10,000 Reasons

Carolyn

Psalm 103:1-10

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness
And justice for all who are oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
His acts to the children of Israel.
The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.
He will not always strive with us,
Nor will He keep His anger forever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, 
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

I love this song, 10,000 Reasons, by Matt Redman. Maybe it’s because it resonates with the words of Psalm 103 which I love. Have you heard it?

 

Psalm 103:11-22

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father pities his children,
So the Lord pities those who fear Him.
For He knows our frame;
He remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
To such as keep His covenant,
And to those who remember His commandments to do them.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
And His kingdom rules over all.
Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
Bless the Lord, all His works,
In all places of His dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!

Bible Study Wrap Up

Carolyn

My Bible study group had a wrap up dinner together a week or two ago in our leader’s lovely home. What a fun year it has been together! We studied Philippians during the fall semester and the Minor Prophets in the spring.

I did not expect to do Bible study at church this year because I work on Wednesdays, and the classes are on Wednesday morning and Wednesday night. By night time, I am pretty tired and in the middle of a busy week. However, I thought it might be fun to do with a friend, so I thought I would invite her, and if she said yes, then we could do it together.

Well, she did say yes, and we both enjoyed the studies so much. My children participated in Wednesday evening programs, so Wednesday became a church night for us this year. It had been seven years since I had been able to participate in Women’s Bible Study because of a year of homeschooling, then six years of working, and it was wonderful to be back. I remember the first lecture back in the fall as the speaker gave an overview of the Bible. My heart was so full being back in this setting together, gathering with women in the community to study God’s Word.

Then who would have thought my two sweet leaders would recommend I speak at the Bible study spring celebration!? And that I would agree?! I was grateful to be able to share what the Lord has done in my life and trust He will use it for His glory. That He would be seen and I would not was my prayer.

I praise the Lord for what He has done in this group this year, for the truths we have learned about His character that absolutely caused us to stand in awe of Him, and for the friendships He has developed. The study of His Word does not return void, and my life is richer for knowing these ladies!

Mother Daughter Tea

Carolyn

My mom and I took my daughter to a Mother Daughter Tea today at church. We had such a sweet time making stationery, having tea and treats, meeting new people, visiting with friends, and hearing a guest speaker. I enjoyed catching up with friends that I don’t get to visit with nearly enough, and my mom enjoyed meeting a lot of new people in her new town. So thankful for our church, for my dear friends, and for a special time with my mom and daughter.

Sweet friends, a gift from God

Field Trip and Friends

Carolyn
Riding one of the trikes!

The middle school at my children’s school recently had a service project collecting used bikes and bike parts for a ministry that fixes these bikes and then provides them to people all over the world who need transportation. Yesterday, my son’s class took a field trip to see the work they do. It was a neat ministry, and they also shared some wonderful things with the children about ministry in general and then bike care and safety.

The lady who started the ministry told us the most important part of any ministry — prayer. We spent time praying together. And the children also learned how they bend steel, put the bikes together, and were encouraged to wear their helmets, take care of their bikes, grease the chains, keep the tires pumped up, etc. They also reported the results of the middle school bike drive and how it would help.

I had a great time being with the students, listening to their conversations, seeing their friendships. I love these children whom I have watched grow for so many years. I remembered the summer before our school started, my son was the only 2nd grader registered, and some wondered if he would have friends and if the school would grow.

By the start of school, there were five 2nd graders, good friends. They combined with the 1st graders and had a nice class of nine children, five boys and four girls. The next year, they had 14 children, 10 boys and four girls. Then they were able to separate out the classes. Though the class has changed year to year, this remains a special group of children, families, and friends, and I was thankful to witness it again yesterday and praise the Lord for bringing together this school and its community.

Bible Study

Carolyn
“Let us press on to know the Lord” Hosea 6:3

I am enjoying blogging more regularly because it is keeping me accountable! I have a goal to exercise at least 3 times a week (I’m starting with low expectations), and it was great to wake up and walk again this morning. It was so neat to see the moon out as I walked one direction, and the sun rising as I walked the other! I read Proverbs 9-10 before I walked (I was already a day behind in that goal!) and reflected on the verses as I walked.

Proverbs 9 continued with contrasting wisdom and folly, while Proverbs 10 talked a lot about the tongue/mouth and also contrasted righteous living with evil. There is a connection between the way we speak and the way we live, between mouths that are a fountain of life and righteous, wise living.

It struck me again that God’s Word teaches us how to live and speaks to our lives. The reason I sometimes don’t know what to do is because I don’t ask or seek or look in the Bible. But it is there, the truths that I need, the ways I should follow, knowledge about the loving God who made me and whom I want to trust and serve.

My Bible study group for this year met one last time last night for dinner at my leader’s house. It was lovely, and I am going to miss seeing these ladies regularly. Studying the Bible together and praying for one another through the year builds sweet friendships and brings encouragement.

I am doing a Beth Moore Bible study Esther: It’s Tough Being a Woman with a friend now and looking forward to studying James: Mercy Triumphs, another Beth Moore study, with a group starting in late June. I find if I don’t have a plan for summer, it’s easy to miss my daily time reading the Bible simply because I don’t have a plan!

So my praise for this morning is God’s Word, the Bible. What an amazing gift to us that God has spoken to us through His Word. I also remembered this morning that it is a gift to have it in my language, readily accessible,  and to have the freedom to read and study it openly with friends. We have been given much, and I want to know this gift and its Giver and give it to those who do not have it or know its power.

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Proverbs 10:19 “In the multitude of words, sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.”