But God

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2:1-5 ESV (emphasis added).

"One of my favorite conjunctions in all the Bible is but God." ~ Michael Horton (The White Horse Inn).

An Afternoon Project 09/14/11

Last Sunday, Charity, Emily, and Katelyn (young friends from church) came home with me after our morning church service. We ate lunch together, and they spent the afternoon helping me prepare a project for an upcoming church event. I didn't invite them over because I needed the help (though I certainly needed the help, and they were incredibly efficient and a huge help to me), but I invited them over because I enjoy their company AND projects such as these present opportunities to build relationships (and I'll take that any day over completing a project quickly). Conversation flows when women, young and old alike (relatively speaking, I would be the old in this particular scenario) are engaged in a hands-on project. As suspected, much conversation was had around the project table.

Cookie Baking Night 09/12/11

Tonight was Cookie Baking Night. In attendance this evening: Ethan and Carissa.

We made sugar cookies with cream cheese frosting.

We read lesson 54 titled "God's Children Love One Another" from Leading Little Ones to God by Marian Schoolland. Ethan read 1 John 4:7-11 for us from the Bible.

And Ethan and Carissa helped me work on a project for church. They were great helpers.

We ended the evening with a lively game of Uno. As usual, a fun time was had by all.

Psalms 145:1-10

I'm currently memorizing Psalm 145. I'm up to verse 10. I'm enjoying putting this passage in my head and meditating on it as I drive to work in the morning. Thought I'd share it with you:

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!

Psalm 145: 1-10 (ESV)

Temporarily Interrupted

This blog will be temporarily interrupted due to a particularly busy time coming up. Expect sporadic posts over the next week or so.

Psalm 27:4

One thing I have asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

A Day With The Niece 09/03/11

Today, Emily and I spent a few hours together in the afternoon. School starts on Tuesday, and I had promised her we could make her pencil box this year. We went to a local scrapbooking supply store, purchased the box and supplies, took a seat in their workroom, and she let her creative juices flow. I think it's safe to say she'll have the most creative pencil box in the 5th grade. Though we were sure to put her name on the end of it, I think it will be the only one of its kind. (Fancy pencil box that you create yourself---in pink--I do believe I see a little Aunt Katrina in that one.)