Life is Good

Yahweh Yireh - God my Provider

When I think about God, the first thing I think about is what He does for me. Is that selfish?

As I meditated and pondered on the question "who is God to me?" Jehovah Jireh, my provider kept resonating in my mind. This name for God is found in Genesis 22:14. God provided a ram for Abraham when he was ready to sacrifice his son Isaac. "Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means, "the LORD will provide"). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." Genesis 22:14

On the outside of the chapel at Northview there is a plaque that says "Christ our Provision", inside the chapel is an amazing stained glass window of Abraham receiving the sacrificial ram from God. It is a moving tribute to this scripture.

I am very blessed to have a wonderful earthly father. It is easy for me to understand God's love and provision because of my dad. My dad is a very honest man, he has modeled a life of discipline. When I was a child I was disciplined with love. My earthly father was a good provider. I feel extraordinarily blessed. My earthly father has made it easier for me to understand my heavenly Father. There are so many people who have not been so blessed.

A couple of weeks ago I read Romans 11:33-36 in my quiet time. I really embraced this because I was thinking about "who is God to me". I paraphrased it, here it is just as I wrote it in my journal that day...April 6, 2011...

It is impossible to understand His decisions and His ways... God's greatness in unimaginable. His riches, wisdom and knowledge are great. So great, that human minds can't understand His decisions and the way He moves. No one knows the thoughts of God. He doesn't go to anyone for advice. He doesn't owe anything to anybody. Everything exists through His power and because of His creation. All things are intended to give Him glory. And He is my Yahweh Yireh.

Hillsdale College

Virtus tentamine gaudet....

(Latin is still alive at Hillsdale!)

Margaret is there...

Abe is there....

Grace was there....

Music building...

Majestic eagles....

For those who served in the Civil War....

Grace was very good natured about my picture taking!

Beautiful buildings!

Leesa and Grace...

Thomas is there....

"Strength Rejoices in the Challenge"

Leesa's Birthday........

Table is set...ready for everyone!

Southern Living's strawberry pound cake. The glaze was a little thin! :) But it tasted very good.

A little birthday decor......

Ta-Dah....there she is.....the birthday girl! Love you Leesa!

Pillow Pets at Riley

My sister works at Riley Children's Hospital. She was so excited to share this picture with me this morning. I asked her to be a guest blogger so that you could hear her excitement about Pillow Pets for Riley!

Yesterday while working my shift in the PCIU, there was some unexpected excitement through the halls of Riley Children's Hospital. I was preparing to receive a young child after having open heart surgery and one of my colleagues came into room and said "You will never guess who is downstairs!". She went on to tell me that Third Day was in our lobby singing Old McDonald Had a Farm. She went on to tell me there were "thousands (?)" of Pillow Pets and the families were in line waiting to get their "pet". "Can you believe what a neat thing to do for our kids?." Because of hearing about the Pillow Pet project from my sister Lynn, I was able to share with her that the children's ministry staff with the help of many others at her church and the inspiration of one of her Bible Study friends this project was starting to help Jacob get his Pillow Pets for Riley. (see Jan's story in a previous post Pillow Pets for Jacob) What a treat for me to get to share that Lynn's friend listened to God's call and got to work on what she could do to help Jake get his 1,000 pillow pets. A true example of faith in action. Yes, the Pillow Pets were a wonderful gift to children and families who are challenged by illness and hospitalization. However, it is also a huge encouragement to those of us who care for these children. I am so happy I knew a bit of the "back story" and could share with my friends that these where not only Pillow Pets...they were a token of God's Love...first from Jacob....and then from God's family. Thanks!

Thanks Leesa, for sharing this blessing! Pillow Pets are coming in to the church from everywhere! It is amazing...and hearing KLOVE radio talk about Jacob...and having everyone praying for Jacob. It is truly inspiring.

When morning gilds the skies, my heart awakened cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer, to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Does sadness fill my mind? A solace there I find:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my worldly bliss, my comfort still is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

In heaven's eternal bliss, the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The powers of darkness fear, when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this while life is mine, my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this the eternal song, through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When I was driving to work last week this song came to my mind. I can't tell you how long it had been since I had heard it.

"At like at work and prayer to Jesus I repair".......do I come to Jesus the same way when I approach my work as I do when I come to Him in prayer. And what about those times when a sadness comes over me that I can't explain or my worldly bliss just isn't very blissful...."a solace there I find"

May Jesus Christ be praised!

Valentine Table Settings.....

Enjoy these beautiful table settings. For a real treat go to http://www.thelittleroundtable.com/ Lots of wonderful table settings. Amazing collection of vintage table cloths! Info on Fiesta colors...