Grace Thoughts

  Hidden in folds of darkness; Sparkling like jewels in the night: The promises of our Savior, Shine forth from His Word as our light. The heavens and earth now are passing, But the Word of our God stands secure. From everlasting to everlasting, Christ's promises remain ever sure. So let us behold---the beauty of the Lord As we are still before His precious Word Radiant in light is the love of God that shines From the wounds of the Lord Jesus Christ

Remembering when we were still waiting to welcome Alethia Gabriella! Now she is 4 months old!    

Though the night be deep with darkness Though my sorrows be filled with pain I will hope in the Lord forever I count all as loss but the cross is my gain Though I walk through the Valley of shadows Though my heart be lonely and tried I will look to you Lord, and remember you always And in your glorious presence shall hide. Alone Your nearness is my GOOD ONLY Alone Your love satisfies my soul's desire Alone You are my light in darkness Alone Your Joy is my strength through the fire Alone Your Word is my SOLID GROUND Alone Your name is my fortress to hide Alone You are my peace and rest Alone Your presence is where I abide.

Once upon a time, a delicately fashioned leaf clung to the branch of a towering oak tree. The fresh light of spring dawned over the rolling hills dotted with grazing cows. Thick forests shadowed the edges of the grassy fields. As a soft breeze drifted by, a young leaf spread open her bright green folds and basked in the dazzling, morning sun. Glorious beams of sunshine splashed over the trees dotting up and down the lane. The young leaf felt a surge of excitement as she noticed all the golden leaves twirling on the tree branches around her. How she longed to see her own green edges sparkle with golden light. She longed to be like the sun, and she felt encouraged by all the leaves around her shimmering and dancing in their brilliant coats. She decided that one day, she too would shine like the sun. As the warm days of spring melted into each other, the green leaf studied the other leaves as she tried to discover the secret to how they shone like the sun. She felt hopeful that soon she t

 A stroke of golden sunlight To pierce the world in dark To open up the sky of night As songs of HOPE rise up from the lark •          •          •          •         •           •          • And so one glimpse of Christ's face Pierces the heart chained in gloom And opens up the eyes to grace Like new life rising from the tomb •          •          •          •          •          •          • For in Christ's death---sin was conquered In Christ's rising---the vict'ry won Now the Gospel light is heard Declaring the salvation of the Son

 How fun to look back through the corridors of time at the memories God has given us together as a family. In just a moment of pause and reflection, we see how much we have grown by God's grace, how much God has blessed us with love and laughter, and how much we have to look forward to because of God's future grace that is ours in Christ. All these bursting thoughts from a fun day at the river!

  My Dear Little Children, The sun nestles itself higher in the hazy clouds here in Aruba, inching its way higher still to the tippy-top of the sky. Earlier, I opened the windows to the new day. The soft colors of dawn met my eyes declaring God's glory. Your dark, curly heads and bright eyes soon greeted the day as well, as you pattered in to join Daddy and I as we sipped the last of our coffee and drank in the sunrise. The still morning, now bursting with life, erupted with happy, eager chatter and the deep lessons of the heart as you all and Daddy shared the timeless truths of God's Word together. Listening filled me with joy and remembering now fills me with sweet contentment. These still moments basking in God's kindness and mercy wonderfully prepare us to face the stormy moments that blow into the moments of our lives like the storm clouds above. God's endless supply of grace awaits those who come to him in Jesus Christ right up to his Throne of Grace---boldly, exp

  Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Psalm 61:1‭-‬3   Life is like the sea---shifting and changing from moment to moment. The waves rise up and crash to unknown depths. Stillness hushes the raging, murky waters till they sparkle like polished glass stretching out to the heavens. Beauty and terror meet in the swirling, ever-changing tides of life. I find myself swept up in this sea of life, and here I am just as changeable as the waters that toss me about mercilessly. To face this alone is to sink into the bottomless depths of despair, yet to face it as I clutch and grab for the equally shifting and changeable things around me is to hold on to impending doom. Where shall I find help to keep from sinking underneath the pounding waves of my struggles and sorrows? Where shall I find hope in the midst of the swirling