“God is the God of our yesterdays. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.”
-Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”, Yesterday
remembering the light milkweed at the farm this fall, and marveling at this-
the first snow!
A few days ago, I was listening to a speech, and the speaker said something that caught my attention- “People around the world think that Americans don’t have a culture.”
Hmmm…
think about that.
We don’t have a culture?
I would disagree on one hand, because we do have a culture- people see hamburgers, they think ‘United States’. People see/hear a President, they think ‘United States’. People hear “all men are created equal” and they say- “Yep- that’s the United States.’
We have stories- legends- but they are few and far between.
But on the other hand, I have to agree with this speaker. The United States has lost its culture.
What once was a nation founded on the truths of God’s Word is now a nation that could care less what God thinks- as long as it seems or feels good, it’s alright.
Our foundations- the start of our nation- was what set us apart from the others in the world. we were those stubborn 13 colonies who wanted to be free of Britain. There was a war, and by God’s grace, we won. A nation was formed under His name- a nation that said “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” A nation whose pledge stated that we would remain “under God”.
When our nation threatened to split itself in half over the cruelty of slavery, God showed his hand again and we were made the United States once more.
But as the 20th century slipped by, our nation shifted. We don’t care as much about what God desires for us- we only care about our desires. We don’t share stories of grandfathers, history, of family traditions. We simply follow the crowd and let valuable lessons slip by.
We, as a nation who calls itself Christian, has lost its Christ-likeness. The very word “christian” means “little Christ”. We are to be made more like Christ- but our nation has fallen away from that.
Yes, our nation has lost its culture- but we, as true believers and followers of Christ, have a culture that will withstand all shifting of other cultures and nations.
Though the nations may fall off of maps and disappear, as followers of Christ we can know that our nation- the body of Christ around the globe, and above the globe- will never disappear- for Christ is our unshifting foundation- our cornerstone that holds us to Him.
happy at home this weekend
enjoying a windy warm fall day
links…
A great story for the weekend as we watch the combines across the street…
a gal who sews for chickens… and who knows? a sister of mine might be doing this next spring for her chickens…
and little boys all over the world… too funny!
winning photos from the National Geographic Photo contest last year… breathtaking- and the storm one? powerful… all glory to God! please take the time to browse these galleries… simply beautiful!
This one made me smile… “All tanks”… the simplicity and earnestness of a little boy’s prayer…
And I love this one! Maybe to print out and put on your fridge??
A song to make you smile, and remember to do everything for His glory…
Courageous- by the same people who did Fireproof and Facing the Giants comes this great story about family and heroes…. one I can’t wait to see this fall!
and a quick trip to the pharmacy, perhaps? check it out over at my other blog, Birdhouses and Bandaids…
blessings to you this weekend!
Kaye
This morning after arriving home from church, Dad discovered that we had a visitor last night…
His footprints led all the way around our house from the garage to our front walk way. They were all lined up, and the back tracks stepped on the front tracks.
Any ideas?
Dad leaned in close to get a good look at the tracks while M ran for the nature book, all of us standing in skirts, 7 degrees, looking at these perfectly placed prints.
After a careful deduction of tracks and size, (and M teasing me about a coyote walking around), we came to a conclusion.
A red fox!
How funny that of all the places for one to walk around he chose a first ring suburb!
Laughing at the wonderful surprises the first few days of the new year have brought…
#531-545
awed at God working in wondrous ways-finding us a new house!
surprised by foxes in the front yard
surprised in church by an anonymous gift card to the grocery store, which ended up being worth twice the amount written on the card when scanned at the register! Thank you, Anonymous! God bless you for your kindness!
R, L, M, me dancing around in capes and cowboy hats
Betsy’s laugh in our living room
Mamo’s candle log in the fireplace
God’s clear guidance
Light sabers and star wars reenactments
packing boxes to move to, as R calls it, “The New BIG house” (!!!)
Apollo 13 with Daddy on New Years Eve, then
Andy Griffith black and white until the clock struck 12
dreaming with L and M about the new house
K. B.’s Reepicheep real estate rescues… ;-) we are very thankful for you!
Christmas… and peace…
a blessed year full of Christ’s plan…2010
kaye ann
Looking out at all the snow and remembering that summer is coming…
maybe…
as snow falls on the first of may over here… :)
Blessings to you this Sunday!
Kaye
It’s –1 degrees Fahrenheit as I type this out.
Cold.
Blistering, scorching, bitter cold.
And the grand total for snow fall:
17.2 inches.
This is our air conditioner.
I heard that the Metrodome’s roof collapsed in because of the snow.
Yikes.
Thankfully, nothing has gone wrong over at our house because of the storm.
Our window well is full,
The trees are all covered,
And the sunlight teases us on the warm floorboards.
“For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth…’ “
And it did!
Like Pastor Turner said in his email cancelling Sunday School,
“Let’s magnify the merciful, almighty Snow Commander!”
Sat in church yesterday.
We all stood to sing, then Pastor stood and gave the sermon.
Took notes, read along in Matthew 21:31-46.
The deacons stood and came to the front, Pastor read and explained communion.
The bread came around first, each of us with a name written in the book of life up in heaven taking a piece.
Bowed my head, prayed.
The music stopped and the plate with cups came around.
Leaned over to grab the plate full of little glasses of grape juice from the people on our family’s left.
Take a cup, pass the plate to L.
Done it for years, been one of His for 5 years.
Taken communion in many places.
Looked down into my lap at the cup staying steady in between fingers.
And for the first time, I think back 2000 years.
