Alabaster Box - Cece Winans

Cece Winans sings this praise and worship song beautifully.

Blessings

Among my blessings I have recently received, are the many sweet friends I have met through this blog, which I began the middle of July. I have loved visiting and commenting on blogs for a long time. At times, I have had a very long list in my favorites, 2+ pages at least. Also, I have recently been blessed to win a book and a CD.

Maxine, at Nanna's Reflections, posted a riddle that she made up. It was lots of fun trying to figure it out. I was finally brave enough to guess first, and won! You can scroll down very slowly, as to not see my answer, and see if you can guess it. Maxine's blog is very interesting, as she beautifully writes about family, devotionals, hymns and poems, and a variety of other topics. She is a very busy, smart, homeschooling mother, and has three other places for us to visit.

Then I won Josh Groban's new CD at Barb's A Chelsea Morning. She gave away four CDs, and I was one of the four winners, out of 163 entered! Barb shares her life on her blog. She has a very cute sense of humor, and everyone loves stories about her grandson, dog, family and weddings. Her blog is also inspirational with homekeeping ideas.

Also, some sweet friends have honored me by making unique names from a name meme. I already told you about Candy's precious "special name", which is on my sidebar. Also, Mimi and Patricia made lovely names for me, also on the sidebar.

Image courtesy of All Posters

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing Alleluia, Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, aleluia!

Azure I

Thou rushing wind that art so strong, Ye clouds that sail in heav'n along, O praise Him, Alleluia! Thou rising moon in praise rejoice, Ye lights of evening, find a voice, O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!



Flowing Water

Thou flowing water, pure and clear, Make music for thy Lord to hear, Alleluia, Alleluia! Thou fire so masterful and bright, That givest man both warmth and light, O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!




Prayers Of Love

And all ye men of tender heart, Forgiving others, take your part, O sing ye, Alleluia! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, Praise God and on Him cast your care, O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!




Angels Playing Violon

Let all things their Creator bless, And worship Him in humbleness, O praise Him, Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, Three in One, O praise Him, O praise Him, Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!


Text: St Francis of Assisi; translated by William H. Draper
Music: Geistliche Kirchengesange, Cologne 1623

These words are beautiful, and I did not realize they were written
by St. Francis of Assisi.

You can hear the hymn at Cyber Hymnal.

Pictures courtesy of All Posters

Sing, O barren

I wanted to post this encouraging evening devotional by Charles Spurgeon.

Floral Grandeur


Isaiah 54:1
Sing, O barren.


Though we have brought forth some fruit unto Christ, and have a joyful hope that we are "plants of His own right hand planting," yet there are times when we feel very barren. Prayer is lifeless, love is cold, faith is weak, each grace in the garden of our heart languishes and droops. We are like flowers in the hot sun, requiring the refreshing shower. In such a condition what are we to do? The text is addressed to us in just such a state. "Sing, O barren, break forth and cry aloud." But what can I sing about? I cannot talk about the present, and even the past looks full of barrenness. Ah! I can sing of Jesus Christ. I can talk of visits which the Redeemer has aforetimes paid to me; or if not of these, I can magnify the great love wherewith He loved His people when He came from the heights of heaven for their redemption. I will go to the cross again. Come, my soul, heavy laden thou wast once, and thou didst lose thy burden there. Go to Calvary again. Perhaps that very cross which gave thee life may give thee fruitfulness. What is my barrenness? It is the platform for His fruit-creating power. What is my desolation? It is the black setting for the sapphire of His everlasting love. I will go in poverty, I will go in helplessness, I will go in all my shame and backsliding, I will tell Him that I am still His child, and in confidence in His faithful heart, even I, the barren one, will sing and cry aloud. Sing, believer, for it will cheer thine own heart, and the hearts of other desolate ones. Sing on, for now that thou art really ashamed of being barren, thou wilt be fruitful soon; now that God makes thee loath to be without fruit He will soon cover thee with clusters. The experience of our barrenness is painful, but the Lord's visitations are delightful. A sense of our own poverty drives us to Christ, and that is where we need to be, for in Him is our fruit found.

Wall tapestry courtesy of All Posters

Strength

Joe 3:10 -
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.


Neh: 8:10
Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Ex 15:
The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt him.


2Sa 22:33 -
God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.

1Ch 16:11 -
Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

1Ch 16:28 -
Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.

1Ch 29:12 -
Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

Ps 18:1 -
I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

Ps 18:2
The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

Ps 18:32 -
It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Ps 19:14 -
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Ps 28:7 -
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Ps 29:11 -
The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Ps 46:1 -
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Ps 118:14 -
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

Isa 26:4 -
Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

Isa 40:31 -
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isa 40:29 -
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Re 5:12 -
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.


Image courtesy of Snapshots of Joy