Happy New Year!

I say this every year, but it's hard to believe another year is nearly over. The last six months have been much easier than the first six due to my husband's switch to home dialysis in June. Other things I am thankful for:

~ Both times Phil was hospitalized in February all tests came back negative for blood infection;

~ Grace's graduation from high school in June;

~ Sarah's prolific garden and God's provision for us through it;

~ God's sustaining hand on me through those first six months of 2007;

~ Phil's myeloma remaining in remission;

~ Our lovely home and the blessing that a new (built late 2004) house brings in terms of not requiring [many] repairs;

~ My internet friends;

~ A solid church with good preaching;

~ My salvation.

I'm not big on making New Year's resolutions, but I would like to be better about reading my Bible. I think if I can do that, a lot of other things will fall into place.

"And put on the new man, to which God has given life, in righteousness and a true and holy way of living. "
(Ephesians 4:24, BBE)

Merry Christmas!

"So, The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold! The virgin will conceive and will bring forth a son; and she shall call His name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)

"For a Child is born; to us a Son is given; and the government is on His shoulder; and His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." (Isaiah 9:6)

"And it happened in those days, a decree went out from Caesar Augustus for all the habitable world to be registered. This registration first occurred under the governing of Syria by Cyrenius. And all went to be registered, each to his own city. And Joseph also went from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because of his being of the house and family of David, to be registered with Mary, the one having been betrothed to him as wife, she being pregnant. And it happened as they were there, the days were fulfilled for her to bear. And she bore her son, the First-born. And she wrapped Him and laid Him in the manger, because there was no place for them in the inn." (Luke 2: 1 - 7)

Jesus Christ, is what Christmas is all about. Do you know Him? If you do not, or you are not sure, please click here to find out how this can be your best Christmas ever!

"Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words!" (II Corinthians 9:15)

Several Ways to Make Yourself Miserable

This passage from Elisabeth Elliot's book, Keep a Quiet Heart, was quoted in the "Christian Women Online" blog today. Mrs. Elliot's words are as timely today as they were when she penned them and are worth reposting here:

1. Count your troubles, name them one by one- at the breakfast table, if anybody will listen, or as soon as possible thereafter.

2. Worry every day about something. Don't let yourself get out of practice. It won't add a cubit to your stature but it might burn a few calories.

3. Pity yourself. If you do enough of this, nobody else will have to do it for you.

4. Devise clever but decent ways to serve God and mammon. After all, a man's gotta live.

5. Make it your business to find out what the Joneses are buying this year and where they're going. Try to do them at least one better even if you have to take out another loan to do it.

6. Stay away from absolutes. It's what's right for you that matters. Be your own person and don't allow yourself to get hung up on what others expect of you.

7. Make sure you get your rights. Never mind other people's. You have your life to live, they have theirs.

8. Don't fall into any compassion traps- the sort of situation where people can walk all over you. If you get too involved in other people's troubles, you may neglect your own.

9. Don't let Bible reading and prayer get in the way of what's really relevant-things like TV and newspapers. Invisible things are eternal. You want to stick with the visible ones- they're where it's at now.

Let us purpose in our hearts to act in the opposite way, as Jesus would have us to.

Jesus, You Are Everything to Me

This is a beautiful song by Matthew West. It expresses how I feel - that God looked down on me, not that I am special, but, in fact, one who made a mess of her life, and He reached out to rescue me from my sin. My response is that God is everything to me, everything I live for, everything I hope for.

2Co 9:8 God can bless you with everything you need . . . (CEV)

2Co 9:15 Thank God for his gift that is too wonderful for words! (CEV)

I’m the one with two left feet
Standing on a lonely street
I can’t even walk a straight line
And every time you look at me
I’m spinning like an autumn leaf
Bound to hit bottom sometime

Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in

Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
I’m the one with big mistakes
Big regrets and bigger breaks
Than I ever care to confess
Oh but, You’re the one who looks at me
And sees what I was meant to be
More than just a beautiful mess

Where would I be without someone to save me
Someone who won’t let me fall
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
Cuz You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again

Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You’re everything good in my life
Everything honest and true
And all of those stars hanging up in the sky
Could never shine brighter than You
You are everything that I live for
Everything that I can’t believe is happening
You’re standing right in front of me
With arms wide open
All I know is
Every day is filled with hope
Cuz You are everything that I believe for
And I can’t help but breathe you in
Breathe again
Feeling all this life within
Every single beat of my heart
You are
You are
Jesus, You are

You are everything

God and the Snow

We are under a winter storm watch, high wind warning, and a lake effect snow warning, which will affect us at various times through Wednesday, dumping up to a foot of snow with winds of up to 50 miles per hour. Sounds exciting, no?

What does the Word of God have to say about snow? Here are a few:

"He does wonders, more than may be searched out; great things of which we have no knowledge; For he says to the snow, Make the earth wet; and to the rain-storm, Come down." (Job 37: 5 & 6, Bible in Basic English)

"Have you been to the places where I keep snow and hail, until I use them to punish and conquer nations? From where does lightning leap, or the east wind blow? Who carves out a path for thunderstorms? Who sends torrents of rain on empty deserts where no one lives? Rain that changes barren land to meadows green with grass. Who is the father of the dew and of the rain? Who gives birth to the sleet and the frost that fall in winter, when streams and lakes freeze solid as a rock?" (Job 38: 22 - 30, Contemporary English Version)

"He gives snow like wool; He scatters the white frost like ashes." (Psalm 147: 16, Literal Translation of the Holy Bible)

God control the weather, whether it be snow, rain, wind, or anything in between!

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. " (Psalm 51: 7, English Standard Version)

"Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool." (Isaiah 1:18, English Standard Version)

Our sin, which makes us dirty, black, unclean, becomes whiter than the whitest snow when we come to the Lord Jesus Christ and accept the free gift of salvation which He offers us.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."" (Isaiah 55: 8 - 11, English Standard Version)

I love this promise. that God's Word never fails - whatever God intends for it to do will come to be. Sometimes we grow impatient, thinking "our" work is in vain. If it is our work, the result is not guaranteed. But when we pray and allow God's Spirit to lead, our obedience - God's work - will have the desired outcome. What a precious promise!

I will leave you with the words to the hymn, I Shall Be Whiter Than Snow, by James L. Nicholson. This hymn, based on Psalm 51: 7, was penned in 1872.

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul.
Break down every idol, cast out every foe;
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Refrain: Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract ev’ry stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Refrain

Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice.
I give up myself, and whatever I know,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Refrain

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessèd Lord, at Thy crucified feet.
By faith, for my cleansing, I see Thy blood flow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Refrain

Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait,
Come now, and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee, Thou never saidst “No,”
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Refrain

The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
O glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow. Refrain

Blog Moved

I've just finished moving my blog from here to Blogger. Since there weren't too many posts, I have moved those as well; they are labeled with the date they were originally posted. This site still needs work, which I'll do as I am able. I'm trying to complete Christmas gifts, which is keeping me busy. You can read about my projects on my other blog.

Heart Troubles?

gingram | 26 November, 2007 19:21

Psalm 51:10 (KJV) "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Do you have heart problems? How do you know if you do?

Our pastor preached from Jonah chapters 3 and 4 on Sunday night. He listed five symptoms of heart troubles:

1. Failing to rejoice with those who rejoice. Romans 12:15

2. Failing to see God's grace toward you and respond to others as He responds to you.

3. Being more concerned with our own comfort than what God is doing.

4. Being angry toward God.

5. Showing no concern for the eternal souls of others.

Jon 3:1 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah the second time, saying,
Jon 3:2 "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you."
Jon 3:3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh . . .
Jon 3:5 And the people of Nineveh believed God.
Jon 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was angry.
Jon 4:2 And he prayed to the LORD and said, "O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.
Jon 4:3 Therefore now, O LORD, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live."

Imagine being angry enough to want to die - all because God brought to repentance an entire city?

How is your heart?

You can hear the entire message by clicking here.

Thanksgiving

gingram | 22 November, 2007 21:07

I have so much to be thankful for! My family, my home, my country, my salvation . . . but without God, none of this would be possible. I was thinking during our car ride home from my in-laws, where we had Thanksgiving dinner, that I am seeing glimmers of hope where my relationship with the Lord is concerned.

Let me explain: in my November 10, 2007 post, I noted that my husband's kidneys stopped working as a result of his cancer and that we endured 18 months of hemodialysis before his switch to home dialysis earlier this year. A lot went on in those 18 months including watching my husband grow weaker and more incapacitated due to his initial chemo, way too many doctor's appointments (Phil's oncologist at the time refused to believe that medication side effects were indeed that and sent him to doctor after doctor trying to find other explanations), preparation for a stem cell transplant and the procedure itself, five hospitalizations, three surgeries, navigating the disability and Social Security disability nightmare, taking over the household responsibilities Phil used to have, taking him to dialysis at least twice a week, sometimes three times and arranging transportation for the Saturdays I didn't take him, keeping the household running, and leaving our church of 16 years. During all this, my faith remained strong and vibrant. Yet when all this was over, and our training for home dialysis complete, my faith began to disintegrate. Not that I doubted my salvation. That never entered my mind. I was so utterly worn out that I just shut down, and I have not recovered. But a couple days ago, I experienced a bit of the excitement I used to have, a few brief moments of worship, a stirring of hope within.

On Wednesday evening, I purchased a fabulous album, the second vocal release by Gordon Mote, Don't Let Me Miss the Glory. Several of the songs resonated with me the first few times I listened to the album. Gordon's rendition of Steven Curtis Chapman's My Redeemer is Faithful and True is one:

[Psalm 103:17 - "But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children", ESV]

As I look back on the road I've travelled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

[Chorus:] My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true.

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
'There is a place I am preparing for you.'
I know someday I'll see my Lord face to face,
'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. [Chorus]

And in every situation He has proved His love to me;
When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me. [Chorus]

(Steven Curtis Chapman and James Isaac Elliott)

Another song, which Gordon sang at the Gaither Give It Away Tour last month (accompanied by majestic nature scenes projected on the big screens at the front of the concert venue), was written by Joe Beck and Carl Cartee. Don't Let Me Miss the Glory has been described as "sweeping," but I would use words such as "majestic," "awe-inspiring," and "majestic." I especially like the reference to Lamentations 3:22 - 23: "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (ESV)

In the view from the mountain

There’s a story to be told

In the crashing of the ocean

There’s a power that no man can ever hold

All the stars in the heavens

Decorate your handiwork

Like a mighty choir, they’ve come to celebrate your worth

[Chorus] Don’t let me miss the glory

Don’t let me miss the grace

And all creation singin’

To the honor of your name

Don’t let me miss the wonder

Don’t let me miss the grand design

The lightning and the thunder

Lord, open up my eyes

Don’t let me miss the glory

In the cry of a baby

In the laughter of love

In the dance of the faithful

You will find the greatness of our God above

In the prayer of the righteous

In the beauty of your grace

In the brand new morning’s mercy

All your memory of my sin has been erased

[Repeat Chorus, Bridge, Repeat Chorus]

So much to be thankful for! Keep your eyes on the One Who is Faithful and True, marvel at His beautiful grace, celebrate His worth, delight in morning's new mercy! Blessed be the Name of the Lord!!

Good Thoughts

gingram | 16 November, 2007 12:35

Deby, writer of Apples of Gold, brought to the attention of an online list we are both part of a great post from Susan at By Grace. Susan asks "Who - or What - Is Your God? Are we really looking to the Scriptures alone, or are we making trends, movements, or other people's thoughts and opinions our "god"?

Interesting how this ties in somewhat with my previous post on temptation and idolatry.

Tapping Into God's Strength

gingram | 11 November, 2007 21:49

Lately I've been thinking about overcoming temptation. God's Word speaks of this in I Corinthians 10: 13 - "No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it." (International Standard Version) Here, God acknowledges that temptation will be a part of life, but that He will give us a way out. Where I think we get hung up is the part of the verse that says we will not "be tempted beyond [our] strength." We cannot overcome temptation in our own strength, but only by submitting ourselves fully to the Lord in this and every situation and confessing our own weakness to overcome, allowing His strength which shows itself triumphant when we are weak, to overtake us and thereby have victory over the temptation we are facing. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." II Cor. 12:9, English Standard Version

"But how do we do that", you might ask. "What is the formula which I must follow in order to get God's strength and thereby overcome this temptation which I am facing?" There is no formula, no magic words, no special prayer. You must simply acknowledge your weakness before God, your inability to walk through this alone, and ask for His strength. Fall on your knees before Him, give Him praise!

2Sa 22:2 Our LORD and our God, you are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector.
2Sa 22:3 You are the rock where I am safe. You are my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter. You rescue me and keep me from being hurt.
2Sa 22:4 I praise you, our LORD! I prayed to you, and you rescued me from my enemies.

Pray the Psalms and other passages of Scripture where God is exalted. Darkness will flee before Him!

One other point to ponder: Temptation which comes again and again may, in reality, be an addiction which you must deal with. Simply substituting another behavior for temptation of this type is not the answer; turning from your idolatry (which is what addiction is because you have made addiction your god) and putting God in His rightful place ("You shall have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3). This is beyond what I dare tackle here, but I would refer you to the book, Women Helping Women by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Carol Cornish for a Biblical approach to addiction.

My Testimony

gingram | 10 November, 2007 20:47

John 3:3 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (English Standard Version)

I came to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ in August, 1979. I was 19 years old.

As I look back, I can see God's working in my life. I grew up in a mainline denomination church, faithfully attending services, and singing in the youth and adult choirs. During one of my high school years I attended confirmation class and joined the church. I remember thinking "I must be a Christian now", but I still felt the same emptiness that had plagued my life for so long. It was during the summer of 1979 that God brought true, born again Christians into my life. One night after dinner, I went into the kitchen where we had a small television. I turned it on and listened intently as Billy Graham spoke. I realized for the first time that being a member of a church wasn't going to get me into heaven, but confessing my sin and my need of a Saviour would. My heart was opened and God welcomed me into His family,

Several years ago, I had the privilege of being lead female vocalist for o

ur then-church worship team. That experience taught me how to worship God in a real and exciting way, which was another turning point in my life, something I desperately needed.

Events Which Have Shaped My Life -

- Marriage to the most wonderfully patient man in the world on May 26

, 1984.

- Being diagnosed with fibromyalgia in June, 1994.

- Homeschooling my two daughters.

- My husband's diagnosis of Multiple Myeloma (incurable blood cancer) AND kidney failure on December 16, 2005. We endured 17 months of hemodialysis before Phil started on home dialysis in June, 2007. You can read more about Phil's cancer treatment by clicking here.

- Leaving our church of 16 years in early September, 2006. (I'm not going to elaborate out of respect for my husband's desire that we not discuss details.)