1/28/10
Greater than Our Hearts by Charles Wesley (alt.Matthew Smith)
Greater Than Our Hearts
You who are greater than our hearts,
Come make your faithful mercies known,
The mind of Christ to us impart
Your constant mind in us be shown
O let us by your cross abide,
You, only you, resolved to know
The Lamb for sinners crucified,
A world to save from endless woe
Take us into your people's rest,
And we from our own works shall cease
With your meek Spirit arm our breast,
And keep our minds in perfect peace
Jesus, for this we calmly wait,
O let our eyes behold you near
Hurry to make our heaven complete,
Appear, our glorious God, appear
You who are greater than our hearts,
Come make your faithful mercies known,
The mind of Christ to us impart
Your constant mind in us be shown
O let us by your cross abide,
You, only you, resolved to know
The Lamb for sinners crucified,
A world to save from endless woe
Take us into your people's rest,
And we from our own works shall cease
With your meek Spirit arm our breast,
And keep our minds in perfect peace
Jesus, for this we calmly wait,
O let our eyes behold you near
Hurry to make our heaven complete,
Appear, our glorious God, appear
1/26/10
Conversations with Other People's Kids
During the kindergarten ten commandments review session ...
Me - "Does God want us to use images of gold or silver to worship him?"
Kindergarten Boy - "Gold!"
Me - "Does God want us to use images of gold or silver to worship him?"
Kindergarten Boy - "Gold!"
1/25/10
From "Poor Sinner Dejected with Fear by William Gadsby
"Come just as thou art, with thy woe,
Fall down at the feet of the Lamb;
He will not, He cannot say, “Go”,
But surely will take out thy stain
A fountain is opened for sin,
And thousands its virtues have proved
He’ll take thee, and plunge thee therein,
And wash thee from filth in His blood."
Fall down at the feet of the Lamb;
He will not, He cannot say, “Go”,
But surely will take out thy stain
A fountain is opened for sin,
And thousands its virtues have proved
He’ll take thee, and plunge thee therein,
And wash thee from filth in His blood."
1/21/10
Elementary School Nightmares
Phenomenons like 'Pants on the Ground' are cruel, cruel jokes on elementary school teachers.
1/19/10
Quiz Answers
I gave a quiz in World History today. The question was ... What form of writing did the Mesopotamians invent. The correct answer is cuneiform. One example of an incorrect answer is cornography.
1/18/10
A Prayer for the Broken Hearted by Chelsey Scott
A Prayer For The Broken Hearted
No day in my life has past,
That hasn't proved me guilty
Prayers are uttered too fast
From a heart that's cold and empty.
Oh Blessed Jesus,
May we find a covert in thy wounds
Though our sins, they rise to meet us,
How they fall next to the merits of you
Oh, all in me calls for this
It calls for my rejection
This heavy unrighteousness,
Oh is there no protection?
My best services are rags, my best deeds are filthy.
Grant me hear thy shoring voice,
That in thy wounds is pardon
Grant me see thy willing choice
To make my hard heart softened
Keep the broken-hearted sure,
Clinging to thy cross, our cure.
No day in my life has past,
That hasn't proved me guilty
Prayers are uttered too fast
From a heart that's cold and empty.
Oh Blessed Jesus,
May we find a covert in thy wounds
Though our sins, they rise to meet us,
How they fall next to the merits of you
Oh, all in me calls for this
It calls for my rejection
This heavy unrighteousness,
Oh is there no protection?
My best services are rags, my best deeds are filthy.
Grant me hear thy shoring voice,
That in thy wounds is pardon
Grant me see thy willing choice
To make my hard heart softened
Keep the broken-hearted sure,
Clinging to thy cross, our cure.
1/16/10
Conversations with the Boys
Rebecca let the boys try to take a nap together. She told them they had fifteen minutes to fall asleep. If they weren't asleep, the experiment was over. She overheard...
Joshua - "When I tickle you, don't giggle."
We visited Rebecca's grandmother in Columbus, Georgia. She lives in a retirement center. We ate lunch in a room full of people who probably don't watch a lot of PBS Kids. Andrew was dressed as Super Why and doing a little more screaming than the Bistro was accustomed to. I was walking him out of the room when an elderly gentlemen addressed him.
Elderly Man - "Well hello, Batman."
Andrew screaming over my shoulder - "I'M NOT BATMAN!!!"
Joshua - "When I tickle you, don't giggle."
We visited Rebecca's grandmother in Columbus, Georgia. She lives in a retirement center. We ate lunch in a room full of people who probably don't watch a lot of PBS Kids. Andrew was dressed as Super Why and doing a little more screaming than the Bistro was accustomed to. I was walking him out of the room when an elderly gentlemen addressed him.
Elderly Man - "Well hello, Batman."
Andrew screaming over my shoulder - "I'M NOT BATMAN!!!"
1/14/10
Conversations with Andrew
Andrew was rocked and ready for bed when he announced he wanted to poo poo in the potty. When he finished he received praise.
Rebecca - "Andrew, you poo pooed in the potty!"
Andrew, with arms raised, "Yeah! Like mommy and daddy and Jesus and Elmo."
I'm in good company.
Rebecca - "Andrew, you poo pooed in the potty!"
Andrew, with arms raised, "Yeah! Like mommy and daddy and Jesus and Elmo."
I'm in good company.
1/13/10
Lo, the Storms of Life are Breaking by Henry Alford
Lo The Storms Of Life Are Breaking
Lo the storms of life are breaking,
Faithless fears our hearts are shaking
For our succor undertaking,
Lord and Savior, help us!
Lo! The world from Thee rebelling,
Round Thy Church in pride is swelling
With Thy word their madness quelling,
Lord and Savior, help us!
By Thy birth, Thy cross, and passion
By Thy tears of deep compassion
By Thy mighty intercession
Lord and Savior, help us!
On Thine own command relying,
We our onward task are plying
Unto Thee for safety sighing,
Lord and Savior, help us!
By Thy birth, Thy cross, and passion
By Thy tears of deep compassion
By Thy mighty intercession
Lord and Savior, help us!
Lord and Savior, help us. Lord and Savior, help us.
Lo the storms of life are breaking,
Faithless fears our hearts are shaking
For our succor undertaking,
Lord and Savior, help us!
Lo! The world from Thee rebelling,
Round Thy Church in pride is swelling
With Thy word their madness quelling,
Lord and Savior, help us!
By Thy birth, Thy cross, and passion
By Thy tears of deep compassion
By Thy mighty intercession
Lord and Savior, help us!
On Thine own command relying,
We our onward task are plying
Unto Thee for safety sighing,
Lord and Savior, help us!
By Thy birth, Thy cross, and passion
By Thy tears of deep compassion
By Thy mighty intercession
Lord and Savior, help us!
Lord and Savior, help us. Lord and Savior, help us.
1/7/10
1/6/10
Rest by Andy Osenga
Andy is one of my favorite songwriters. I do believe this is my new favorite Andy Osenga song. You can buy it at this link. He writes with an intense vulnerability. I almost feel like I'm listening in on a prayer I shouldn't be listening to in this song. I also feel like I'm listening to my own prayers and desires.
I should really get some sleep
It's been so long
It's been so long
All my friends have said to me
You look so tired
I feel guilty cause there's so much to do
I feel lazy if I take a breath or two
Oh, God,
Please give me rest
A bit of peace that passes over all this mess
Don't give me more than what I need
Just let me know you hear my plea
Oh, God please come to me and give me rest
I should really spend some time
Alone with you, alone with you
I've always known I'd find you there
Maybe that's why I keep myself so busy
So I don't have to feel the fear and anger
Of my darkness that is aching to be healed
Oh, God,
Please give me rest
A bit of peace that passes over all this mess
Don't give me more than what I need
Just let me know you hear my plea
Oh, God please come to me and give me rest
Why did nobody tell me how hard it is to be
The man that I always thought that I'd become
Cause I feel just like a kid who can't run
I should really go to bed
Kiss my wife, my sleepy-heads
Pray tomorrow that something's changed
I should really get some sleep
It's been so long
It's been so long
All my friends have said to me
You look so tired
I feel guilty cause there's so much to do
I feel lazy if I take a breath or two
Oh, God,
Please give me rest
A bit of peace that passes over all this mess
Don't give me more than what I need
Just let me know you hear my plea
Oh, God please come to me and give me rest
I should really spend some time
Alone with you, alone with you
I've always known I'd find you there
Maybe that's why I keep myself so busy
So I don't have to feel the fear and anger
Of my darkness that is aching to be healed
Oh, God,
Please give me rest
A bit of peace that passes over all this mess
Don't give me more than what I need
Just let me know you hear my plea
Oh, God please come to me and give me rest
Why did nobody tell me how hard it is to be
The man that I always thought that I'd become
Cause I feel just like a kid who can't run
I should really go to bed
Kiss my wife, my sleepy-heads
Pray tomorrow that something's changed
1/5/10
Conversations with the Boys
Joshua - "What are we having for dinner?"
Rebecca - "Chicken nuggets."
Andrew - "I don't like chicken nuts."
Neither do I, son. Neither do I.
Rebecca - "Chicken nuggets."
Andrew - "I don't like chicken nuts."
Neither do I, son. Neither do I.
1/2/10
Broken with Hope
I've been seeing a lot of zeal lately. A lot of Facebookers are looking forward to the opportunities the new year will bring. Posts telling us to make the most of the year and release the power within are creating a steady stream of powerful positive thinking.
I just don't buy it.
My hope this year isn't to make the most of myself or release some sort of inner champion. My life is not an example of personal power. It's the story of a deeply broken and flawed young man who is learning to let go of personal ambitions and pick up a cross to follow my Savior.
This doesn't mean I'm hopeless. I've got more hope than I've ever had before. It's just my hope is lying in another. My hope is resting in the Sovereign God of the universe. My hope is built on a rock.
I'm thankful for Jesus. I'm thankful for his grace and the power of his resurrection.
My prayer for the year is that God has his way in my life. I'm tired of spending time pursuing my own agenda. 2009 may have been the most stretching year of my life. I try to stay away from dramatic expressions unless they're warranted, but the year truly felt like going through a fire. Having come through what I believe to be the hardest part, I can say with a humble confidence that all of the fire was worth it. I know God better because of the suffering. He is bigger. Not bigger than he was, but bigger than I knew he was. I want what he wants. I need what he wants for me.
As I wrote this post, this song by Andrew Peterson came to my mind. It is with a broken back that I post these lyrics. He has bowed this stubborn heart. And I am grateful for the loving discipline of my most gracious, loving Father.
Have Your Way by Andrew Peterson
Father hear me now when I am humbled
I fear that I will soon forget
Now I have no strength to stand and stumble
I have no wish to leave you yet
O, Holy Father hear me now
When flesh is strong and spirit weak
Please break my back if I won’t bow
Won’t you have your way with me
Father hear me now when I am humbled
When I am bent with holy shame
All the lies that I've believed have crumbled
The blood of Christ my only claim
I cannot trust my own designs
My heart is prone to disobey
So listen, Lord while there is time
Chain me fast if I won’t stay
Take my life and have your way
Please hear me, Lord this blessed hour
When sin has loosed it’s hold on me
They mercy is a mighty tower
So why should I not trust in thee
Father have your way with me
I just don't buy it.
My hope this year isn't to make the most of myself or release some sort of inner champion. My life is not an example of personal power. It's the story of a deeply broken and flawed young man who is learning to let go of personal ambitions and pick up a cross to follow my Savior.
This doesn't mean I'm hopeless. I've got more hope than I've ever had before. It's just my hope is lying in another. My hope is resting in the Sovereign God of the universe. My hope is built on a rock.
I'm thankful for Jesus. I'm thankful for his grace and the power of his resurrection.
My prayer for the year is that God has his way in my life. I'm tired of spending time pursuing my own agenda. 2009 may have been the most stretching year of my life. I try to stay away from dramatic expressions unless they're warranted, but the year truly felt like going through a fire. Having come through what I believe to be the hardest part, I can say with a humble confidence that all of the fire was worth it. I know God better because of the suffering. He is bigger. Not bigger than he was, but bigger than I knew he was. I want what he wants. I need what he wants for me.
As I wrote this post, this song by Andrew Peterson came to my mind. It is with a broken back that I post these lyrics. He has bowed this stubborn heart. And I am grateful for the loving discipline of my most gracious, loving Father.
Have Your Way by Andrew Peterson
Father hear me now when I am humbled
I fear that I will soon forget
Now I have no strength to stand and stumble
I have no wish to leave you yet
O, Holy Father hear me now
When flesh is strong and spirit weak
Please break my back if I won’t bow
Won’t you have your way with me
Father hear me now when I am humbled
When I am bent with holy shame
All the lies that I've believed have crumbled
The blood of Christ my only claim
I cannot trust my own designs
My heart is prone to disobey
So listen, Lord while there is time
Chain me fast if I won’t stay
Take my life and have your way
Please hear me, Lord this blessed hour
When sin has loosed it’s hold on me
They mercy is a mighty tower
So why should I not trust in thee
Father have your way with me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
