How Sweet and Awesome Is the Place

"How sweet and awesome is the place with Christ within the doors, while everlasting love displays the choicest of her stores."

"Why was I made to hear your voice and enter while there's room, when thousands make a wretched choice, and rather starve than come?"

"We long to see your churches full, that all the chosen race may, with one voice and heart and soul, sing your redeeming grace."

We sang this beautiful hymn this Sunday in worship service and I was struck by the words so strongly.  I wanted to share them with you.  These are three stanzas from hymn 469, from the Trinity Hymnal.  We received one as a gift from Redeemer Orthodox Presbyterian Church, which was one of the many churches we attended during the years that the General Manager moved us around the countryside during his Air Force career.  This hymnal is so special to us, as the whole congregation signed it and put their mark on their favorite hymns to sing.

Tonight, I read over and over the many wonderful sayings to us and each of the beautiful hymns that each family chose for their own. . . all from each of our dear friends from Dayton, Ohio.  What a surprise when I saw that Pastor and his adorable wife Sue, put their mark on this same hymn and told us in their sweet note. . . . "We have delighted to know you and your family.  You will be missed.  Our prayer is that the Lord will direct our paths to cross again in this life.  Pastor & Sue"   Another one that touched my heart was from Mark and Jody . . ."It seems like yesterday that we were helping you move in.  So many things have happened in our lives to prove otherwise though!  God will be with you in your military travels.  He is always faithful to His children.  We'll miss you!" 

We have re-connected with many of these beautiful families through facebook and I'm so thankful to the creators of facebook and for the technology that has come about for us to be able to stay in touch with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.  It is so important that we stay in touch with other Christians - fellowship is something that God purposed in our lives for our good - it's our way of staying accountable to God.   Hebrews 4:13   Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.  

We have three new chicks - hatched over the weekend to add to our flock in six short weeks.  They will spend their precious time in the garage until then, under the protection of wire fencing and a heater lamp, until they are big enough to fend for their own with the rest of the girls.  Two are multi-brown colored and one is a sweet fuzzy yellow.  She was the last one to be born on Sunday.  The girls have all held them and Georgie is awaiting his turn to hold one - that might be awhile since he could very easily crush one with his over-zealous boy strength!

We've had many warm, sunny days where we've sat on the front porch learning, while watching Abby climb the trees and Georgie dig in the rocks in the front yard.  Hannah's Netherland Dwarf rabbits are finally growing and are very sweet to hold.  I'm thankful that we got two because they are so happy together - two peas in a pod.

My counting of blessings continues on - it's amazing to see that I'm up to 189 already.  This has been such a joyous experience for me and I love being able to look back over the months to see what we've been doing around the homestead.  But alas for now, I hear the pitter patter of feet above me that are getting ready for the rainy morning inside.  I believe I have some chores to finish myself as I take care of our home - what a privilege to be a homemaker.

May God bless your day today!
Michelle


#166 - #189

Mom's night out hosted here at the house - lovely fellowship with many like-minded ladies

So many good soups and salads to share

"momma, baba, momma, baba" - Georgie's favorite saying these days . .  next to John Deere

pitter patter of a rain storm on the windows

back tickling from a 3 year old

watching Hamlet movie with all the children

daffadils peaking up out of the ground

the seasons changing so quickly

bitten baby tongue that heals so quickly

a week of sunshine

eggs in an incubator

the anticipation of having baby chicks

dinner with family

reading through the Bible and sticking to the plan

getting my quilted table runner completed

tea with a friend celebrating her birthday

Abby kisses

fun new signs about the chickens that the town can talk about

beautifully dressed little girls

well children - sickness gone

new baby chicks born from an incubator

being humbled to my knees, thinking that I displeased God