A Beauty To Behold

This afternoon was spent with friends at Deception Pass with Whidbey Coffee in hand. That's the way to go! Although...it makes climbing on rocks rather difficult when you only have one hand free. I only nearly fell to my death once....Not too bad. ;-)

It was absolutely spectacular!  Words cannot even express the beauty. I praise God for allowing me to behold His wondrous creation this afternoon.

Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Worship In Song!

Music has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  Once I began to reach the point with my piano abilities that I could produce beautiful (tolerable?) music I would be immediately drawn to the piano as a sort of comfort in times of trial.  The music blessed my soul and gave me a certain peace.

I'm so grateful to the Lord for the gift of music.  God created music to give us a way that we could worship Him! I know He delights in listening to His children sing praise to Him.

To study classical music at school gives me much pleasure and is certainly challenging.  However, at the end of the day, I will choose a hymn in worship to my Saviour over any Chopin or Bach piece.  Earlier today I did my normal routine of going down to the church for a few hours to practice piano and voice.  My heart and mind has been very full and heavy these past few weeks and as I sat down to warm up my voice I pulled the hymnal down from the top of the piano and began to lift my voice in praise. It then ceased to be a warmup and turned into my own private time of worship with my Lord. Practice time turned into praise time and Beethoven was left behind. As I left to walk back to my house my heart was overflowing with joy.  No longer was it heavy and feeling like it dragged as I walked. In fact, I felt like skipping home! :-) God is so good like that.

So I encourage you to take a look at your hymnal a little closer. If you don't own one....get one!  Who says worship in song should be restricted to Sundays and Wednesdays?!? :-) I think you'll find that with a song in your heart and a tune on your lips you'll have a lighter heart and you'll bless those around you.

Psalm 7:17- I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

 Psalm 150:6-  Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD

Tomorrow....

I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

by Ira Stanphill

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.

I don't borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.

I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,

And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

Ev'ry step is getting brighter,
As the golden stairs I climb;

Ev'ry burden's getting lighter;
Ev'ry cloud is silver lined.

There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eyes,

At the ending of the rainbow,
Where the mountains touch the sky.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;

But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.

And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood.

But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;

But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

More Deliciousness!

So recently I discovered a website.....Food Gawker. I tell you, this website gives me mixed feelings.  I get soooo excited at all the amazing recipes.....but it can be a time waster. So this is your fair warning. Enter at your own risk! :-) It is a pretty neat place and this is my second recipe that I've made from there.

Mini Cinnamon Rolls!!  I just thought they were so darling!  They are sooo easy to make and perfect for get-togethers with friends or at church. Did I mention how easy they are to make? ;-) Simple. The way I like it. I'll certainly be perusing Food Gawker again.....but for now....homework awaits.  Oh! If you'd like to make these yourself, here's the place.

Pretzels

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite places to grab a snack is Auntie Ann's. I love love LOVE to get a big soft pretzel and a huge ice cold lemonade. Mmmm......Today I didn't have any lemonade and they didn't taste QUITE as good, but I did make homemade soft pretzels. And they were sooo delicious! I would say it was a success. :-) You can find the recipe here.

Snow Day!

This morning around 6:00 as I rolled over to whack the snooze button for the second time I heard my cell phone buzz indicating a text.  Sure enough, the college had sent out a notice that classes were canceled.  I jumped out of bed and looked out the window! In my excitement I forgot that I need my glasses to see any reasonable distance in front of me so I scurried back to grab them from my nightstand. Sure enough, a beautiful layer of snow was glowing in the darkness.  With a contended sigh I went back to sleep knowing it would be a good day. :-)  When I officially decided I would get up, I looked out my window again, this time with my glasses.  It had snowed even more and was still falling! I would say we got 6-8 inches today overall. It's supposed to snow some through the night and even tomorrow. I wonder if school will be canceled again.....most likely. 

Happy New Year?

According to Merriam-Webster's dictionary, Happiness is defined as "a state of well-being and contentment."   Many of us ring in the new year with this greeting on our lips.  Happy.....what does it mean to be happy?  And what constitutes a "happy year"?  Does it mean a year with no pain?  A year without losing someone you love? Without sacrificing something that is dear to you?  We often take advantage of the fresh start to better ourselves in some way. That's where New Year's Resolutions come in. So is that what makes a good year?  Bettering ourselves in some way?

I don't know about you, but I don't think I've ever had a year that was devoid of pain and suffering to some degree.  Every year I look back and think, "I wish I would have done this." or "I could have done that better." Yet, looking back, I can also see how the Lord has grown me through every single one of those trials and pains.  Was it always a happy time?  No. But I can honestly say that God has given me JOY!  Back to the dictionary, Joy is defined as "a source of happiness".  Yup.  It's possible to have JOY even though we may not be going through the happiest of times.

Psalm 126:5,6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepest, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

John 15:11  These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself in ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.

John 16:22  And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

I know many of you (us) are already experiencing some of these pains and sorrows, and the year has just begun! But what a blessing to know that we can have JOY inspite of these things.

May I wish you a JOYFUL NEW YEAR!