Saturday, December 27, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
UNWORTHY
Good Morning~Sisters,
Today is sort of grey and dreary out...actually typical of spring in this part of PA.
Mother's Day here was very sweet. A few days before we went to Walmart and Na (8yr) wanted his "hundreds money". (They get 25 cents per 100% on weekly quizzes-the biggs get 50 cents bcz it is MUCH harder to earn those 100%) I watched him at the jewelry counter and tried to not really look at what he was doing. Since he didn't give me any of his change I knew he spent all he had. JOy purchases were done. On Sat. Na gave me a little silk flower ring to wear-it was my crown-he said. Sunday morning, no breakfast in bed, but I was escorted downstairs with my eyes covered, and in the living room were many balloons and packages and envelopes. Bob likes to do things like celebrations and special days as part of our church service, and since it is just us, we can. So, the children came one at a time to give their card, gift, hugs etc. I was showered with gifts and praise. Feeling truly unworthy of the love given to me. Joy presented me with a little bear and on the bag it was in said "it's a queen" (they call me the queen). Inside was a wally world gift card, very pretty for Mother's day (MY children collect gift cards from the checkout trash cans) Imagine my surprise when I said how pretty it was and Joy says, "It's NOT fake either, it's REAL" Bless her heart she put her last $5 on it. Bob made Na wait til last. I knew his was "the biggie" then, but I was totally surprised...It was a little dog with a gift box, inside the gift box was a pair of gold 14K earrings. He spent all he had on me. Later he told me "the earrings and money are like nothing bcz I love you so much" My heart just melted, again. Even later in the day, every few hrs that afternoon, someone was giving another present. What an encouragement but at the same time I just felt ohhhhh sooooo unworthy. I started to think about it all on Monday and it reminded me of the story of Jesus and the alabaster box. HE WAS WORTHY! But how loved, beloved, he must have felt. She gave her all, and kissed his feet and washed them with her tears... My children, in my heart, did this to me too. The difference being He is WORTHY of all praise honor and glory of course, but I am not.
Today is sort of grey and dreary out...actually typical of spring in this part of PA.
Mother's Day here was very sweet. A few days before we went to Walmart and Na (8yr) wanted his "hundreds money". (They get 25 cents per 100% on weekly quizzes-the biggs get 50 cents bcz it is MUCH harder to earn those 100%) I watched him at the jewelry counter and tried to not really look at what he was doing. Since he didn't give me any of his change I knew he spent all he had. JOy purchases were done. On Sat. Na gave me a little silk flower ring to wear-it was my crown-he said. Sunday morning, no breakfast in bed, but I was escorted downstairs with my eyes covered, and in the living room were many balloons and packages and envelopes. Bob likes to do things like celebrations and special days as part of our church service, and since it is just us, we can. So, the children came one at a time to give their card, gift, hugs etc. I was showered with gifts and praise. Feeling truly unworthy of the love given to me. Joy presented me with a little bear and on the bag it was in said "it's a queen" (they call me the queen). Inside was a wally world gift card, very pretty for Mother's day (MY children collect gift cards from the checkout trash cans) Imagine my surprise when I said how pretty it was and Joy says, "It's NOT fake either, it's REAL" Bless her heart she put her last $5 on it. Bob made Na wait til last. I knew his was "the biggie" then, but I was totally surprised...It was a little dog with a gift box, inside the gift box was a pair of gold 14K earrings. He spent all he had on me. Later he told me "the earrings and money are like nothing bcz I love you so much" My heart just melted, again. Even later in the day, every few hrs that afternoon, someone was giving another present. What an encouragement but at the same time I just felt ohhhhh sooooo unworthy. I started to think about it all on Monday and it reminded me of the story of Jesus and the alabaster box. HE WAS WORTHY! But how loved, beloved, he must have felt. She gave her all, and kissed his feet and washed them with her tears... My children, in my heart, did this to me too. The difference being He is WORTHY of all praise honor and glory of course, but I am not.
That sum's up my Mother's Day 2006. Each year I don't know what to expect, and usually I expect some cards, and The LORD always has surprises in store for me, above measure. Thank You Jesus!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Today has already been a busy one. Last night I assisted Bob in setting up our “sound system” for church. Definitely not your usual sound system.
Since none of us are proficient enough musically to play for anything but practice and pleasure, right now—pray for us, we use what folks in the Cincinnati, Ohio area called “canned music”. What you never heard of canned music?
Anyone ever see a can of “Florida Sunshine”? They were quite popular souvenirs, at least in the early to mid 1970’s. (Dating myself now, right?) They usually had a pretty label showing an orange, or orange tree, a sunshine face, or the mascot “Orange Bird”. http://ts3.images.live.com/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=198101837306&id=d90d3a9159a3c8637f23a6ac2bcda10e
Obviously they were nothing more than an empty can with a label.
That’s what I thought canned music was--something like that, but not like it at all.
Turns out that canned music is music used for singing that is taped, not live music. It was unpopular, ok, hated, by almost every church we set foot in. People far and wide would say “we don’t want no canned music in our church”.
Dave M. and Mrs. P and Mrs. M , often sang using cued music on tape which they purchased from the local Christisan bookstore in MD. None of them, the tapes, were offensive. The music was orchestra-like, not band music. These were probably predecessors to contemporary music as we know it today.
As time marches on, the world has infiltrated the church. Instead of being “in the world, not of the world”, we just modify, or “Christianize” things of the world, so we can indulge the flesh, remain popular, not sacrifice, not old fashioned, and be inoffensive to the world.
There is a poem or tract about the church dancing with the world. Its very true, and that’s sad to me.
Thus the musical tracks that Christian singers used to use, are far removed from those today. The background music drowns out the singers voice. Instead of hearing the words, and letting them minister to the spirit, the music overpowers the spirit and feeds the flesh.
Which leaves churches with little or no musical talent in their congregation little choice, and they are forced to chose between using worldly, fleshly music, or off key-wrong note-no music. People look forward to music in church. It sets the mood for the service. Could this by the reason why more contemporary churches use contemporary music or praise and worship music, but the depth of preaching and teaching which delves into the Word of God is missing?
Since we move in the old fashioned, traditional, KJV Baptist circles, the churches we visited were struggling to survive and remain true to their values, convictions and the Holy Spirit.
That’s why they hate canned music.
In Ohio, there is a dear older couple who adopted us when we first relocated to Harrison. Bob and Bro. H. disagree on issues, and they sharpen iron together, but at the end of each conversation, there is still love, friendship and respect. Bro. H. is one of the folks who hates canned music.
Bob’s been working on digitizing all our music tapes for almost 2 weeks. Our tape collection began 32 years ago when Bob got saved. There are music tapes and sermons, Bible studies, and revival music. It is much harder than it seems like it should be. Bob must play each tape at normal speed, and had been pumped full of Godly music daily. Much of the music we own can never be replaced. Voices change over time. People die or stray from the LORD. He feels like it is his duty to preserve this legacy for us, our children, our grandchildren, and anyone else with whom we might share it.
Well, while he is taping, and needs to catch a break, he will make phone calls. He decided to call up Bro. H. During their conversation, Bob explained to him that we use our music tapes for church every week. We have 2 sets of tapes that are just piano playing hymns so we can sing hymns with music. The first thing Bro. H said was, “I hate that ole canned music!” Bob, ever the hopeful man that he is, wanted to see if he could show him that “not all canned music is alike” (I just heard the Hebrew National Hot Dog voice saying “We answer to and even higher authority”)
Bob pulled up Abigail Miller’s file, and played a song for him. He like it. So Bob put another good one on, and he liked that. The piece’ de resistance’ was Dave Arnold. Now that tape is from 1981-1982. Bro. Arnold was a friend of our pastor, and preached at our revival. Bro. Arnold also sings, well he did then. He is a good Bro. and terrific preacher. When he set up his table with his tapes, I wanted one badly but didn’t have the money. He let me take a tape and I promised to pay for it late. (Which I did.) Several years later he made another tape. Evangelist Dave Arnold has always, and will always be near and dear to my heart because of his trusting me with his tape. He was the first person I ever heard sing “Rejoice in the LORD” and I fell in love with that song, right then. It is still one of my favorite songs. Bro. H. liked it too. Bob may have converted him to being pro-old-fashioned, Godly canned music when you haven’t got any musicians.
We are going to try to figure out how to share our treasure trove of music. When we do I’ll let you know how, when, and where.
David has been calling us a lot more frequently, and in the weeks since his birthday things have been changing between him and Bob. It’s wonderful. A few of the phone calls, I just wanted to run around the yard jumping and shouting praises to God. The other night was especially dear, because I had decided to use my favorite photo of David and I for my profile picture on facebook. He was 2-3 months old when it was taken. I’d barely uploaded it when he phoned, and we had such sweet fellowship, and my David, the real one, was back. His heart is back in the place it should be. It’s hard to believe it has been just 9 months since the day we thought he was completely ruining his life, but God didn’t allow it, and rerouted him.
For so long he was here but his heart was estranged from us. Now he is away from us but his heart is ever so close-he is home in the truest sense of the word.
Instead of not wanting to talk to us, we have been on the phone for hours, chatting about nothing in particular. But other calls are of a serious nature and he has opened up to us in a way we had only dreamed about. Especially with Bob. Bob and David were inseparable for, oh.. wow… forever…until we allowed David to work for another man we knew. From then on, Bob was 2nd best. David’s heart was stolen. He was 12 or 13 at the time. It grew worse, and David began to resent his Daddy-his Daddy who up to then was everything to him. Bob didn’t see it right away, but I did, and it hurt.
The contrast is dramatic, like light v. darkness. An open heart after being so tightly closed, it is as if he is bursting at the seams to let all the bottled up good stuff burst out.
Lately he has been seeing Daddy in a whole new light; the light he should have been in all along. But better late than never. In face, he has really begun to look up to him, rather like he did as a little laddie. It is very sweet and endearing. The strain between them was hard on me, but I didn’t realize how hard until the weight has lifted. My cup is overflowing and I’m drinking from the saucer!!!
With being 21 now, he is really praying hard for a wife. He wants the woman God has for him, and desires with all his heart to go about things the right way. Please pray from him in this, and that if God doesn’t bring his spouse along anytime soon, that David will be patient and trust the LORD.
Well, it looks like all I have done is talk 2 of the important men in my life, hehehehehehe What a blessing to talk of them with joyfulness instead of sorrow, or worry.
This week we are planning our holiday get-away, and baking, projects. David may be home the week of the 25th so we can have some time here before we head to MD to be with my sister(s) and parents.
Over Thanksgiving, it was strange David being away-his first away from home. My sister, April, didn’t come either, but we got together Fri. and talked some things out. Charlene was missed. My parents were here, and that always makes it feel like Thanksgiving bcz we’ve done it for years.
School has been hard this week. Every day has been chaotic and we seem to struggle with getting to it. Plus, all 3 are struggling with their math right now. It will be nice to have only one struggle at a time, instead of them lining up for help. BUT I wouldn’t have it any other way, even when I feel it is making me totally insane.
Charity was hired to sew up a few jumpers. She is happy about that. She also was blessed because she got a pair of expensive clogs that tore right away, and the company replaced them with any shoe in their catalog. Her selection is a lovely pair of riding style patent leather boots. They only cost us the price of postage to return the torn clogs.
Since I have really rattled on today, I will stop here, and save the rest for another day.
Since none of us are proficient enough musically to play for anything but practice and pleasure, right now—pray for us, we use what folks in the Cincinnati, Ohio area called “canned music”. What you never heard of canned music?
Anyone ever see a can of “Florida Sunshine”? They were quite popular souvenirs, at least in the early to mid 1970’s. (Dating myself now, right?) They usually had a pretty label showing an orange, or orange tree, a sunshine face, or the mascot “Orange Bird”. http://ts3.images.live.com/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=198101837306&id=d90d3a9159a3c8637f23a6ac2bcda10e
Obviously they were nothing more than an empty can with a label.
That’s what I thought canned music was--something like that, but not like it at all.
Turns out that canned music is music used for singing that is taped, not live music. It was unpopular, ok, hated, by almost every church we set foot in. People far and wide would say “we don’t want no canned music in our church”.
Dave M. and Mrs. P and Mrs. M , often sang using cued music on tape which they purchased from the local Christisan bookstore in MD. None of them, the tapes, were offensive. The music was orchestra-like, not band music. These were probably predecessors to contemporary music as we know it today.
As time marches on, the world has infiltrated the church. Instead of being “in the world, not of the world”, we just modify, or “Christianize” things of the world, so we can indulge the flesh, remain popular, not sacrifice, not old fashioned, and be inoffensive to the world.
There is a poem or tract about the church dancing with the world. Its very true, and that’s sad to me.
Thus the musical tracks that Christian singers used to use, are far removed from those today. The background music drowns out the singers voice. Instead of hearing the words, and letting them minister to the spirit, the music overpowers the spirit and feeds the flesh.
Which leaves churches with little or no musical talent in their congregation little choice, and they are forced to chose between using worldly, fleshly music, or off key-wrong note-no music. People look forward to music in church. It sets the mood for the service. Could this by the reason why more contemporary churches use contemporary music or praise and worship music, but the depth of preaching and teaching which delves into the Word of God is missing?
Since we move in the old fashioned, traditional, KJV Baptist circles, the churches we visited were struggling to survive and remain true to their values, convictions and the Holy Spirit.
That’s why they hate canned music.
In Ohio, there is a dear older couple who adopted us when we first relocated to Harrison. Bob and Bro. H. disagree on issues, and they sharpen iron together, but at the end of each conversation, there is still love, friendship and respect. Bro. H. is one of the folks who hates canned music.
Bob’s been working on digitizing all our music tapes for almost 2 weeks. Our tape collection began 32 years ago when Bob got saved. There are music tapes and sermons, Bible studies, and revival music. It is much harder than it seems like it should be. Bob must play each tape at normal speed, and had been pumped full of Godly music daily. Much of the music we own can never be replaced. Voices change over time. People die or stray from the LORD. He feels like it is his duty to preserve this legacy for us, our children, our grandchildren, and anyone else with whom we might share it.
Well, while he is taping, and needs to catch a break, he will make phone calls. He decided to call up Bro. H. During their conversation, Bob explained to him that we use our music tapes for church every week. We have 2 sets of tapes that are just piano playing hymns so we can sing hymns with music. The first thing Bro. H said was, “I hate that ole canned music!” Bob, ever the hopeful man that he is, wanted to see if he could show him that “not all canned music is alike” (I just heard the Hebrew National Hot Dog voice saying “We answer to and even higher authority”)
Bob pulled up Abigail Miller’s file, and played a song for him. He like it. So Bob put another good one on, and he liked that. The piece’ de resistance’ was Dave Arnold. Now that tape is from 1981-1982. Bro. Arnold was a friend of our pastor, and preached at our revival. Bro. Arnold also sings, well he did then. He is a good Bro. and terrific preacher. When he set up his table with his tapes, I wanted one badly but didn’t have the money. He let me take a tape and I promised to pay for it late. (Which I did.) Several years later he made another tape. Evangelist Dave Arnold has always, and will always be near and dear to my heart because of his trusting me with his tape. He was the first person I ever heard sing “Rejoice in the LORD” and I fell in love with that song, right then. It is still one of my favorite songs. Bro. H. liked it too. Bob may have converted him to being pro-old-fashioned, Godly canned music when you haven’t got any musicians.
We are going to try to figure out how to share our treasure trove of music. When we do I’ll let you know how, when, and where.
David has been calling us a lot more frequently, and in the weeks since his birthday things have been changing between him and Bob. It’s wonderful. A few of the phone calls, I just wanted to run around the yard jumping and shouting praises to God. The other night was especially dear, because I had decided to use my favorite photo of David and I for my profile picture on facebook. He was 2-3 months old when it was taken. I’d barely uploaded it when he phoned, and we had such sweet fellowship, and my David, the real one, was back. His heart is back in the place it should be. It’s hard to believe it has been just 9 months since the day we thought he was completely ruining his life, but God didn’t allow it, and rerouted him.
For so long he was here but his heart was estranged from us. Now he is away from us but his heart is ever so close-he is home in the truest sense of the word.
Instead of not wanting to talk to us, we have been on the phone for hours, chatting about nothing in particular. But other calls are of a serious nature and he has opened up to us in a way we had only dreamed about. Especially with Bob. Bob and David were inseparable for, oh.. wow… forever…until we allowed David to work for another man we knew. From then on, Bob was 2nd best. David’s heart was stolen. He was 12 or 13 at the time. It grew worse, and David began to resent his Daddy-his Daddy who up to then was everything to him. Bob didn’t see it right away, but I did, and it hurt.
The contrast is dramatic, like light v. darkness. An open heart after being so tightly closed, it is as if he is bursting at the seams to let all the bottled up good stuff burst out.
Lately he has been seeing Daddy in a whole new light; the light he should have been in all along. But better late than never. In face, he has really begun to look up to him, rather like he did as a little laddie. It is very sweet and endearing. The strain between them was hard on me, but I didn’t realize how hard until the weight has lifted. My cup is overflowing and I’m drinking from the saucer!!!
With being 21 now, he is really praying hard for a wife. He wants the woman God has for him, and desires with all his heart to go about things the right way. Please pray from him in this, and that if God doesn’t bring his spouse along anytime soon, that David will be patient and trust the LORD.
Well, it looks like all I have done is talk 2 of the important men in my life, hehehehehehe What a blessing to talk of them with joyfulness instead of sorrow, or worry.
This week we are planning our holiday get-away, and baking, projects. David may be home the week of the 25th so we can have some time here before we head to MD to be with my sister(s) and parents.
Over Thanksgiving, it was strange David being away-his first away from home. My sister, April, didn’t come either, but we got together Fri. and talked some things out. Charlene was missed. My parents were here, and that always makes it feel like Thanksgiving bcz we’ve done it for years.
School has been hard this week. Every day has been chaotic and we seem to struggle with getting to it. Plus, all 3 are struggling with their math right now. It will be nice to have only one struggle at a time, instead of them lining up for help. BUT I wouldn’t have it any other way, even when I feel it is making me totally insane.
Charity was hired to sew up a few jumpers. She is happy about that. She also was blessed because she got a pair of expensive clogs that tore right away, and the company replaced them with any shoe in their catalog. Her selection is a lovely pair of riding style patent leather boots. They only cost us the price of postage to return the torn clogs.
Since I have really rattled on today, I will stop here, and save the rest for another day.
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