Paris in Winter, taken by Gregory Bastien.
"I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart. I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation." Psalm 40:8-10
My soul sings because of God's love, salvation, and sanctification for a wretched one like me. May I declare His goodness all the days of my life. For I shall never be the same. Ephesians 8:1-10
A Baby Changes Everything--Song by Faith Hill
Teenage girl, much too young
Unprepared for what’s to come
A baby changes everything
Not a ring
On her hand
All her dreams and all her plans
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
The man she loves she’s never touched
How will she keep his trust
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
And she cries, oh she cries
She has to leave, go far away
Heaven knows she can’t stay
A baby changes everything
She can feel it’s coming soon
There’s no place, there’s no room
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
And she cries
And she cries
Oh she cries
Shepherds all gather ’round
Up above the star shines down
A baby changes everything
Choir of angels say
Glory to the newborn king
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
Everything, everything, everything
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
My whole life is turned around
I was lost and now I’m found
A baby changes everything
A baby changes everything
-“A Baby Changes Everything” by Faith Hill
Click here to watch the song video.
He has changed everything.
Brother and sister. Recent photo I took for some friends of mine.
I believe strongly in the value of the artists in this world. I believe that when someone who was made to strive to create beauty in the world is, as Brennan Manning said, “ambushed by Jesus,” the art that results bears a God-given power that draws men to Christ. I have encountered that power in the sub-creations of Christ-followers countless times. (I’ve also encountered it in the works of those who haven’t yet succumbed to the source of their gifting.) Those works of art have helped me to better understand the Bible and its author, they have given me the tools with which to worship, to serve, to revel in the greatness of the Maker.”
— Andrew Peterson
This picture=fun. The Garden Acre Girls=fun.
For some reason, I really like pictures that don’t show the face. Not sure why. This is a shot that I took of some pretty gals today, but in this particular photo we are admiring their jeans.
Only Your Blood is Enough
I am ashamed conceived in sin I’ve always been
Born in a world where Adam’s fall corrupts us
Rooted is the seed of death in life’s first breath
Your law demands a perfect heart but I’m defiled in every part
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me
All this guilt disturbs my peace I find no release
Who will save me from my crime I’m helpless
Behold I fall before your face in need of grace
So speak to me in a gentle voice for in your mercies I rejoice
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me
Lord create my heart anew (Father come and make us wise)
Only you are pure and true (Lead us away from our demise)
Lord you are the remedy (For only your blood can set us free)
For only your blood can set us free
For only your blood can set us free
No bleeding bird, no bleeding beast
No hyssop branch no priest
No running brook no flood no sea
Can wash away this stain from me
For only your blood is enough to cover my sin
For only your blood is enough to cover me
- “Only Your Blood is Enough”, sung by Sojourn Music, Words and Music Neil Robins, adapted from “Psalm 51 Part II” by Isaac Watts
Happy Reformation Day!
Found
Jesus, the healer of brokenness.
Savior, the fixer of troubled souls.
Redeemer, You’re turning my eyes to Thee.
Mighty God, You’re just and your merciful.
O God of beauty and grace, You are my resting place.
All of my life is found in You.
You’ve taken my brokkenness, made me whole once again.
All of my life is found in You.
All my security, my destiny, what lies ahead is found in You.
All my hopes and dreams, all my thoughts unseen, all my wants are found in You.
And what I dread and fear, all that weighs me down, all my trust is found in You.
You’re my sustaining breath, all that gives me strength, all life-giving is found in You.
-“Found” by Aaron Ivey
Jesus. Healer. Savior. Fixer. Redeemer. Mighty. Just. Merciful. Beautiful. Gracious. Resting place. Truly, all of life is found in You. What more shall I need? “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
Those last four lines (bridge of the song) have been so sweet to sing over these past few days. I pray that you too experience the peace that comes through trusting God’s sovereignty. “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3)
“And even when the trees have just surrendered to the harvest time, forfeiting their leaves in late September and sending us inside, still I notice you when change begins and I am braced for colder winds. I will offer thanks for what has been and what’s to come. You are autumn.” —Every Season, by Nichole Nordeman; picture taken by Jen Martin
