Psalm 33:13

The Lord looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men.

I loved this devotional by Charles Spurgeon.

Morning...

Perhaps no figure of speech represents God in a more gracious light than when He is spoken of as stooping from His throne, and coming down from heaven to attend to the wants and to behold the woes of mankind. We love Him, who, when Sodom and Gomorrah were full of iniquity, would not destroy those cities until He had made a personal visitation of them. We cannot help pouring out our heart in affection for our Lord who inclines His ear from the highest glory, and puts it to the lip of the dying sinner, whose failing heart longs after reconciliation. How can we but love Him when we know that He numbers the very hairs of our heads, marks our path, and orders our ways? Specially is this great truth brought near to our heart, when we recollect how attentive He is, not merely to the temporal interests of His creatures, but to their spiritual concerns. Though leagues of distance lie between the finite creature and the infinite Creator, yet there are links uniting both. When a tear is wept by thee, think not that God doth not behold; for, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Thy sigh is able to move the heart of Jehovah; thy whisper can incline His ear unto thee; thy prayer can stay His hand; thy faith can move His arm. Think not that God sits on high taking no account of thee. Remember that however poor and needy thou art, yet the Lord thinketh upon thee. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect towards Him.
Oh! then repeat the truth that never tires;
No God is like the God my soul desires;
He at whose voice heaven trembles, even He,
Great as He is, knows how to stoop to me.

"Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah"

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land; I am weak, but Thou art mighty; Hold me with Thy powerful hand; Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven, Feed me till I want no more, Feed me till I want no more.



Open now the crystal fountain Whence the healing stream doth flow; Let the fire and cloudy pillar Lead me all my journey through; Strong Deliverer, strong Deliverer, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield, Be Thou still my Strength and Shield.



When I tread the verge of Jordan, Bid my anxious fears subside; Death of death and hell's destruction, Land me safe on Canaan's side; Songs of praises, songs of praises I will ever give to Thee, I will ever give to Thee.

Words: William Williams (1745) Music: John Hughes (1907)

I love the music to this beautiful hymn. It was also sung at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales in 1997. Listen to it here.

Images courtesy of A Source of Joy

Happy Birds

Have you noticed how happy the little birds seem to be in this cooler weather? I hear them singing more, and I enjoy whistling back to them. The other day I saw the cutest little brown baby bird trying to hide behind my large azalea bush. It is times like those that I wish I knew how to use a camera and could share pictures with you.




Song of Solomon 2:12 -
The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

Ezekiel 17:23 -
In the mountain of the height of Israel will I plant it: and it shall bring forth boughs, and bear fruit, and be a goodly cedar: and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing; in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell.

Psalm 124:7 -
Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.

Psalm 84:3 -
Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.

Isaiah 31:5 -
As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

Psalm 55:6 -
And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest.

There is a lovely version of "His Eye Is On The Sparrow" at Wanda's Country Home.
Margi Harrell plays it beautifully.

The Lord's Prayer

This is a post from a years ago. I thought it would be good to these times.



There is a movie of The Lord's Prayer found here that I think is beautiful.

Image courtesy of All Posters

"Near to the Heart of God"

There is a place of quiet rest Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest, Near to the heart of God.

Refrain

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee Near to the heart of God.



There is a place of comfort sweet Near to the heart of God,
A place where we our Saviour meet, Near to the heart of God.

Refrain

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee Near to the heart of God.



There is a place of full release Near to the heart of God,
A place where all is joy and peace, Near to the heart of God.

Refrain

O Jesus, blest Redeemer, Sent from the heart of God,
Hold us who wait before Thee Near to the heart of God.


Words and Music: Cleland B. McAfee, 1903

You can listen to the hymn here.

Images courtesy of Snapshots of Joy.