Holland

Three years ago this week, I used my passport for the very first time. My mom, 3 sisters, a sister-in-law, a niece and I went to Holland. It was just the girls; no boys allowed. Truthfully, the guys would have hated our trips through every flower garden and shop we passed. We spent 8 days traveling the countryside in a mini van taking any side trip that struck our fancy. My sister, Melanie, had made reservations at three unique places in one in Delft and two in Noord Holland. She had sent questionnaires to each of us. From there she learned our individual priorities and created an itinerary to best accomplish all of them. So, she was the navigator and I drove as we traveled from town to town. We often got lost, but every time we did something wonderful came of it. We traveled to the town my great-grandparents were from. We painted tiles at the Royal Delft Factory. We rode on a Stoomtram (steam train). We wandered around small town squares. We visited churches and the museums within. All in all we laughed and cried and grew closer to each other. We created memories that we will carry with us for the rest of our lives.

The first photo is the whole group at the Keukenof Gardens. Left to right: Melanie (sis), Donella (niece), Mom, Sheri (sis), Cheri (sis-in-law), Janelle (sis) and me. The second is the Museummolen (Windmill Museum) at Schermer. And the last is a picture of me at the North Sea.

I Like Change

I do. I like change. My hubby knows this since he gets asked to help move furniture fairly often. I just get tired of looking at things the same way day after day, season after season. I guess this applies to my blog as well. So, I made the change again. I like dark lettering on a light background. I think it is easier on the eyes. What do you think? What is easier for you to read? And the greater question, do you like change?

Ducks, Geese & Frisbees

Sunday morning dawned bright and beautiful. We headed out on another YRE that starts at a store in a new shopping area. The walk took us through a variety of milieus--the first being a park with a duck pond which we visit fairly often. With the bright spring weather, the park was filled with families picnicking and playing. We stopped a several times to let children pet Casey. He is such a fluffy dog that children and parents watch him as he promenades by like a king on parade. He occasionally pauses to offer his attentions to his admirers, but usually he shows disdain as he sniffs the air (and the grass and the posts and the…).

As we crossed the bridge over the pond, several families were feeding the ducks and geese or taking photographs. One duck was different than any I have seen there before. It was black with green iridescent green feathers on his head and neck. The geese were all the ordinary white variety. All however, were enjoying the feast presented to them.

From there we headed through a business park and on to a frisbee golf course. It is a really nice park with paved pathways meandering around a creek and through wetlands. Again the beautiful day brought the families out to play. Some children were searching the best way to get their disc into the holes while others were rolling down the slopes in the fresh green grass. It brought to mind the first time I played frisbee golf when I was about 7 or 8. It was at a church picnic in Iowa. I got my disc in the whole, when my sister, Janelle, looked at me and said, “You got a hole-in-one!” She then proceeded to brag about it to everyone else. That evening in church I was given an award for my hole-in-one—a stuffed Snoopy dog. I was a bit embarrassed over the fuss people were making, yet I felt very special that they though it was good enough for an award.

After leaving the golf course, the walk continued down a greenway with a wide path. We passed a few joggers, walkers and cyclists. All were friendly as Oregonians tend to be when the sun shines. We saw nearly as many garter snakes as people along this stretch. One snake was nearly two feet in length as it slithered across the pathway. At one point we saw a blue heron at the edge of a pond. At the end of the greenway, the walk headed toward another business park and back toward the starting point.

Just As I Am

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou biddest me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yes, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Words by Charlotte Elliott

Without question, this hymn has touched more hearts and influenced more people for Christ than any other song ever written. The text was born within the soul of an invalid woman who wrote these words out of intense feelings of uselessness and despair.

Charlotte Elliott was born in Clapham, England, on March 18, 1789. As a young person she lived a carefree life, gaining popularity as a portrait artist and writer of humorous verse. By the time she was thirty, however, her health began to fail rapidly, and soon she became a bedridden invalid for the remaining years of her life. With her failing health came great feelings of despondency. In 1822 a noted Swiss evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan, visited the Elliott home in Brighton, England. His visit proved to be a turning point in Charlotte's life. In counseling Miss Elliott about her spiritual and emotional problems, Dr. Malan impressed upon her this truth, "You must come just as you are, a sinner, to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Throughout the remainder of her life, Miss Elliott celebrated every year the day on which her Swiss friend had led her to a personal relationship with Christ, for she considered it to be her spiritual birthday. Although she did not write her text for this hymn until 1836, fourteen years after her conversion experience, it is apparent that she never forgot the words of her friend, for they form the very essence of this hymn.

In all, Charlotte Elliott wrote approximately 150 hymns. She is generally regarded as one of the finest of all English women hymn writers. It is said that after her death more than a thousand letters were found among her papers from individuals around the world, expressing testimonials for what this one hymn had meant in their lives.

Only eternity will reveal the vast number of individuals whose lives have been dramatically changed through the use of this one hymn from the pen of an invalid woman. It is a hymn that can and should be used more frequently than merely an invitational number at the close of a service. Its message is one that we as believers need to be reminded of frequently-that our eternal standing and peace with God depends solely on Christ's merits and not our own.

Hat Tip: Dr. Chadwick’s Hymn Backgrounds

Hens?

In a previous post I talked about my sister's new chicks. I went to visit her Friday afternoon and she took me out to her hen house to show me her hens. She was disturbed because that morning she had heard what sounded a lot like a rooster coming from her backyard. So, I needed to take a look to help her decide if this particular hen is really a hen. Now the females of this breed have a larger comb than most breeds, but this chicken has also started chasing the others around the run. The chicken walked, or rather struted, up to the fence and seemed to look up at me with a challenge. I took one look at it and decided it must be a rooster with the amount of attitude in his stride. Now, I really don't know much about chickens, but I told her I knew some people who do. So, to all you who know chickens, is this a rooster or a hen? We would really like to know.

(Sorry the pictures are so bad. I only had my camera phone with me.)

Simple Pleasures

I’ve been tagged by Stevin to list ten of my simple pleasures in life. They are listed in no particular order, so don’t be offended.

1. Petting a dog
2. Phone Call from a Friend
3. Kiss from my Hubby
4. A Walk in the Sunshine
5. Fresh Baked Bread
6. The Scent of Vanilla
7. Real Mail, not spam or junk
8. A smile on a Child's Face
9. Finding the Perfect Gift for a Loved One
10. Hearing a Favorite Song on the Radio

What are your simple pleasures in life? What brings a smile to your face and brightens your day?

So, now the question of who to tag. Stevin tagged Patrick and Gayle so they are out. My tags go to Little Miss Chatterbox, Suzie, ABFreedom, Lone Pony, Big White Hat, Pirate, Crystal, Hick, Shoprat and Cheryl. Whew! Ten is a lot. I hope others can figure out some others to tag.

Stuff!

The last couple of days I have been packing stuff starting with the knickknacks that I really love. It is amazing how many I have. As I dust each one off and wrap it, I think about where it came from and who it came from. The memories come back as though I am there for the first time. This was from Mom and Dad Christmas 1997; this is from Holland in 2003; my sister made this for me in memory of my sister. Glass, Delft, Tea Cups and antique books all get packed together as some of my most precious possessions.

I actually have a love/hate relationship with my stuff. I love the reminders and the memories they bring as I look at them. Yet I despise dusting and the clutter. Even as I wrap each item in protective paper, I wish I didn’t have so much. But which do I let go and which do I hold close. Viewing the stuff may help bring the memories to the fore, but the memories are within me even when it is not near. I remember that I cannot live for my stuff and I cannot take any of it with me. So, I resolve to move most of my stuff, but not to hold it too dear. There is more important stuff to hold close—my Savior who allows me to have stuff here on earth while I wait to join Him in eternity.


Don't store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves.

Matthew 6:19-20

Birds

I am not very good at identifying birds, but there are some that are no-brainers. For more information on the Red Wing Black Bird, click here. Yesterday we went for a nice walk along a lake and through a golf course from there it headed into a quiet neighborhood. The dark clouds almost missed us entirely!

He Lives!

I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him He's always near.

Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives.He lives within my heart.

In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho' my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading thru all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing will come at last.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing,
Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find
None other is so loving, so good and kind.

Lyrics By Alfred H. Ackley

“Why should I worship a dead Jew?”

This challenging question was posed by a sincere young Jewish student who had been attending evangelistic meetings conducted by the author and composer of this hymn, Alfred H. Ackley.
Mr. Ackley’s answer to this searching question, ultimately prompted the writing of this popular gospel hymn, He Lives.

The composer answered his inquirer: “He lives! I tell you, He is not dead, but lives here and now! Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before. I can prove it by my own experience, as well as the testimony of countless thousands. "

Mr. Ackley’s forthright, emphatic answer, together with his subsequent successful effort to win the man for Christ, flowered forth into song and crystallized into a convincing sermon in hymn on He Lives!

So he sat down at the piano and voiced that conclusion in song. He says, The thought of His ever-living presence brought the music promptly and easily.

H/T: Tan Bible

Good Friday

Today is a day for both mourning and celebration. I mourn that my sin caused my Lord to die. I celebrate because He loves me so much that He was willing to hang on a cross and suffer so that I may live with Him for eternity.