms 42:5 & 11 makes me place myself as the male voice crying out to God & the female part as my soul echoing my crys. I love this song & try to sing it to myself to remind me to put my hope in God.
I watched the video of Anne talking at her daddy’s funeral about being thankful & it makes me cry everytime I watch it. It helps me to be thankful for everyday things I take for granted tho.
Joyce, are you talking about our Anne here on the blog?! Is this something on Youtube?
Easy to fear the future, or to try really hard to smile at it like the Proverbs 31 woman, but with gritted teeth.
It’s about Anne (Dee’s daughter) speaking at Dee’s husbands funeral about being thankful. Dee mentions it under the south wind section on this weeks blog.
oops! never mind. Just saw it above. I hadn’t gotten down that far in the questions
NORTH WIND
1. In Psalm 42, the north winds are blowing, and the psalmist keeps asking the same question of himself.
A. What is the repeated question?
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me?
B. The psalmist is taking his soul in hand and asking her, “Why are so you upset when you know that your hope should be in God, who can never be shaken?” The psalmist realizes he has displaced his hope in something that can be shaken. List some of the things or people you have placed your hope in that could be shaken.
Myself and my own efforts to please God, the opinions of other people, my own plans to “improve” things in my life, shopping, food, television, all sorts of distractions that make me feel empty as soon as I am finished with them.
3. If the North Wind is blowing in your life right now, would you be willing to take your soul in hand and ask her, “Where have you displaced your hope?” If so, what do you learn? (This is our chance to pray for you to put your hope in God.)
Yes!!! I must do this, and have no idea why my spiritual stamina to do this long-term is so weak. I hate this about myself. It is so clear that He is what I need, yet I seek Him so rarely and with feeble heart!
Dear Christ, I give You my weakness… You know all about it and how it grieves me. Please give me Your strength to put myself and my soul totally in Your Hands without turning aside to anything else. Let me know that I CANNOT add to what You have done, so trying to “Impress You” is FRUITLESS! Take me, let Your will be done, and may I not be ashamed to cry in Your Arms when the north wind is blowing strong and fast across my life. Let me understand that sharing my sadness with You is a way of release and relief, and that I can trust You 100% for everything.
SOUTH WIND
6. Read Psalm 78:1-16
A. Summarize verses 1-4 in one sentence.
Do not forget what God has done for us in the past because these things tell us all about His current and future mercies.
B. You could call this passage “forget not.” Find some verses that re-iterate this theme. What are we to “not forget?” Why?
We are to never forget how God has acted mightily on our behalf in the past because we will strengthen our hearts to look to the future with complete trust in God.
C. What verse stands out to you from this passage and why?
Verse four: We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.
It stands out because this is how we secure the hope for the present and future. It tells the truth about God and provides us something upon which to cling in the hard times.
7. Let’s practice thankfulness right now for everyday life. List a few simple pleasures that you do not want to forget.
Fellowship on this blog!
My cat
People I love
Music
Beauty in the world – nature, pleasant tastes and smells, colors, light
9. How does practicing thankfulness as a daily habit, when the South Wind is blowing, better prepare you to respond when the North Wind blows?
Thankfulness as a daily habit will set our minds on Who God is so we look more at Him than at the north wind.
How might you better incorporate practicing the habit of thankfulness? Specific ideas are welcome!
Keep a journal of ways God acts, not forgetting the small things that are great blessings.
:
Tracy-
I pray that you see some of those prayers that you are praying being answered as you journal. As you see these things and answers begin to unfold, may you find the strength and courage that you need to take that next step.
Amber, thanks so much!
Tracy, you wrote, “It is so clear that He is what I need, yet I seek Him so rarely and with feeble heart!”
Been there, done that. Oh, Father, thank you for seeking and finding us and drawing us out of our miry clay. (Psalm 40:2)
Please help Tracy to seek you with a strong heart. May she ask and recieve, seek and find, knock and run through the door when it opens! (Luke 11:9)
And I agree with Tracy. I’m so thankful for the fellowship on this blog!
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Gloriadelia,
Thank you so much! God bless you.
The psalmist asks ‘why’ with each question. Why is my soul cast down? Why has God forgotten me? Why must I be in mourning? Why is my soul disturbed? I identify because I asked these same questions when my 16 year old son died 27 years ago and I am asking them now since my husband died in January. The north winds are blowing through my life right now and they have blown threw it before. Indeed tears have been my food night and day these last five months. My husband had requested The Far Side Banks of Jordan to be sung at the funeral and our younget daughter requested that we sing It Is Well With My Soul. She said I want that song but it isn’t well with my soul right now. I felt the same. On the morning of the funeral I awoke to the thought this isn’t about my son or my husband, it is about God and Jesus. Just at that moment Shannon, my daughter, came into my room and said,” I was praying and God has given me peace about Daddy’s death, now I can really say it is well with my soul and mean it.” We have put our hope in God just as we did after our son’s death. This does not mean we are not suffering great pain but we have HOPE. “Put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Saviour and my God.” As the waves and breakers of grief and pain sweep over me I will remember God. I know after Frank’s death my husband and I were devestated. We were indeed in mortal agony but my husband had great faith, much greater than mine, that God would bring us out of the Valley of the Shadow which He did and we had many happy years. Now I am back in the valley and I am tempted to feel alone and I have to focus on the fact that “that God directs His love, at night His song is with me.”
Judy, I am praying for you right now that you may find songs in the night. The North Winds are not an easy place.
Tracy, thank you for your prayers. I was just telling my five year old grandson about God giving you songs in the night. He thought that was fascinating.
Judy, thank you for sharing your family’s testimony to God’s sufficiency. It encourages me greatly. I am so sorry for your loss.
Hi Judy,
Before I read your post, I knew one of the things I was going to share was one similar to yours. My daughter is sixteen and I worry for her often. I can’t write all my worries or fears but just as any parent, I try hard to present them to my Father in Heaven. I know he is good. Just that sometimes its difficult to always trust in God especially in a world like today. Well, it really becomes easier in a world like today ;) but I guess it’s just human of us to cry, suffer and call and wait and then receive from God all in his perfect timing. Just in writing this I am humbled. I know he is good…
But anyhow, I’m sure you can relate with me and my heart will cry out to God for you today. I send you a huge hug from where I am and say that I love you in Christ today!
Thanks for sharing because after reading your experience it helps to know that you afterward put your Hope in God. I must do the same.
with love,
Lyrices
Lyrices, I relate with your concerns, as I have a 15 year old son.
God IS good. God IS stong. God DOES hear. I pray for our kids to believe that. God please provide opportunities for us to do what Psalm 78:4 in question 6C:
“We will not hide them from their children;
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,
his power, and the wonders he has done.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Thank you Gloriadelia.
Amen.
Thanks, Judy, for sharing your heartache with us. My son is 15, and I can’t imagine…I’ll pray for you before I fall asleep tonight, that you’ll “find songs in the night” like Tracy mentioned. Oh, may you feel his warm arms around you when you feel the chill of the North wind. Gloris
p.s. have you heard of Dee’s book, “God of All Comfort”?
I have read the book and related with it so much. I am fixing to order a copy for a church friend of mine who lost her wonderful husband to cancer only three weeks after my husband, Tim, died. God has blessed Dee with such a wonderful ministry.
Judy, I am praying for you also. My heart aches for you. May the north wind turn into a south wind for you & your family.
Judy, I am praying for you and your family this morning. Your testimony is encouraging to me. I am so sorry for your loss.
Joyce,
Loved your response. I can relate indeed. I am working on seeing trials correctly and it is hard with my two boys with their Autism. Just doing the normal things like trying to teach them to pick up the goldfish crackers that fell on the floor after they put it in the trash can take a half an hour due to their perception of reality. It is different than ours. One with Aspergers and one with Autism sets up two very opposite types of autism, one argues in a different reality so it is hard to reach him, the other is in a different reality but doesn’t know how to argue. So every day is a battle.
I heard a sermon in James 1:2-3 last week about trials and how God wants us to view them. Are they the ugly Christmas present we dread opening or are they a diamond. I loved that word picture because when they come and they will every day, I tend to dread them and not even want to acknowledge them sometimes because they come so often. I don’t think that verse means we are to laugh when trials come, but it is in how we view them as we go through them.
Rebecca, It sounds as though God has given you the gift of great patience and a positive attitude. As a counselor I have worked with many parents who have children with special needs and it sounds as though you are doing a great job.
Judy, Thanks for the encouragement!
Love that word picture, too, the ugly Christmas present -vs-the diamond.
Question #3. My hope is displaced in comfort. I say with my words that my goal is to become more like Jesus and my life is to be salt and light to whomever God puts in my circle. My life is his, but am I willing to let it all go? I live as if comfort is the goal. When trials come I want to fix them and fix them fast so I can have a happy rest of the day. Do I see trials as the ugly Christmas present I dread opening rather than the diamond that God wants in my life to help grow me so that I persevere in my faith? I am chewing on this this week still..
Question #4. I have only been through one week of study here but I would have to say all the women here! :) It is hard to pick out one. I would say right off the top of my head is Liz from last week. The power of God shown in her life as she confessed her conviction in that area and seeing in her blog how she acknowledged how hard it is going to be but that she is going to trust God to give her the strength to change. She came to the end of herself- she trusted in man or put her hope in man to meet a need and it shook her core. Now she is taking the first step of putting her hope in God. Her testimony didn’t highlight her but it highlighted the power of God in her life.
Thank you, Rebecca, for your encouraging comments all along, and especially for encouraging my daughter, Liz. As Beth Moore has said, “May God bless your socks off!” Gloris
Gloris,
Thanks! God is good indeedy and I am sure you are soooo excited at seeing how God is working in Liz’s life, and how he is keeping her in his loving hands.
Thank you, Rebecca!! You have been so incredibly encouraging to me!!
Liz, your life is an encouragement to me too!
Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why hast thou forgotten me?
What are some things that I’ve placed my trust in that could be shaken?
Money (income more precisely), not that I have much of it nor do I walk around kind of stingy… I love to share and didn’t realise that I’d put my trust in an income rather than God until this last few months.
I had child support reduced by half and then two months later had another $130/mo knocked off the already deeply reduced amount. Two weeks later I discovered that my position at work (that I’d held for 5 years) was against policy and my company was ending the position. I then elected to go into business for myself, because the risk was really quite low (considering).
I learned that God can make a way, but it usually requires flexiabilty and doesn’t look like my well thought out ‘plans’.
I had planned on doing two of the contracts that I’d been working on for 5 years. One came together without too much hasle, but I only get paid quarterly. I was going to live without any pay for three months. NOTE: I am a single mother of three, and had been living paycheck to paycheck as it was. The second contract just didn’t fall into place, so that has pretty much crumbled at this point. Leaving me with greatly reduced income.
So, I learned to trust God to provide… so far we still have PLENTY!
A couple of weeks after this mess, I learned that me and my children no longer qualified for health insurance. I still don’t have any, but I was able to get the children covered…. and God has ensured that we are healthy (so I must rejoice in that fact!!)
I was really tempted to stop tithing at church as so much was getting pretty tough. Then I realized that was an act of faithlessness, that I didn’t really want the long term effects of. So, I didn’t do it… even though I admit I DID seriously consider it.
In the middle of this transition, my car was hit by a bus and then just after I got the repairs done it broke down. A friend of a friend had a vehicle that I could borrow.
That is how I learned God really does provide for the things we need.
Before all of this…. I would have NEVER thought I had put my trust in money, but every time I was faced with another reduction or deeper cuts in what was coming in I was at first deeply upset. THEN I discovered that I say I trust God alone to provide, but that was only half true.
wow Amber, love your honesty and thanks to you also for sharing this. This is one my if not everyone’s concerns. I am possibly looking at a similar situation and remind myself that I should not “love” God any less if this arises.
He is good all the time.
No matter what and will always get the Glory!
Blessings…
I’ll pray that you, Amber, that you have hupemone patience (sounds like “hoop-a-moan-y”). That’s the Greek word in the Bible, I’ve heard, for patience under trial. It’s easy to remember, ’cause it kinda sounds like “help the moany”, which is what we feel like doing when the pressure’s on!
Thank you, Father for Amber’s example of what Dee said above — “Thankfulness as a daily habit will set our minds on Who God is so we look more at Him than at the north wind.”
Thanks her encouraging us to trust you in our trials. Please give her more and more patience, “Help-the-moany” patience, Father, and more and more faith, and more and more stories to tell about Your providing for her family. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Gloriadelia-
I like this… it is actually something I’ve been pondering on and praying about for awhile. I LOVE having a great word to sum it all up at once.
Earlier today I went in to the person that holds the one contract that I honestly thought was no longer going to happen. I thought that I’d be discussing my training plan, so that I could get the person taking my place ready to do so.
When I went in to the office, I was told that for some unknown reason the individual that had concerns decided there was nothing to be concerned with an I could actually do the contract after all.
The company even made a commitment by ordering the equipment that I’d need. I know it is a SOUTH wind thing, and evidence again that I actually can trust in God to be there when I need Him to be.
BOY am I glad that I’m on HIS side!!
Praise God!!
If you do end up facing a mess, then I only know God makes a way out of it.
I wrote on my blog the other day how I felt David responded in times like what your possibly facing. I don’t know if these thoughts help you at all, but maybe you can find a hint of encouragement in the things I have been learning:
http://anointedimpressions.blogspot.com/2010/07/lord-is-my-rock.html
Lord, I ask that you smother precious Lyricies with the same kind of peace that Jesus had when he walked the earth. The type of calm peace that makes others pause and take notice of how gracefully she walks even in the face of possible diversity.–Amen
Amber, You are on my prayer list. I was feeling a bit sorry for myself because while driving home from work a girl pulled out in front of me and I hit her car. Didn’t damage either car too badly but I was thinking, here I am grieving over my husband and now I have this to worry about. I read your blog and immediately thought ‘well, I didn’t get hit by a bus.’ You are definitely on my prayer list. I will pray your wind switches to the south.
Gosh Judy-
You are on mine. I have a 16 year old son (that happens to be difficult right now) and after I read about the things your going through my heart just melted. I realized that my attitude about my son had best do a 180… because I’m deeply blessed.
I didn’t know what to say since I didn’t want to say any of that in the wrong way, so I simply have prayed.
I had my spiritual mentor pass away not too long ago and her name was Judy… so every time I think of her and how much my heart misses her, it is quite easy to remember you & pray quietly that the Lord be all those things we people wish we could be for one another…. and fall so short on.
My heart goes out to you, with great compassion & admiration.
Judy & Amber, I’m praying for both of you & your families.
1B.) “List some of the things or people you have placed your hope in that could be shaken.”
I’ve put my hope in alcohol off and on for several years. Started out as a drink on date night with my husband, but then two, and then two plus buying some more on the way home.
All this time I served in many capacities in the church; Sunday school, women’s Bible study leader, worship, etc, etc.
I rationalized that “Jesus made wine”, and “God made wine to make men’s heart’s glad”, but instead of putting my hope in Christ (“for me to live is Christ”, the Apostle Paul wrote) I was putting my hope more and more in alcohol.
My local paper reported one winter the tragic story of an old woman’s body found frozen solid in a creek behind a bar. Turns out she had been a regular at the bar for years. It was a sad story, but what her daughter said about her was even sadder — “That woman you found was not my mother. My mother died years ago.”
I don’t want my daughter to have to say that some day…
It took awhile, but I sucked up my pride and joined a group at church called, “Celebrate Recovery”. It’s full of stumbly bumbly people like myself who may or may not show it on the outside, but we’re all helping each other to stand tall, walk in the truth on the inside. I’m learning to live again, in Christ, where it’s safe.
I’m learning to say from my heart, “For me to live is Christ; to die is gain.” and to “put [my] hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.”
I’m typing this because I figure it’s probably like cockroaches in the kitchen. They say if you see one on the floor, there’s probably ten more in the cupboards. If there’s one looks-like-she’s-doing-fine Christian struggling in this way, there’s probably more sitting nearby in the pews or on this blog.
So, I hope this helps someone, and encourages you that you’re not the only one crawling around in the dark ’cause you misplaced your hope. :) Gloris
(p.s. Gloriadelia is my devotional blog’s name. It’s a mixture of Gloris (sounds like Doris) and Adele, my middle name. Confusing, I know.)
Gloris, I think it is a beautiful name and it fits you well as you reflect God’s glory. I appreciate your honesty. I don’t have a strong sense of conviction over a glass of wine with dinner or as I visit with friends. It lightens the heart and makes fellowship sweet but it can be very dangerous. As with all things we must be alert and vigilant because of our enemy seeking always to destroy us.
My favorite part of this psalm is : ” I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old–what we have heard and known,what our fathers have told us. We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,His power and the wonders He has done.” Many times when the north wind blows it is easy to forget the many times the wind blew from the south. I am so grateful that I have lived my life surrounded by love, love which came from God and the family I was born into. I am so thankful to God for my husband and the 47 years we had together. Well, really longer because of meeting in the fourth grade. We had a great marriage and three wonderful children. My son, Frank, is in Heaven but he was a committed Christian and my two daughters are delightful. I am grateful that one lives two blocks from me and the other three blocks so I get to see the grandchildren often. Through our marriage we spent a lot more time laughing than crying. The girls have been so helpful with me even though they have their own lives and are both grieved over their Dad. I miss my husband but I remember the wind blew from the south frequently in my life and I am grateful. The God that has brought me through these years of my life will continue to be there for me whether the wind is from the south or the north, I just have to remind myself of that and I want to leave with my grandchildren the joy of having God in your life. We grieve and worry but we have HOPE. By reading all of your stories I can tell that you too have that hope.
I’m going to answer #7 first, because that one is easy. :)
The simple things I enjoy are spending time with friends and family, reading a good book, finding the perfect picture to go with one of my poems, giggling with my best friends until none of us can breathe, and recently I discovered that a clean kitchen is something quite enjoyable!! But, at the moment, my simplest joy is waking up to discover my cat sleeping happily next to me. She is such a pretty little creature and is me in cat form. She looooooves food, sleep, and randomly has crazy bursts of energy. She is such a blessing in my life, whenever I’m home alone at night and feeling especially lonely, which is dangerous for me, she comes and cuddles next to me on the couch. :)
Liz, I love what you said about your cat! That’s exactly what I appreciate about my cat too.
South Wind:
Question 5. This song came to mind. It is a you tube clip of me singing “Psalm 18″, a song by Waterdeep, live at my church. It isn’t a perfect recording but just listen to the words. I picked it because it is a Testimony song of thankfulness that David wrote and I want to sing Hallelujah because God has worked mightily in my life as well in this way: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=corqRijNzxo
Question 6a: Don’t forget to give testimony of the wonderful things God has done in your life.
hmmmm… cant’ get the link to work. I’ll try again. Is there a title I can type in?
Oh, never mind. Working now. Lovely. Thanks. One of my favorite psalms! “My God turns my darkness into light!”
How do your boys respond when you sing to them or around them? Wondering if it’s soothing to them, or calms them to hear you singing about Jesus?
love the picture, toward the end of the video of the little boys sitting in a line praying. Precious :)
Gloris,
Hi! I used to sing to them a lot when they were younger. Veggie Tales, Hymns and some current songs before bed etc.. It calms my one with Autism. I am thankful he doesn’t hate the sound of my voice. I also make up goofy songs. They REALLY like the goofy ones. ;p
Rebecca, That was so beautiful! You are a very good singer! I will save that youtube in my favorites & play it often as I do my bible studies. It lifts me up & I praise the Lord all through it! I’m in Nebraska…not far from you! Joyce
1.A. I like Eugene Peterson’s rendition of the question in The Message:
“Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?”
B. I once place my hope in:
1. Finances
2. Relationships
3. Social Status
4. Spiritual Leadership
5. Myself
Over a period of time (at least 10 years) God stripped me of everything I had placed my hope in. He had to pry my fingers off everything so He could open my eyes to His truth. Once He had my undivided attention, I began living according to what His word actually says and not what I think it says. Life is still difficult but I find its not so overwhelming when I begin my day talking with Christ. The more I spend time with Him first and the more I meditate on His word throughout the day, I’m finding I’m more prone to think twice of how I need to respond to the difficult people in my life and the junk stays out of my mind. Even so, I know I still need alot of grinding and polishing.
2. The first words that come to mind concerning the male voice are strength to protect. I see the physical senses needing to work together to protect the soul. We need to be sensitive to what we watch, listen to, speak, and put in our bodies. For what we do to the physical affects the soul. The feminine voices representing the soul speak to me of vulnerability. If we are not phyiscally connected with our Heavenly Father, i.e. prayer, consistent Bible reading, fellowship, etc., then our soul will seek to satisfy her hunger somewhere else other than God. Once the soul knows she can trust God, she wonders why would the physical even think about searching for hope somewhere else.
4.The person I have seen put her hope in God is Joyce. Each time I read her posts, I see her clinging to God with all her might. She comes along side of us and puts her arm around us and shares encouragement.
Lord please give Joyce your strength this very minute. Thank you Amen.
God’s fragrance has spread abroad this blog each time we have encouraged one another in prayer, shared an insight gleaned from a post, and, most importantly, we accept one another. When one of us needs to share, we just listen and don’t try to fix one another.
Tammy, Thank you so much, but I don’t feel like I deserve it. I am clinging to God with all my might tho. I was outside with Kendra swinging on our front porch just awhile ago & enjoying the beautiful evening & someone close to me; but won’t mention who, came over & was talking & took Jesus name in vain. We came in & my heart ached because of the incident & I got on the blog for encouragment & I cried & ask god to forgive him. Then I read what you said about me, Tammy & it was right then that you said to give me strength this very minute! It uplifted my spirits so much!! Give everything over to the Lord each day Ladies & ask him to help you to put your hope in him daily. Love you all!
I so appreciate everyone’s posts and particularly the honesty. There is so much healing here. I am so thankful for what God is doing in our lives. We all have our share of north wind.
1a. The psalmist is asking his soul why she is downcast and discouraged. The answer is that she has placed her hope in something other than God.
1b. I have misplaced my hope in the church and its leaders, in money, things and relationships rather than in God. I have done just about anything you can name, except drugs but that’s just because I don’t like them. Need I mention that it was all empty.
2. Lesson 4 says that the male voice is the psalmist speaking to his soul and the female is his soul responding. I think it is interesting that his soul knows what she needs. She tells him to put his hope in God because she would praise Him. If my soul knows what I need then there is a disconnect somewhere between my mind/emotions and my soul. Sometimes when I am very upset, God will ask me this question. It works like a reset button. The train of my emotions will stop and my mind will analyze its thinking. I will soon see that I am relying to much on the opinion of another or my skill in doing something when God wants me to come to Him, to ask Him and to rely on Him. When I do that I am never disappointed.
3. This may require more thought for me. I have many fears and have only begun to uncover some of the sources. A big one is finances. I fear not being able to pay my bills, for a variety of reasons, and becoming destitute. It sounds crazy when I say it out loud but it looms right under the surface of my mind. Another thing I fear is that my children will not be saved, become destitute or both. I know there are promises in the Bible that cover both of these things and they are what I can speak to my soul. There are also histories of the faithfulness of God in the Bible, in my life and the lives of others.
4. Susan is a good example of this because she did not shrink from the pain of her loss or the pain her parents experienced in the same loss. I remember what she shared about how she and her family coped with the loss. They held together when I think it might have seemed easier to cope with her own pain and avoid the pain of her parents. Through the loss she has continued to pray and wait on God and He has given her the desire of her heart. Well one of them in her father’s salvation.
God’s fragrance is spread abroad because He has been glorified. Worldly minds will wonder at how a loss like this can result in something good like her father’s new life. He will never be the same and worldly minds CAN see that. Also, we are all greatly encouraged to persevere through our own pain. We can see how God was there all the time and are comforted that He is also with us in our pain.
“Need I mention that it was all empty.” Well put, Anne.
1. In Psalm 42, the north winds are blowing, and the psalmist keeps asking the same question of himself.
A. What is the repeated question?
“Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me?”
B. The psalmist is taking his soul in hand and asking her, “Why are you so upset, when you know your hope should be in God who can never be shaken?” The psalmist realizes he has displaced his hope in something that can be shaken. List some of the things or people you have placed your hope in that could be shaken.
One of the biggest things I often place my hope in is my own self-sufficiency. When a problem arises, I will think in my mind and make plans as to what I will do about it, how I will handle the situation, how I may manipulate circumstances to bring about a change. How foolish it is of me to not go immediately to God with any problem.
Or, I put my hope in another person, perhaps a more mature Christian who is farther along than I am in spiritual maturity, and I think that they will have the answer, the solution, to the problem. In Scripture we are admonished not to trust in man, but in God.
I’ve been going to my friend’s church to pray with a small group of people at her church who meet weekly for Spirit-led prayer. We have been praying for my dad and mom. My dad, a new “baby” Christian, is facing alot of opposition at home, and even before he was saved, there were things going on for months which I believe was the enemy really targeting him to bring him harm. I went this week, and during the prayer time, had to confess that I put my hope in this group of people, because they are so Spirit-led, mature Christians, that I just knew our prayers would be powerful to help the situation. I needed to state that it isn’t the people, but it is God, working through His servants. I know prayer is powerful, and that it is okay to seek counsel from a godly man or woman, but it is a fine line I must remember not to cross, that my hope and trust is focused on God, and how He will work, and not on the person I may be turning to for counsel.
Susan, you said:
“I know prayer is powerful, and that it is okay to seek counsel from a godly man or woman, but it is a fine line I must remember not to cross, that my hope and trust is focused on God, and how He will work, and not on the person I may be turning to for counsel.”
I agree. Done that many times, too — Worshiped the pot and forgot the Potter!
Just goes to show how easy it will be to love Him when we see Him face to face, ’cause we love so much just the glimpses of His glory we see mirrored in His children!
I love the unique way you are able to say things: worshiped the pot and forgot the Potter!
2. If you have the song from A Woman of Worship on Psalm 42, listen to it. There are two voices – one is the male psalmist, asking his soul “Why are you downcast?” Then there is a feminine voice who keeps singing back, “Put your hope in God.” What is your interpretation of these two voices?
The male voice sings alone at first, questioning his soul as to the reason for her despair. At first, it is the male voice who sings “Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him.” I can make a decision to praise God, even when I don’t feel like it at all. When I do this, at first, my praise seems “leaden” and heavy, my heart is really not in it. My mouth is saying the words, but my heart is heavy and despondent.
Then the feminine chorus begins to join in and by the end of the song, they are singing in unison. The soul is becoming encouraged again, and perhaps that is also the work of the Holy Spirit to help us to pray when we don’t have the words ourselves, but He helps us. By the end of the song, the praise sounds heartfelt and hopeful.
I definitely think it is God’s supernatural power that can take a despondent, weary soul that is just “going through the motions” of praise, and suddenly, a fire is lit, and we find our souls responding and entering into worship and praise.
Wow — I’ve been gone for a few days and come back — to read such wonderful contemplations. Such a source of strength and encouragement!
Joyce, Wow in Nebraska! You aren’t far at all. When reading everyone’s encouragement here and just hearing how God is working in everyone’s life it makes me look even more forward to the time when we will be rejoicing together with Jesus! Isn’t it great that we can do that now. Even though it isn’t in it’s fullness it is a taste and a good taste of what is yet to come!
3. If the north wind is blowing in your life right now, would you be willing to take your soul in hand and ask her, “Where have you displaced your hope?” If so, what do you learn?
It is hard to explain this, but one of my coping mechanisms is avoidance, as in, maybe the problem will just go away if I pretend it isn’t there! Or maybe someone else will step in and do something to make it go away. Or I can just go about my day to day life at home with my chores, playing with my daughter, etc…. and place my hope in the normalcy of everyday life, that everything is really all right.
Anne, I was startled to see my name in your post above, that you thought of me as someone who puts her hope in God when the north winds are blowing. You see, God has been growing me so much in this area over the past year, since Thomas’ death. As I said, it is a different and new role for me to step up and put into practice my faith. I have learned so much to help me through our studies on this blog, and from the sharing from so many about their struggles and how they learned to rely on God.
Real example was two weekends ago, because my dad has been battling something that seems to occur during the night, that I felt the urge, I hope it was from the Lord, to ask my dad if he would like me to come and spend the night at my parents’ home so I would be there during the night with him. He said okay. My husband had decided we should go see a movie that night with the kids, but I said no, I was going over to my parents and I told him why. I felt guilty for not spending the time with my family and after they left for the movie, I prayed and told God my real feelings, like I would rather be at the movie and just being a “normal, happy family” instead of having to spend the night with my dad and help him with this spiritual battle, and it didn’t have anything to do with my love for my dad, it just didn’t fit the “normal” view of life and the big, happy family with no worries or problems that I wanted to have right then!
When that north wind blew, I wanted to turn my back on it and pretend there wasn’t a problem and wait until it went away, hopefully by itself or because someone else would take care of it.
But I also have a mature Christian lady in my life who recently exhorted me to stand up for my faith, and use the “head knowledge” and live it out in practical ways!
So I take my soul in hand and say “Let’s go!” and with the Holy Spirit going with us, let’s go face this thing. And on the drive to my dad’s I’m praying and praising God, drawing from the Psalms that we have been learning in our studies here. So that night, when my dad couldn’t sleep, we read the Bible together and prayed together, and it was that night he told me how two nights earlier, he had prayed to receive Christ.
My hope is always displaced when I minimize God and fail to see that with Him, a bad situation is a chance to see how He is going to work and there is no feeling so awesome as when He uses me to be a small part of what He is doing!
Before I went to my dad’s, I talked to my best Christian friend and I was saying “What am I going to do over there? What should I do?” And I was anxious. And she said you just drive over there and take the Holy Spirit with you, that’s all. That was what I needed to be told. It’s not me, it’s Him. It was that simple.
Susan, I have read what you wrote and have been thinking hard on it since the last weeks study.. About how AWESOME it is that your dad knows Jesus now! I was SO HAPPY to hear about that.
How beautiful your post was above! You did the right thing regardless of how you felt and trusted God in it. I am sure your family ended up being o.k. even though you didn’t choose to enjoy the family night together. You really trusted God with it.
My dad doesn’t know the Lord. He is 72 and has many health issues. It is by God’s grace that he is still alive. My story of coming to know Jesus and how my dad responded is a lengthy one so I won’t go into it.
I sent him an e-mail a while ago because it seemed like he might be coming around. After he told me of his new ailments, I responded with concern and then I asked, “Dad, have you give eternity much thought? Have you thought about your relationship with God?” He has never responded and that was months ago. I keep getting e-mail and when I go see him he doesn’t talk about it. I am continuing to trust God with it.
PLEASE pray for him. I know you will. =)
Susan, this is exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned you. It would have been so easy to avoid the spiritual darkness your father was facing and that is just what your flesh wanted to do. But you faced it and made a real difference in the life of your father and experienced growth yourself.
4. We are starting to get to know one another in this blog. Is there someone whom you’ve seen put her hope in God when the North wind is blowing? What have you seen?
Wow, where do I start? Dee, Tammy, Anne, Tracy, Joyce, Gloris and Liz, Judy…..Amber, Rebecca…. all facing different struggles and trials, but the honest, unwashed sharing brings each situation down to a practical level that we can all identify with and learn from.
I think of Tammy sharing how God had to pry from her hands all the things she was holding onto instead of Him, her battle with pride in the area of spiritual knowledge; Tracy’s health problems which have forced her to lean heavily on God, Anne sharing how when she was younger made a choice to turn away from God for a time and how he brought her back, Rebecca’s daily struggles with her children and autism…. Joyce caring for Kendra…. these are all things that we can all identify with and it is inspiring to see how each of you have grown in your faith and trust in God and how He works in your lives.
What I’ve seen is a clinging to God when nothing makes sense and that He is truly the only One we can turn to.
Shaking my head in agreement as I read that. God is good. He’s in our neighborhood! (here on this blog, I mean, but neighborhood rhymes :) )
God is the only one we can turn to when times get too hard, you are so right. I remeber my mother telling me when I was a young girl, ” Ultimately there is just you and God. He is the only one that you can depend on to always be there.” This has proved so true. No matter where you put your faith and love, is it is material or human it will eventually fail–God will never fail. But sometimes when the north winds blow hard you really have to keep on trusting even when it seems so hard and God does send people into our life to encourage and offer confort to us.
Question #9- 9. How does practicing thankfulness as a daily habit, when the South Wind is blowing, better prepare you to respond when the North Wind blows?
My thoughts: I kind of go back to James 1:2-3.. When we are practicing thankfulness as a daily habit during the South wind times, we are putting into practice setting our minds on things above and not the things of the world-on Him as the author of the South Winds.
When the North winds come we will see God in the middle of it rather than focusing on our circumstances. I think North winds are gifts, or diamonds, from God. Some he allows and some he designs.
Perhaps our North winds can become South winds as we mature.
I want to press on to Maturity and that takes discipline and keeping my focus on that goal. I don’t want to look back to any accomplishments in the faith -leading women to Christ discipling them etc.. The question is where am I now? What is God teaching me now through the North and South winds in my life?
O.k. now I am going off topic a bit.. I will stop here. ;p
Dee asked (#5) for us to share our reflections on the song, “Give Thanks”.
I LOVE that song. It’s been serenading my thoughts for days now, humming gently to my soul.
“Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One. Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His son.
And now, let the weak say I am strong. Let the poor say I am rich, because of what the Lord has done for us. Give thanks….give thanks….give thanks.”
Thank you, Father for this study. Thank you for Dee. Please strengthen her with power through Your Spirit in her inner woman. (Ephesians 3:16)
Please may she have peaceful, full sleep. And if she’s awake sometimes, may it just be because she’s hearing songs in the night.
May she feel your loving arms around her. In Jesus name, Amen!
I’m going to answer question 1 now
A. He keeps asking why his soul is downcast
B.I have placed my trust in so many things. I’ve placed my trust in men, myself, friends with whom I wasn’t all that close, music, and on occasion alcohol. Of all of these things, though, I think putting my trust in myself was the most easily shaken. I thought I could fix myself, but myself was tempted to put my trust in all those other things. It’s been interesting discovering just how much I can’t do this on my own, and I can’t even do it just with other people. It has to be with God, or the foundations crumble.
Liz, I love your heart for God and your willingness to go outside yourself and look within and evaluate honestly what is going on inside. God showed it to you, but you are responding in humility. It is encouraging to me.
Liz, How are things going? I prayed for you this morning. Hope you are having a great day today!!
I just read all of our entries again so I can see the landscape of them. God is doing such a wonderful work in our lives. The fragrance will pass over the children in our care and down through generations. How beautiful.
Tracy, in your first entry you said that you felt so weak and the words passed over me. “And now, let the weak say I am strong” Praise God for our weakness and poverty because we will receive His strength and His riches. As you just said Liz, we can’t do it ourselves and that confession brings our inheritance.
Ladies, This is off topic, but I am going to ask you all something because I KNOW you will be honest.
Is it me or do you see our culture changing to where we aren’t experiencing the same kind of fellowship face to face in our churches as we are here on this blog. I know godly and encouraging fellowship is happening out there, but I think it is more the exception than the rule in our Christians circles today. Does anyone else see that?
Rebecca, you are so right!
I was in a church for 20 years before I left it in 2005. When I first went there in the late 80′s I was in a Sunday School class of women who were honest like this. It was watched very skeptically by the leadership. With time the class disbanded and all of the women left. I felt very alone. Over the years I tried to connect with women in the church but I never found anyone comfortable with spiritual conversation. During that time I joined a Moms in Touch prayer group and began to meet other Christian women which was such a blessing for me. There I met women who were not just going through the motions but were often honest about their struggles. I have 2 friends that are honest Christians and I love them dearly. Neither one goes to my church.
Also, we don’t often take the time on Sunday morning for in depth conversation and contemplation. I know that for my friend who is very busy we have to work to carve conversation and prayer time.
Lord, I know this dishonesty breaks Your heart. Please bring Your people out from behind their masks so that they may receive Your grace and be forgiven. Help us to honest with ourselves and with You. Help us to love one another so that we feel safe being honest.
We had a whole sermon series about this and still it is alive and well in this church.
Anne, I think this might be a “North Wind” in my life, as it has been really hard finding a church here, but God is turning it into a South Wind. I am changing my thinking about it. God is teaching me that regardless of where he puts us in a church body, we need to be faithful in loving others. It is about putting my hope in Him in this area-trusting Him to provide that sweet fellowship in a local body. Some people aren’t ready to go below the surface and that is o.k. Maybe God could use me in their lives in this way, in His time.
Before God brought to the surface my critical, stinking thinking I was frustrated so I just said to myself, “O.k. I will just talk about vacations, kids, movies, t.v. shows, and not try to start spiritual conversations anymore, and my prayer requests will be health and travel requests since that is all they are anyway..” -Yikes!! ;p
You are so funny! But yes, I think love is the answer.
I wonder if there aren’t that many women out there that want to go deep. Maybe we’re a minority that have concentrated here.
Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin! Thank You Lord for the internet. Thank you Dee for courageously stepping out into internet studies.
Add Ohio to the list!!
And South Dakota! (Just got back from MN — and hope to get back there soon again :-) )
and Illinois for me and Liz :)
And Georgia…
New Mexico can go on your list too
Isn’t it wonderful how Christ can make us sisters no matter our geography?
Now I’m waiting for the first out of our country!
I am from Alabama. I do agree about the depth to which people are willing to go. I have discussed it with my daughters and they agree. A lot of people seem uncomfortable wih spiritual discussion. This has changed a lot in my life time, which has been longer than many of yours I think. We still go to the church I was raised in. It is a small church but has gotten smaller over the years. I don’t think young people hear the adults prayer and tell what God has done in their lives. This used to happen on a regular basis as I was growing up and it had a profound impact on my life.
Judy,
That is so awesome that God has given you such a strong body of believers to be around for so long! I think God wants us to as we have learned in this study this week. We are to pass on His testimony in our lives to the body of Christ.
For the very last question we were invited to present some ideas to help focus on the South wind…. here are some of mine:
1. Change the atmosphere. Sometimes when the kids and/or I get into one of those discussions that just go nowhere we will all go outside and jump on the trampoline. Within minutes we usually have a better perspective to come back and talk about the important things.
2. On those nights that worry begins to get the better of my head, I will turn on worship music quietly in the background. I figure if I’m going to be awake and unable to sleep, then I’d like to spend the time doing something I don’t make enough time for during the day that I always say I want more time to do. These night hours are now my bonus worship hour(s).
3. When I can’t see any positives in a situation I list out every possible negative part to it. I acknowledge that my heart aches and I’m unhappy about things. This is how I give myself permission to just not see the answers right now… Then in a week I go back through that list to see if I’ve changed my mind about any of them. A week or two later I do it again. RARELY does anything stay on the list longer than a week or two.
4. If I’m feeling upset about something I refuse to talk about it for longer than 10 minutes per day. I figure if we give life to the things we dwell on, then my hardship is not really what I want to give life to.
5. I have learned that pretending to be fine without really dealing with the pain and frustrations I face…. only results in an emotional explosion at a time I don’t want it to happen. I now make time to fall apart when I get upset, and it doesn’t last nearly as long as it did for me to really get over things.
6. I try really hard to not take life so darn seriously. Children laugh, play, giggle and be real about what they want and need. They usually only get upset about the basics: (I’m hungry, I hurt, I’m cold, I’m hot… My feelings are hurt). I try to decide if I’m stressing over something silly….. and how a 4 year old might feel and react to the same problem. (different perspective that sometimes helps me…. mostly on PMS kind of days)
I really, really like these suggestions. Thanks for sharing them. I was not able to think half that specifically when I answered this question, so it blesses me a lot to read what you’ve come up with!
Amber, I copy/pasted this into a word document to keep, and I read them to my daughter, Liz (who comments on this blog. She’s 19) just now while we ate a late lunch together. Here’s our conversation about #5….
Me: “I agree, but I think I want to “fall apart” WITH God. He’s the one that can put me back together again. Like Humpty Dumpty when he fell off the wall, those people put him back together again.
Liz: Remember, Mom, they COULDN’T put him back together again — “All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again.”
Me: oh. There goes my analagy.
Liz: But those were the king’s horses and men, not the King. HE could do it.
Me: genius! Reminds me of my favorite verse, “Pour your heart out to Him, ’cause He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Liz: :)
Anyway, thanks for inspiring this dialogue between a mother and her daughter whose relationship had recently “fallen apart”, but, through this blog, and the Bible study, and Jesus’ love for both of them, are learning to let Him put them back together again. Gloris
This gives me goosebumps! Thanks for sharing — so encouraging.
OH…. so sweet! One of my favorite things to do is pick apart ideas and thoughts over lunch with friends to make them my own. WHO better to sit and ponder things with than a precious momma and daughter.
THANK YOU for telling me about that, I’m grinning from ear to ear at the thought.
loved it Gloris and dear daughter!
Psalm 131
Wow.. After a long day yesterday I missed checking up on you all. I read this last night and wow! How awesome to see even more testimony of God’s power in Liz’s life.
Gloris, LOVE this story. Thanks so much for passing on your testimony of God’s power in your life!
Rebecca,
I will be praying for your dad. I understand your concern for his salvation. Several years ago, I met my parents at the airport when they came home from a trip. It was late, around midnight, and the airport, a small one, was almost deserted. They came walking down a long hallway, just the two of them. They looked tired and weary. And it struck me, watching them, that when they stepped out into eternity, who would be there to meet them, as it were, walking down that long hallway? And it broke my heart to think that Jesus would not be there to meet them.
A couple of years after that, I got up the nerve to buy for them a Bible for Christmas. I left it in their bedroom the day before Christmas, with a letter to them, because I wanted them to open it by themselves. That Bible went untouched for a few years. Now, my dad is reading it. All I can say is that you can continue to plant seeds, share God’s Word, when you can, if an opportunity arises where it is applicable, and trust that His Word never returns void. It is only the Holy Spirit that can “turn on the lightbulb”. I prayed for my dad that the scales would fall from his eyes, that God would open his heart and mind, that He would release him from Satan who had blinded his mind and darkened his heart. I had others praying. I saw how God began to work after his grandson died last year. Never would I have thought that dad would agree to meet with a pastor, or agree to begin reading John, but God was at work. Pray for your dad and bring him into the throne room with you, so to speak, as you pray for him. I encourage you to make your prayers bold and courageous.
I know it’s hard. I’m still praying for my mom. Dad’s heart was soft toward God, mom’s is hard. Mom is a “you pull yourself up by your own bootstraps” type of person. I get discouraged because I can’t seem to make any headway with her. But then I have to remind myself that it’s not me who has to make an inroad into her heart, that’s God’s job. I’ve explained the good news about Jesus to her, and it’s had no effect.
Well, we have to keep persevering in prayer, and planting those seeds, and building a strong and loving relationship with them. And believe that God will move!
Susan, Great insight! It just dawned on me. I need to buy my dad a bible. I have given him a Lee Stroble book, and “More than a Carpenter”. I don’t think he has touched them. I was afraid the door would slam shut if I gave him a bible, but I am thinking now might be a good time. I am going to pray more intently for my dad, and your suggestions on how to pray for him are excellent.
Thanks Susan!
Had a great time this morning with my friends whom I do the study with face-to-face. We meet every Friday morning.
Today cried together and laughed and sang together as we shared what we’d gleaned from both the blog and the book.
We’re all facing heartache of some kind in the group; concern for children, divorce, etc., but we all left encouraged today that, though life is hard, God is good.
Please pray for one of the ladies in particular. Her name is Karen, and her good friend, Kim, took her own life last Monday. Kim had isolated herself from her family and friends recently. She checked herself into a local hotel (Karen did not know this) for a week and swallowed a bunch of pills on Monday. She was found “prostrate on the floor in prayer”. Not sure exactly what that means.
sigh. It’s been a wake up call to my Friday a.m. “Woman of Worship” friends to be better friends. To “interfere” in each other’s business if we see anything concerning.
And my friend, Karen, the one in our group who was the closest to Kim, told us that if we were ever feeling down, to call her. We wouldn’t have to talk long, she said, just a few minutes, just long enough to pray together and to “hear there’s someone out there who loves you”.
The immersion in the Psalms through this study has been a healing balm to us this week.
Thanks for your prayers, Gloris
Great reminder Gloris-
For me to call up those that I notice have slipped into the background for awhile.
I’m glad your friend Karen has your loving shoulders to support her through this time of loss.
Gloris, I’ll be praying for your friend, Karen. How sad.
Praying for Karen and the family of Kim. How devastating this must be for them.
I need prayer this week. Am leaving for FL tomorrow with my children and grandchildren. First vacation since Tim died. I will miss him very bad, we all loved going the beach together. My youngest daughter especially shared the beach with her Dad. She is looking forward to going but knows she will miss his companionship greatly. We have all reminded one another of the fact that Heaven is a much more beautiful place than the beach( and has no oil or tarballs). We plan to have a short devotional each night with psalms as the basis. Since I have three grandsons, 5, 13, & 14 years old we plan to use this as another opportunity to pass our experiences of God’s greatness down to our children and children’s children. We could all use some prayer support for this.
Will be praying for you Judy! ♥
prayed! Oh, may you have a beautiful new time of fun and fellowship and love. Gloris
Judy, I’ll be praying for you & your families safe trip & special sharing times together.
5. Listen to the song “Give Thanks” and share your thoughts.
The song reminded me that the primary reason I have to give thanks is that God sent His Son, Jesus.
6. Read Psalm 78:1-16.
A. Summarize verses 1-4 in one sentence.
The mighty and wondrous works the Lord has done are meant to be shared with others; to be passed on to future generations.
B. You could call this passage “forget not”. Find some verses that reiterate this theme. What are we to not forget? Why?
v.4 “But tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord,
and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.”
Backing up to verse 3, the psalmist states that he has this knowledge because “our fathers have told us.”
v.5 “For He established a testimony in Jacob,
and appointed a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers,
that they should teach them to their children”
God commands us to instruct our children about Him.
v.6 “That the generation to come might know, even the children
yet to be born”
v.7 “That they should put their confidence in God,
and not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments”
v.8 “And not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation that did not prepare its heart,
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.”
We must teach the younger generation that their hope must be in God, that the world will never ultimately satisfy them. Why? To keep them from rebelling against God, and turning their hearts away from Him.
vv. 10-11
“They did not keep the covenant of God
and refused to walk in His law;
and they forgot His deeds,
and His miracles that He had shown them.”
Forgetting leads to sin, it is an offense against God who has done so many great and wonderful things for His people.
Verses 12-16 are a summary of the miraculous things God did for His people leading them out of Egypt. You’d think that the parting of the sea would be something people would never, ever forget, but they did. Yet I have to look at myself and see how quickly I can lose an attitude of gratitude to the Lord for what He has done for me.
C. What verse stands out to you from this passage, and why?
Verse 7, and I will personalize it:
“That Susan should put her confidence in God,
And not forget the works of God,
But keep His commandments.”
I think this goes back to our discussion of misplaced hope, and the things or people we want to hold onto to fill up that empty space in our hearts. This verse says to me that a key for my confidence and hope being in God is to remember, first of all, who this God is: He is the God who parted the Red Sea and when I read the Old Testament I learn about Who this Lord God Almighty is, and this is the same God, who never changes, that is at work in my life today. I have to get to know Him through His Word. Secondly, then I must remember how He has worked in my life and the wonderful things He has done for me, beginning with how He brought me to Himself. All of this should inspire me to want to trust and obey Him.
O.k. I must tell of God’s power and mercy in my eldest son, Eli’s, life last night. He is eleven years old.
He woke me up and to make a long story short he said he wasn’t sure he knew Jesus. This was after me pointing out a few days ago about a lack of responsibility in his life in regard to admitting when he does stuff that is wrong. He tends to blame shift. He came to me crying saying he is tired of lying all the time. This is huge for him. He is a believer but I wasn’t sure in the past because he didn’t seem to have a sensitivity toward his sin.
In short, he repented last night before God and nailed it down that he wants to live for him.
The fragrance spilled out onto his little brother Jake whom he tends to be mean to a lot. He admitted the things he did to antagonize him and Jake who is 6 forgave him and admitted how it makes him feel when he did those things to him. They hugged and it totally warmed my heart. A huge gift from God to me! I am so thrilled!!! Big brothers antagonizing little brothers and being mean can be pretty normal sibling stuff, but to see my son sincerely apologize and hug Jake ON HIS OWN without my prodding, is totally of the Lord!!
I would have to say in answer to Dee’s question #7. One of the simple pleasures God has given me as a mom is seeing Him working in my boys’ lives. Another thing happened last night as we conversed. Elijah broke down sobbing for a boy he mentioned at school last year who no one likes, even the nice kids don’t like him. He broke down when he told me he saw the boy with his head down on a table crying one time. I asked him what he did, he said he went over to him asking him if he was o.k. The boy was angry in his response, but Elijah went and sat next to him anyway. Eli thinks this boy has a bad home life too as he is angry all the time and cusses a lot.
Eli has the gift of Mercy as I have seen him literally break down crying for others who are hurting. He befriends the unlovely’s at school as well.
God is showing me through Elijah His heart for the broken hearted-i have seen a glimpse of God’s love and how he weeps for us when we are hurt through my son. What a gift!!
That’s awesome!
Rebecca, this is truly wonderful! How able God is when we trust in Him!
Psalm 133
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Running down on the beard,
The beard of Aaron,
Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
Life forevermore.
Lord, thank You for Your Breath upon Rebecca’s garden. We pray for Your continued work in the hearts of Eli and Jake. Give Rebecca and her husband wisdom as they continue to speak to their boys of the things You have done and look expectantly for what You will do.
Rejoicing with you Rebecca!
7. Let’s practice thankfulness for everyday life right now. List a few simple pleasures you do not want to forget.
I am thankful for my best Christian friend, Linda, who I can share anything with, even my ugly sins, and it’s always safe to do so; we don’t judge each other and we can talk about God together and pray together and we love each other no matter what.
I am thankful that God put it on Dee’s heart to do the God of All Comfort study online, because it helped me reach out to God and grapple with hard questions when my nephew died. It gave me a place to share my feelings and to receive support and prayer back.
In the winter, I am thankful for cups of hot tea and a warm afghan and the couch!
I am thankful for the late summer and fall “music” – the crickets and frogs and locusts that I enjoy hearing, especially at night with the window open.
I am thankful for the feeling of my children in my arms when I hug them; the two boys are 16 and 19 and my daughter is 10; I especially loved to hold them and snuggle with them when they were small. I can still do this with my daughter.
I am thankful that somehow (!), God was able to get ahold of me, who wasn’t raised in a Christian home and didn’t know Him. He saved my older sister when she was 52, and now He’s got my dad.
I am thankful that He led me to this blog, to women who live out their faith and are honest and transparent and show His love.
Susan, I too am thankful for Dee’s ministry, this blog and the women God has brought to this blog. God is working through Dee in a huge way in our lives.
Amen!
could someone pray that my family will have a great time with our extended family today? Family reunion. Lots of pain and disappointments in the past, but may this be a day of love and acceptance and laughter among us; a south wind kinda day! Thanks everybody! Gloris
Summery south winds to Gloris & her family today, Lord. I love how she showers it down on others and I’d be really excited to hear how you honor her seeds…. by blessing her in return.
Amen
Lord,please bring healing in this family today. Thank you for bringing them together in reunion, may it be a true reunion of hearts. Permeate every heart and every conversation with Your precious Spirit this day. Place a hedge of protection around this gathering. May the enemy have no power there this day.
Can we pray for my son Joey(14)today too? I need God’s leading in how to proceed with him. Satan is forging strongholds in his heart. He does not have a good relationship with his father and the church is failing him too. His school situation is horrible too. I have not been as strong as he needs me to be either.
Lord
I thank you for hearing the cries of a mother. Give Anne insight from your word today. She longs to be a loving mother who honors you with her decisions. I ask you Lord to place your thoughts in Joey’s mind today. We have an enemy who enjoys messing with the minds of teenagers. Give Anne strength to speak your truth with loving speech. Amen.
Amen. Thank you Tammy.
Lord I ask right now that you remind Anne in a way that melts her heart that you alone are going to be all that her son needs. She is his mom and loves the boy dearly…. but YOU can and always will be able to fill the voids and places that people often fail one another.
Give her son the role models in his life that will help him sustain through the failures and abandonment that he suffers. Protect his tender heart from rejection and bitterness. Allow him to see how much his mother loves him, during the times that he is unable to see others caring about him. Shift the atmosphere around this boy and allow your love and light to penetrate the places that the enemy is trying to use to destroy this family.
Lord, you alone are enough…. we know there are many boys that struggle with the rejection of a father and the devastation of that can be so great for a mother to see and be helpless to prevent. I know you’ve promised to look after the orphans and have covered each of them with special grace to become stronger in things that the world says weakens them. Thank you Lord for the heart of a mother that is not too proud to cry out for help, when she needs some TLC for her sweet boy. Cover her too, with the encouragment and care that she needs right now.
In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, AMEN!!
ANNE….. PS the sweet side of your boy WILL come out again! Watch for glimpses of it and be encouraged that the Lord has this battle under control.
Amen Lord! Thank you so much Amber. You are here when I need you my sisters and I am crying. Not for sad though.
Lord, I thank you for Anne’s precious and faithful heart toward you, and I praise you that you are hearing her cry out for Joey. Let her feel your comfort right now. Give her your peace and confidence in knowing you will work out your plans in Joey’s life and in your time. Lord, you know the pain in Joey’s heart that Satan takes delight in. I ask that you pry away each stronghold Satan has on Joey’s heart and bring Joey to repentance. Give him a teachable spirit. Strengthen their church body there in the youth ministry so that others will see his need and reach out in a sacrificial way. Surround him with love from his church this Sunday. I ask specifically for someone to reach out to him and for Joey to be open to respond and embrace that love. Stir Joey’s heart to seek you and to read your word. THANK you Lord for your grace and mercy in Anne’s life and for her tender, teachable heart.
Thank you Rebecca. I am so encouraged. While I know in my head that it is not all up to me, it is sometimes hard to really live like I know it.
Anne, I can relate! Will you pray for us as we visit another church this Sunday and just pray that God will make it totally clear to my husband and I by uniting our hearts that it is the right church home. Pray for my 11 year old that he would like it and someone would reach out to him and his brother Isaac who has h.f. autism.
Thanks!!
Lord I pray that You will guide Rebecca and her family to the church that You have for them. A place of sweet fellowship for each member of her family. Lord I know that just as people are not perfect, neither are churches. We don’t expect perfection but I ask that they will be loved and experience true fellowship in Your Spirit. If this church they will visit tomorrow is right for them I pray you will confirm it with each member of the family.
Amen
Praying for Joey! My son, Andy, is 15. Up and down, up and down, the moods swing. Oh, Father, give Anne wisdom with Joey. May she know what to do and how to love him. May she just be a genius about it. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
5. Share thoughts on song “Give Thanks”.
This song tells us that God is the only one who deserves our thanks for he gave all he had in order for us to have eternal life. I’ve been pondering the phrases ‘let the weak say I am strong’ and ‘let the poor say I am rich’ all week. I see that I am indeed a weak sheep who is unable to fix anything in her life. I need the strength of Christ to face each day and to face alot of ugly truth about my selfish tendencies. Just this week God tenderly used a sermon to get the truth into my heart that I have been practicing the sin of gossip. He let me know that my heart has been off kilter and when I gossip I am participating in a wicked and vile act. I’m beginning to see how easy a trap it is to fall into if I am not aware of the danger. Needless to say I plan to heed the warning and stop sinning in this area. As the pastor said in the sermon it’s better to suffer because of gossip than to be the one who started the fire of gossip.
I may never be wealthy according to the standards of the world but that’s okay because I belong to the One who owns the whole world and what he has belongs to me also. On the spiritual side, I am now rich in the areas I once lacked. Rich in mercy toward others, more patient with others, more compassionate toward others, and learning to be more gentle with others. I can do none of those things without Christ Jesus.
Another song of thankfulness that comes to mind is ‘Count Your Blessings’. I can better sing this song everyday if I sing it before I begin my day. I find that if I sing first thing then the song reverberates through my mind as I work.
Count Your Blessings
When upon life’s billows, you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with al load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands of gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Chorus
Count your many blessings name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your many blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
6.A. Summarize verses 1-4 in one sentence.
Make sure you find a way to tell those not yet born about the faithfulness of God.
B.What are we to “not forget”? Why?
We are not to forget God’s strength and His wonderful works. v.4
We are not to forget how God rescued His people from the land of slavery and led them to the promised land through the wilderness.vv.12-14
We are not to forget how God took care of His people in the wilderness.
vv.15-16,24-29.
We are not to forget how the Israelites rebelled against God and were denied living in the promised land because of unbbelief. vv.30,31,40.
We need to remember these things so we can keep ourselves humble before God and be grateful for our blessings. We need to remember that when we cop an attitude of ungratitude and complain against God we are, in reality, giving praise to Satan.
C. What verse stands out to you from this passage and why?
It struck me when I read verse 67: “Moreover He rejected the tent of Joseph, and did not choose the tribe of Ephraim…”, that Joseph who proved to be so faithful in his day, his descendants proved to be so unfaithful God removed His blessing from them. I think these are sad words considering the life of Joseph. How ironic that salvation for the world came not from the tribe who was faithful but from the one who was responsible for Joseph being sold into slavery. (Gen. 37:26-28)
7. List a few simple pleasures that you do not want to forget.
There is nothing better than a tomato sandwich made with a fresh off the vine tomato. I have been most grateful for air-conditioning these past days as we experienced a heat wave in our area of the country. I enjoy bird watching out my kitchen window. I especially enjoy watching them cool off in the bird bath. Sitting in bed on a Saturday morning reading a book is something I also enjoy.
8. What do you learn from Anne speaking at her Dad’s funeral about “giving thanks”?
I learned we are to express gratefulness no matter the circumstance. Dee, my inital thought after hearing Anne speak, was what a well poised young lady she was at seventeen. How exciting that she is due to give birth soon.
9. Practicing thankfulness as a daily habit when the South Wind is blowing prepares me for the North Winds in that it forms a barrier against bitterness and ingratitude.
Some months ago, I began a gratitude journal but it fell to the wayside. I think now would be a good time to begin keeping a journal of gratefulness. Writing down daily who/what I am thankful for.
All of you guys are number one on the list.
I am praying for all of you and your mentioned friends. Have a blessed week-end. Love to all.
5. Share your thoughts on “Give Thanks”.
I’ve been pondering the lines ‘let the weak say I am strong’ and ‘let the poor say I am rich’ all week. I am indeed a weak sheep who cannot fix anything about herself. I need the strength of Christ to face the ugliness of my selfish tendencies and I need to daily ask for His strength to heed the warning not to keep sinning in certain areas of my life.
I am now rich in Christ’s mercies and compassions, comfort and healing, gentleness and patience. I can shower others with these riches and as I do so, I help spread his fragrance abroad.
One song that comes to mind concerning thankfulness is Count Your Blessings. I find when I focus on the goodness of God I don’t have time to focus on all the wrong that is occuring in my life.
6.A. Summarize verses 1-4 in one sentence.
Make sure you find a way to tell those yet to be born about the faithfulness of God.
B.What are we not to forget? Why?
We are not to forget how God rescued his people out of the land of Egypt and let them through the Red Sea. vv.12-13
We are not to forget how he led them through the wilderness and how he provided for them. vv.14-16
We are also not to forget that a generation of God’s people rebelled against him and were denied entrance into the promised land because of their unbelief. v.8
We are not to forget that the consequences of unbelief are life-changing. When we walk with God in gratitude, we are blessed with spiritual riches beyond measure. When we forget God and began living in complaint, we are, in reality, giving praise to Satan, thereby cutting ourselves off from our very reason for living-praising God.
C. What verse stands out to you from this passage and why?
I have verse 7 underlined and referenced to Joshua 23:3,9,11.
That they [Tammy] may set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.
Joshusa 23: 3,9,11
3) You have seen all that the LORD God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He has fought for you.
9) For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations,; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.
11) Therefore take careful heed to yourselves that you love the LORD your God.
Having come through a great wilderness, I see that my south winds are about to beging blowing. I heard it stated in a sermon many months ago ‘when times get good don’t forget God’. And I don’t want to forget all God has done for me. Pslam 78:7 is to be my memory bank. I want to live the rest of my days keeping His commandments because I certainly do not want to end up in the wilderness again. It may be worse the second go round. I want to avoid unfaithfulness.
7. List a few simple pleasures.
Simple pleasures for me are eating a sandwich made with a fresh picked off the vine ripe tomato, air-conditioning, watching the birds enjoying the bird bath.
8. What do you learn?
I learned from Anne to express thankfulness no matter the circumstance.
9. Practicing thankfulness during the south wind helps to prepare for the north wind because it forms a barrier against bitterness and complaint.
My idea for incorporating daily thankfulness is to begin keeping a gratitude journal. I can daily journal what I am grateful for. All of you guys are number one on the list. Am praying for you all and especially Karen and Kim’s family. Have a blessed weekend with your family Judy. Love to each one. Blessings!!
A gratitude journal is a great idea Tammy. Just doing question 7 was so uplifting.
Reading all of the above just keeps me humble & thankful for one another here. Praying for each other as we go along. I feel thankful when I hear others stories & their problems because if you look around, someone else always has it worse than you do. Another way I like to be thankful is to think of everything I am thankful for the minute I first wake up in the morning & praising God. Little things I take for granted (and are simple pleasures for me also)like a warm/cool nice home & comfy bed & clean water & food to eat & clean clothes to put on & fresh clean air & the love & support of my family. It helps when I see Selah sing “You raise me up” on youtube. (Don’t know how to get it to click on for you) I feel so thankful for our lives when I see that. Also I think of people like Joni Eareckson Tada that have to have people help her all the time & like Nick Vujicic (on youtube also) that have no arms or legs, only 2 toes on the trunk of his body & how he does so many things for himself. When I get to feeling sorry for myself I think of them & how they love the Lord & are on fire for the Lord. I have a difficult time caring for Kendra because I lifted her so much over the years with a bad back already out of the tub & when she would siezure & etc. & now my back so so bad I need it fused & can only stand about 5 minutes & can’t sit for long either. But I’m so thankful that I have arms & legs & not in a wheelchair. I feel so blessed that God saved me also when I was not raised in a christian home. I’m so blessed also with this wonderful study & all my christian friends on here. I have a girlfriend also that we have been close to one another over the last 27 years that I can take my problems to & pray with & study the word with & cry with & I’m so blessed to have her also. I just feel so thankful for all God have given me.
You Raise Me Up is also one of my favorites Joyce. I found this one which is good. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2sZuJbxi8Y Then I also liked this one. I don’t know who Josh Grogan is but I see the American Idol logo so I admit it, I live under a rock. What I love is the African Children’s Chior and looking at their beautiful smiling faces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OOhd6R2EiY
Thanks, Anne and Joyce! Father, please help Joyce with her back. Thank you that she is having a glass-half-full attitude about it. Please strengthen her back in Jesus’ name, amen.
Question #8. I just had time to watch Anne’s video. How powerful.. I got teary eyed. I learned as a parent the impact of truly living thankful-what it has on your children. Not just talking about it but living it. When she said he didn’t have to have the latest greatest but was satisfied with what he had. He lived it. What an encouragement.
Dee, I have been meaning to ask you this, but what is your favorite commentary and what commentary or study tools would you recommend?
I have different favorites for different books. For the Psalms, I like Derek Kidner, who has an inexpensive paperback on the psalms, and Tim Keller’s sermons on the psalms (Redeemer.com) and Charles Spurgeon’s Treasury of David. On the psalms of lament in particular, Michael Card has good material. I also list some of these in the back of The God of All Comfort and footnote many in A Woman of Worship.
Thanks Dee. That helps!
5. As I think about the song “Give Thanks” I realize that we can always thank the Lord for not only south winds but also the north. I was thinking just a few days ago about how our weakness and poverty turn the Lord’s eye toward us and how the greatest of pleasures is to experience His strength within me and to understand the riches of His presence in my life. I get daily emails from Voice of the Martyrs and I would like to copy the one from that day here.
“Sometimes I miss those days of persecution!”
The words came from an Iranian pastor who had escaped to the West. In Iran, arrest and police harassment were common experiences. He had even lost his home and job because of his faith. Now he was free to live and worship wherever he wished. How could he long for the days of persecution?
“Sometimes I miss those days,” he said, “because I was so alive. I felt every day that Jesus was with me.”
The pastor had planted a church near the front lines of the Iran–Iraq war. He earned money by driving a taxi and grew his church by sharing Christ with his passengers. In two years, he had won souls from nine language groups. Many soldiers worshiped with them each week, and he had baptized fifteen Muslim converts.
The pastor and his wife counted on God for everything. When the bombs of war fell around them, they prayed for his protection. When there wasn’t enough money, they prayed for his provision. And each day God came through for them.
Their ministry was rewarded. Ten members of his church have gone on to become pastors. Even now, the pastor can see fruit from the time of ministry at the front lines.
If you’ve never been in love, you cannot understand what it is to be heartbroken. If you have never lost a loved one, you cannot truly relate to those who mourn. You cannot understand a longing for something you have never experienced. Those who have been persecuted for their faith describe a peculiar longing. They long not for the persecution as much as they long for the sense of fellowship their persecution brought them. They don’t miss the torture as much as they miss what the torture taught them. The end result far outweighs the suffering. If you want to experience a deeper walk with Jesus, you must be willing to obediently sacrifice for him. That is also a type of suffering.
Is this not amazing testimony? I have heard similar from 2 other persecuted Christians. Brother Yun and Brother Andrew both said in so many words that Christians in America are truly poor. I think that they and Richard Wurmbrand refused to stay here in safety. I hope I am not confusing my facts.
Lately I have had my share of anxiety over the economy and our government. I find myself wondering how to plan for this event or that, not really able to imagine how things may happen, but thinking they can’t go on as they are right now. I worry too about how my boys will be able to make it. Into these thoughts the Lord spoke peace to me. He will be our strength and our riches no matter what may come. He will draw my boys to Himself, not me.
Thanks, Anne. Very encouraging. The BP oil spill, the economy, etc, may end up being just the thing many people needed to come to Him.
6a. Verses 1-4 tell us not to discount the teaching of our elders and do not neglect to teach our children about God and what He has done.
b. We must not forget what God has done because remembering will build our faith and will pass it to the next generation. I find passages The Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:1-4. All of Deut 11 and particularly 11:18-21. Chills and goose bumps! It seems to me that without this part it is not possible to keep the rest of the command, which is to love and obey God. When we listen to our elders and teach our children we are passing on the ability to love and obey God. Is this our part of keeping God’s covenants?
c. Verse 16 stands out to me because it says He brought streams out of the stone and made water flow down like rivers. Sometimes life seems as hard as stone and it is so wonderful to know that He will bring life giving water(His presence)in the hardest of times.
7. Now the fun part. I am thankful that I am washed in the blood of Jesus and that my name is written in His book of life! I am thankful for my husband and sons, my sister and her family and my friends. I love a crisp New England apple in the fall, especially if I picked it off the tree. Ditto for peaches in South Carolina. I love tea with a friend followed by time to pray as long as we like. Bread and jam. Sitting anywhere and gazing at creation particularly the way droplets of water create jewels in the woods when the sun comes out. 2 year olds in the nursery. Lying on the ground and looking up at the sky through trees. Sailboats on the water. Thunderstorms. The face of a dog or cat. Swinging out on a rope swing and dropping into the water (had to pass that up just the other day, Sis says we’re too old:( So even better I got to watch Joey do it for the first time (he loved it of course).
How wonderful. I feel so good now.
8. Anne is so beautiful and not just on the outside. I remember some of what you have shared about Anne and her difficulty with attachment. She has grown so. What stands out to me more than any of the things she said was that living thankfully is so much better than living not thankfully. So true! But how easily I forget.
That was Beth that had the difficulty with attachment I believe. They are both beautiful daughters.
Oh. I do tend to get my facts confused..
Wonderful sharing and also life-giving words.
I’ll post tomorrow — so share your final thoughts on these psalms and questions!
I’d love to hear your thoughts on the picture on this post.
Blessed Sunday!
Dee, the picture of the lady in the beautiful dress on this post is intriging. I’d love the hear the story about it.
Does the picture have something to do with the south wind blowing? Everything is blowing on the lady & the birds are flying.
Thank you for prayers for Joey. We did manage to come to an understanding and I am encouraged. Someone did reach out to him at church:) Even though I am not comfortable there like I once was, worship was very meaningful for me today, and the sermon was on Hosea and Gomer. Punchline was, we are not Hosea…
Thinking about you and the reunion Gloris.
AWESOME!!! I am so glad to hear that about Joey and so glad you had a blessed morning as well.
Rebecca, How was your morning?
I want to share a song I heard this morning. It is the closest thing to lament I have heard on contemporary Christian radio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOHJghBU0XA Better Than A Hallelujah-Amy Grant
Anne, Great song!
Yes, it went great this morning. =)
It also seems every where we go here in Kansas people know my friends from my church in Missouri where we used to live. It is really awesome how God works.
It is good to have connections back to home in a new place.
In the painting it looks like she is planting seed and even though the wind is blowing it is falling toward the ground. Another thing I notice is that the garden is her dress with porticoes and trees and flowers. There is color only in her hat and dress, the shawl and banner have only the beginning of color. Also, there is no color in the fringe at the bottom and seems to increase going up the dress. The birds are behind her possibly in the shawl itself. There is no color in her skin or hair. Is she wearing her garden? The only thing I am reasonably sure of is that her garden is not finished. I think the red hat may be significant. Perhaps of her salvation because without that there would be no garden. There is something red in the area of her chest which might be her heart, alive with life. It seems that the wind would be north since she is facing into it and I am beginning to think that the faint color is the fragrance. She seems to be cultivating her garden even in the north wind.
Aleona Isakov’s (the artist) description of her art– and other art based on Song of Solomon: http://web.me.com/alangel/e/Song_of_Solomon.html
or to buy the print :)
http://www.redbubble.com/people/aleonart/art/3424166-2-awake-north-wind-and-come-south-wind
Hmm. . .maybe the links require this post to be “moderated” ??
Wow Renee, the movie was really beautiful.
Oh, wow! Even a movie with attention to details of her art!
http://web.me.com/alangel/portfolio/Movie.html
I posted the link to the “movie” before I watched it —- it’s so much more than a “movie.” I don’t even have the words to describe it, but what an amazing presentation of the gospel through Song of Solomon.
Renee — you are the web Master! That was absolutely lovely and I didn’t know about it at all! Thank you.
This is the amazing story of how God is using this humble Russian artist. http://web.me.com/alangel/e/Story.html Be sure to watch the video Beauty by God. Thank you Renee for finding this!
9. How does practicing thankfulness as a daily habit, when the South Wind is blowing, better prepare you to respond when the North Wind blows?
If my heart stops to think about my blessings and to say thank You for them, the memory of them is there when the north winds blow. They are like insulation from the cold. I quickly remember His love and faithfulness.
How might you better incorporate practicing the habit of thankfulness? Specific ideas are welcome!
I am now a firm believer in journaling and of the exercise we did in this post when we just wrote down the things we are thankful for.
Thanks to all of you for your prayers this weekend. Tammy you prayed that God would speak to me from the Word. He showed me as I was doing the study questions that I need to be talking to Joey and teaching him of God’s faithfulness. I’m not sure how to do this now as he is a little old for Bible stories but I trust God will show me.