A Prayer for Today

Shelly Moore Band, "Scratch"

I’m just a scratch on this line
Such a vapor of time
How can I think it's all mine
Or just for me 
A fleeting thing

My soul cannot rest here 
There is always something more 
That I'm striving for 
Round and round again in this so called circle of life
But it's never the same
So is it a circle or a line

Father, help me wait for my full reward
Remind my soul that it's not here
Father, help me wait for my full reward
Remind my soul that it's not here

So what should be my delight?
They tell me to buy to satisfy what I need
They've got me feeling alone, like this world is my home
When the most costly has been given for free 

There will come a day
When you will say well done
There will come a day
When you will say well done good and faithful one

And, check out Shelly's new CD, Unraveling.  

Prayer and the Heartbeat of God

"Prayer brings our heartbeat in tune with God’s own. In prayer, we come to God in worship. During times of praise and adoration, we are keenly aware of who He is, what He has done, and what His Word teaches us. This love for God leads us to contemplate His perfection and holiness." 

- Michael Sills, The Missionary Call (2008)

Something to Think About

"Many Christians are aware of the billions who have never heard the gospel and those among them who die without Christ every day. This concern is a constant burden in their lives. Like a stone in their shoe, it is ever on their minds no matter where they go or what they do. Their hearts reverberate with the cries of those who are being born into, live in, and die in darkness. They are concerned for the young girls whose parents sell them into sexual slavery to provide for the family. They are concerned for the millions of street children and their hopeless existence. Most of all, they are concerned for the glory of God. Their concern makes them wonder how they can live a holy life in faithfulness to God’s commands if they do not live in reckless abandon and radical fulfillment of the Great Commandments and the Great Commission." 

-Michael Sills, The Missionary Call (2008)

Hallelujah

When I was on vacation in Florida, one of my favorite things to do was stake out the perfect sunset-watching spot on the beach gazebo.  I'd show up at 2:00 or 2:30 with a cup of my favorite tea and a book so that I could enjoy the afternoon while waiting for the sun to sink down on the horizon.  What a wonderful way to spend the afternoon!  This particular photo looks like my mental image of the day Jesus will return for us - except, instead of the sun's rays of light, Jesus will be the one radiating in glory.  Do you see it, too?  I thought you might :) 

Holy Holy Holy

is the Lord our God

Mighty King of Glory,

You have rescued us

Hallelujah, Hallelujah

You are the God of our salvation

You have conquered

You have risen

You are the God of our salvation

-Phil Wickham, God of our Salvation

In the Garden

He speaks, and the sound of His voice,

Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me

Within my heart is ringing.

"In the Garden" by C. Austin Miles, 1912

These are a few pictures that I took at the Sarah P. Duke Gardens,
 one of my favorite spots in the Triangle. 

Autumn

Crisp leaves in amber hues, hot apple cider, crackling fires, golden sunsets, cozy blankets, fuzzy sweaters and warm scarves... I love autumn.  Here are some pictures I've snapped in the last few days - beautiful, right?

Nature's first green is gold, 

Her hardest hue to hold. 

Her early leaf's a flower; 

But only so an hour. 

Then leaf subsides to leaf. 

So Eden sank to grief, 

So dawn goes down to day. 

Nothing gold can stay. 

Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay, 1923