The Twenty-Third Channel

…another version if the 23 channel from Joe Mizzi’s site.

The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want.
It makes me to lie down on the sofa.
It leads me away from the Scriptures.
It destroys my soul.
It leads me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsor’s sake.

Fall thoughts

Pro 16:9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.

My plan – to get in some exercise, biking or walking…But things got in the way and before I headed out the rain and wind had started. I just had time to trim back the raspberry  in preparation for next years crop. And the rain started. I have maybe 6 raspberry bushes – so no big feat. I was just so easily distracted by the tall lanky new growth on this years raspberry plants waving to me at my den window. They are now gone and only the rain on my window reminds me that I didn’t get in any exercise today.

The Twenty-Third Channel

The TV set is my shepherd.

My spiritual growth shall want.

It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for His name’s sake,

because it requireth all my spare time.

Valley of Vision #3

God the Source of all Good,

The heavens declare your glory,

the earth declares your riches,

the whole universe is Your temple and your presence fills it’s immensity!

…and yet in your pleasure you have created life…and shown this life happiness.

You have made me what I am and given me all that I have;

It is in You that I live and move and have my being;

Your plan has decided where I will be born and where I will live and you wisely plan all the affairs of my life.

So I thank you Lord for the riches you have given me in Christ Jesus….

Oh I thank you for revealing HIm to me in your Word.

Here, in your Word I see Him, his character, his grace, glory, humiliation. suffering, death and His resurrection.

Oh Lord do not let me have one moment when I do not need Him – make me to be continually in need of Him, to cry with Job, “I am vile” and with Peter “I perish” and with the publican, “Be merciful to me a sinner”

Lord, take away the love of sin that is within me. Let me know my need of renewal and forgiveness through Jesus so that I can see you and enjoy you forever.

I come to you today solely in the name of Jesus with absolutely nothing of my own to plead. What have I to offer you? – no works, no worthiness, no promises.

I oppose your authority, I stray from you and I often abuse your goodness.

Lord I know how I need your favor and you have given it. I know your glory and my need to consider it in all things.

Impress in me deeply Lord a sense of your incredible omnipresence. You are my path and my way, my lying down and getting up, my beginning and my end.

Amen!

Great Things

Somewhere in our society, it’s become a little “pathetic” to achieve your fulfillment by serving others. How has this happened? Shouldn’t this be a character trait that is admirable? Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “When you serve another’s dream, you will find your own fulfilled.” Scripture says it even better: “So the last will be first, and the first will be last” Matthew 20:16.

Head on over to Shannon’s Blog at “Rocks in my Dryer” to read the whole post. Boy can I relate to everything she wrote today. Does anyone else out there feel a little disgruntled at being the be-all and end-all to your children and your husband for 25 years without any monitary compensation? No write ups in the paper, no honorary accolades, no pats on the back, no end of year bonus – just a Turkey dinner due on the table by 5pm Christmas day. Watching your fellow graduates climb the corporate ladder while you cut the lawn, throw in another load of laundry and plan meals. sigh… so I was encouraged today , even if it made me complain just a little. Check it out, and then come on back and leave a comment.

Are you feeling unloved? Please read!

No Greater Communion
by Jill Carattini

There are some communities that tragically seem to miss something vital in their communing. A support group can be a place where a person can delve deeper into the behavior that isolates them; websites are reportedly linking strangers together who are, in turn, simultaneously committing suicide. Moreover, the sheer number of online confessionals reveals the need for a community where one can be real about plaguing guilt, failures, and offenses. Members clearly express a need for the fellow humanness of a flawed community, and at the same time a need to remain, in some ways, inhuman–unknown, nameless, faceless.

Brandon’s is a name and a story over which to pause. The 21-year-old died in the privacy of a chat room full of people who watched by web-cam as he killed himself with drugs and alcohol. Their conversation was disquieting, left behind in a hauntingly silent script. Voices cheered him to pass out on screen. Brandon responded with his phone number. “Call if I look dead,” he said. But even after he passed out, they spoke as if he was something less than real. “He’s dead,” said someone. “Happy trails,” said another. “Should I call 911?” “No!” they agreed in unison.

God the All

Oh God whose will conquers all,

There is no comfort in anything if it does not include You and Your glory;

You are all in all, and all the things I enjoy are just what YOU make them and no more.

I love your will, whatever it is.

And even if you gave me a choice in my daily happenings, I would turn all decisions over to you;

For you are infinitely wise and never make mistakes or do wrong.

And me well, I make mistakes, often.

I am rejoicing to think that you have everything under your control

and I am perfectly happy to leave them right there.

Then, my prayers are filled with praise and I just adore and bless you.

What can I give you for all of this?

I want to do something…..but I have nothing to offer.

I can just rejoice again, that you do it all.

And no one in heaven or on earth shares that honour.

What can I do to glorify your blessed name?

…..  but surrender my soul

and my body

to You.

You alone are the author and the finisher of my faith

My whole salvation and the whole of redemption is Yours alone!

Every good work or thought found in me…

…it is because of YOUR power and YOUR grace.

Every good you do in me is for Your good pleasure.

Oh God, it is so amazing that men can talk so much about man’s human power and goodness

But if you didn’t hold us back every second….we would just be so terribly wicked.

Oh, by bitter experiences, how you have taught me this about myself.

Courage to be a listener

“Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak;
courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
- Winston Churchill

Journalling reads…

Harold and Blair are two of the most unpretentious, shy, quiet, definitely ‘not in your face’ kind of people. You won’t hear much from either of them, although I am sure they have much to say because they are observers of the world. They watch, say little, think – there is a humbleness about them. I wonder what they are thinking when confronted by those who feel the need to just talk.
So, it was kind of nice to catch this picture of the two of them on the swings talking. Two shy, quiet listeners… talking listening to each other.

Gratitude list – so much to give thanks for…

81. Today I spent a good part of the day securing care for a homeless fellow. He is a harmless, meek fellow who just wants to be left alone to live the risky life on the street that he has lived for the past 50 years. But he needs care now as his body is worn from years of abuse and street living. He would walk onto a busy highway oblivious to the oncoming semi if left to his own devises. He did this a week ago and only by the grace of God was he not hit and did the other three cars who swerved along with the semi not hit each other. He has no place to live. No one wants him. He is too risky for any home to take this kind of responsibility. He is an outcast of society. But to return “home” to the streets would mean sure death within 24 hrs. I am sure he has a story to tell. Would anyone listen? No family, no friends. So I ask myself, why Lord? Why was he born into a family who didn’t care? He has lived on the streets for so many years….and them we pick him up and put him in an institution – jail to him! But the alternative?  So today I am sad for this man. Sad that he likely has never known a loving caring home in his 50+ years. Sad that he has never known joy, kindness, love, contentment…..except in a bottle. Sad that the system has to lock him up to protect him against himself. So I ask the Lord why?   ” I knit you together in your mothers womb”

82. I am thankful that my children are loved, cared for and protected. That the world, as evil as it is, cannot penetrate this parents love or the love of Christ.

83. I am thankful that in the huge scheme of things….it is not about this world and all its shortcomings. It is about Jesus Christ and it is about where we will spend eternity!Think about this. Does your life revolve around the THINGS of this world?

84. I am thankful that even though I can not find a solution for this fellow, I can pray for him – even at work, surrounded by unbelievers.Who can stop me from praying?

85. Oh I am so thankful for a conversation with a co-worker, who I seldom speak with, saying to me “We need to pray for him” She knew I was a fellow believer and what a joy to hang up the phone in the midst of my crazy, pressured and weary day with constant roadblocks, to turn to the Lord for a solution.

86. What a joy to know that a believer out there, saw in me, Christ – for whatever reason, and was able to say “Let’s pray for him” This NEVER happens in my line of work. Oh what an encouragement and what a return to truth – to what really matters….. in the midst of politics and budgets and policy!

87. Thankful for answered prayer on a temporary solution which provides safety for this guy. Oh Lord help me find a home for him next week. Please pray with me for this.

88. Thankful to return home after 10 hrs of constant stress and pressure…… to my son, home visiting from Brandon – a reminder to me that God has so blessed this family in ways I can never, ever describe.Thank you Lord!

89. Thankful for a home that is comfortable, clean, filled with good food and comfortable beds….a home that is safe, a home that knows Jesus Christ!!…..when so many do NOT have this!

90. Thankful that HE alone is in control and that if we do not give complete control over to Him and Him alone….there is no hope….no hope at all and the trials of this world will just overtake us and overwhelm us daily and eternally. Oh Lord Jesus, how can I give thanks for this?

The Trinity

…from Valley of Vision

Heavenly Father, Blessed Son, Eternal Spirit,

I adore you as one being, one essence, one God in three distinct persons, for bringing sinners to the knowledge of You and Your Kingdom.

Oh Father, you have loved me and sent Jesus to redeem me;

Oh Jesus, you have loved me and assumed my nature;  you have shed your own blood to wash away my sins and caused you righteousness to cover my unworthiness;

Oh Holy Spirit, you have loved me and filled me and given me eternal life. You have revealed to me the glories of Jesus Christ.

Three Persons and one God. I bless and praise you for undeserved love that is so unspeakable and so wonderful, so mighty to save the lost and raise them to glory.

Oh Father, thank you that in your fullness of grace you have given me to Jesus to be his sheep, his jewel ans his portion.

Oh Jesus, thank you that in your fullness of grace you have accepted me, adopted me and drawn me to you;

Oh Holy Spirit, thank you that in your fullness of grace you have shown me Christ as my only salvation, filled me with faith, subdued my stubborn heart and made me one with Christ forever.

Oh Father, you are on your throne and you hear my prayers

Oh Jesus, you hand is outstretched to take on my requests

Oh Holy Spirit, you are willing to help me in my weakness, show me my need, supply my words, pray with me, strengthen me.

Oh Triune God, who commands the universe, you have commanded me to ask for those things that concern your Kingdom and my soul.

Let me live and pray as one baptized into Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.