Some awesome videos to watch:
My Beautiful America
Battle Hymn
In New York Harbor stands a lady,
With a torch raised to the sky;
And all who see her know she stands for
Liberty for you and me.
I'm so proud to be called an American,
To be named with the brave and the free;
I will honor our flag and our trust in God,
And the Statue of Liberty.
On lonely Golgotha stood a cross,
With my Lord raised to the sky;
And all who kneel there live forever
As all the saved can testify.
I'm so glad to be called a Christian,
To be named with the ransomed and whole;
As the statue liberates the citizen,
So the cross liberates the soul.
Oh the cross is my Statue of Liberty,
It was there that my soul was set free;
Unashamed I'll proclaim that a rugged cross
Is my Statue of Liberty!
© Words & Music by Neil Enloe
A Toast to Our Flag
by Carol Lee Spages
Here's to the RED of it,
There's many a thread of it
In all the spread of it
From foot to head.
Our heroes bled for it,
Faced steel and lead for it,
Slept with the dead of it,
The courage of red.
Here's to the WHITE of it,
Foes know the might of it,
We thrill to the sight of it
Through day and night.
Citizens keep sight of it
People will fight for it,
We cling so tight to it,
The purity of white.
Here's to the BLUE of it,
We lost more than a few for it,
Our nation grew with it
Courage got us through.
How we love the view of it,
We feel so very true to it,
We'll not forget the hue of it,
The justice of blue.
I prayed, "God, Bless America"
And God said, "I HAVE blessed America.
You asked for Life, Liberty, and Happiness.
And I blessed you with Life -
I filled the wombs of your young mothers with new life - but you have
turned them into tombs for the unborn.
I gave you health and long life - but you have ignored your elderly by
putting them out of your sight, and now you talk of "death with
dignity".
I blessed you with Eternal life through my Son - but now you ignore Him
and act as though you never heard of Him, or worse, you ridicule His
sacrifice and profane His Name with an exclamation point!
And I blessed you with Liberty -
I filled your land with wealth so that you could wisely raise your
children and freely travel the world proclaiming Life through My Son -
but you have used it to build idols to yourselves and to pile riches
upon riches while ignoring the plight of the poor and the lost.
I gave you sound principles and good laws to live under the blessings of
freedom - but you have contorted and twisted those first principles so
that now you are enslaved by countless rules and regulations; the few
principles I gave you to govern yourselves have become "rule upon rule",
"line upon line", "do upon do"; the rich purchase "justice" and the poor
are denied; and now you use your laws to shut Me out.
I blessed you with freedom to worship Me, in Spirit and in Truth - but
most of you refuse to spend one day out of seven even thinking of Me; my
Church is not filled; and many of you have turned to other "gods" or to
no god at all.
And I gave you Happiness -
I filled your marriages with the gift of passion and intimacy between a
husband and wife - but you have turned My gift into an ugly thing to be
thrown about and given away to anyone or anything on impulse; you have
filled your eyes with lust and your hearts with adultery.
I gave you good things to eat and drink, and I gave gifts of music and
artistry to some of you - but you have used my provision to become
gluttons and drunks and addicts, and you waste your gifts to praise the
profane rather than to bless Me.
I blessed you with inquisitive minds to seek the Truth, and I gave you
my Book that contains My Wisdom - but my Book is banned from your
schools and it sits unopened in your homes, and now your Science teaches
your children that they are evolved from slime, rather than created in
My image.
How much more shall I bless America?"
And then I gasped, "Lord, how should I pray!?"
And He said, "Pray that America will humble herself and pray and seek My
face and turn from her wicked ways. Then I will hear her plea from
Heaven and forgive her sin and heal her land."
And so I pray, "America, Bless God"!
~author unknown
Military Lessons Can Teach Everyone in God's Army
The men and women in the United States' military are courageously
working to defend our nation against terrorism and protect the freedoms
we cherish. The lessons God has shown members of our armed forces as
they serve our country are also valuable lessons for everyone in God's
army - we who love Christ and have committed ourselves to His side in
the spiritual battle that is being waged every day.
Here are some ways the military can teach us more about God:
* Freedom isn't free; it costs a great deal. People in the military
often make sacrifices and endure pain to secure and protect our nation's
freedoms - placing themselves in dangerous situations, leaving family
and friends behind for long periods of time, suffering torture, injury,
and death. Christ, in His great love for us, made the ultimate
sacrifice on the cross so that we could be free to have an abundant life
on Earth and an eternal relationship with God.
* No matter what the circumstances - whether inside muddy trenches
under fire from an enemy or in the midst of a difficult civilian
situation - God will be present and will keep His promises. He is
always trustworthy, and knows exactly what you need.
* Praying for enemies and forgiving them through God's power is
essential. All people, no matter what wrong choices they make, have
been made in God's image. God grieves for everyone who is lost and
hopes they will choose relationships with Him. No one is beyond hope if
people pray for him or her. Forgiveness enables people who have been
wounded physically, mentally, and spiritually to rid themselves of the
poison of bitterness and embrace the future in healthy ways.
* Every moment of life is a gift from God that should be treasured and
used well. Life can end suddenly, at any moment.
* Wherever people move and however the circumstances of their lives
change, if they're Christians, they remain part of God's universal
family. Even when separated from human families and friends, people can
always count on God and brothers and sisters in Christ.
* God's grace is what ultimately sustains people. Although the
military operates in an orderly way by using a system of ranks, God
loves all people - from a freshly recruited enlisted soldier to a
veteran officer - the same and gives all equal access to His power to
accomplish His purposes in their lives.
* When God allows suffering, He will always redeem it somehow in the
lives of those who love Him. He transforms evil into good according to
His will for all concerned.
* God is always looking for people willing to serve. He has many
opportunities available to those willing to join His army. Although
recruits can expect some hardship, their commitment will prove
worthwhile beyond anything they can imagine.
~author unknown
HYMN HISTORY:
Despite being a bed-ridden invalid for much of her life. Lydia Baxter was known as a zealous Christian worker. She was born on September 2, 1809, in Petersburg, New York. Shortly after her conversion as a young person, she and her sister were personally responsible for establishing a Baptist Church in her home of Petersburg, New York. After her marriage, she moved with her husband to New York City, where she continued
her Christian service. Her home was known as a gathering place for preachers, evangelists, and Christian workers, who came to her for inspiration and advice. Her friends used to say that a visit to her sickroom was not so much to give her encouragement and comfort as to receive some buoyancy for their own spirits.
Mrs. Baxter was also an avid student of the Bible and loved to discuss the significance of scriptural names with her friends. “You recall,” she often said, “that when Esau was born, Jacob had hold of Esau’s heel, as if he were trying to pull his twin brother back, so he could be born first. Consequently he was named Jacob, which means ‘supplanter.’ Isaac means ‘laughter,’ for when Abraham and Sarah learned that, at their advanced age,
they were to become parents, they laughed out loud, thinking it was impossible, as well as incredible. As for the names of the twelve sons of Jacob, after whom most of the twelve tribes of Israel took their names, they were named for the strange events surrounding their birth, as well as the rivalries which existed between the wives of husband-father Jacob.”
Mrs. Baxter would often inform her friends that Samuel means “asked of God,” Hannah “grace,” Sarah “princess,” and Naomi “pleasantness.” But the name that meant everything to Lydia Baxter was the name of “Jesus.” Whenever she was questioned about her cheery disposition despite her physical difficulties, she would reply, “I have a very special armor. I have the name of Jesus. When the tempter tries to make me blue or despondent, I mention the name of Jesus, and he can’t get through to me anymore. The name Jesus means
‘Savior’ and it comes from the same Hebrew root from which the names of Joshua and Joash come.”
“Take the Name of Jesus With You” is said to have been written by Mrs. Baxter on her sick-bed just four years before her death on June 22, 1874, in New York City. Although she wrote a number of other gospel hymn texts, this is her only hymn still in common usage. Mrs. Baxter also had a collection of devotional poems published in 1855, entitled Gems by the Wayside.
William H. Doane composed the music for this text shortly after Mrs. Baxter wrote it, and the hymn was first published in the hymnal, Pure Gold, edited by Doane and Robert Lowry, in 1871. This hymn was widely used, during the Moody-Sankey evangelistic campaigns, in the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. It is still a most popular and usable hymn with evangelical congregations everywhere.
~101 More Hymn Stories by Kenneth W. Osbeck
Lydia Odell Baxter - Lyrics
1809-1874
Born: September 2, 1809, Petersburg, New York.
Died: June 22, 1874, New York City
William Howard Doane - Composer
1832-1915
Born: February 3, 1832, Preston, Connecticut.
Died: December 23, 1915, Rhode Island.
Buried: Spring Grove Cemetery and Arboretum, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Take the Name of Jesus with You
Take the Name of Jesus with you,
Child of sorrow and of woe,
It will joy and comfort give you;
Take it then where'er you go.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Take the Name of Jesus ever,
As a shield from every snare;
If temptations round you gather,
Breathe that holy Name in prayer.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
O the precious Name of Jesus!
How it thrills our souls with joy,
When His loving arms receive us,
And His songs our tongues employ!
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
At the Name of Jesus bowing,
Falling prostrate at His feet,
King of kings in Heav’n we’ll crown Him,
When our journey is complete.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
Precious Name, O how sweet!
Hope of earth and joy of Heav’n.
So the evening and the morning were the first day (Genesis 1:5).
How many times do we wake up in the morning and speak of starting a new day? Many of us did so even today, didn’t we? And yet, scripturally speaking, we aren’t starting a new day when we wake up, but rather continuing the one that started the previous evening. And that’s an important distinction.
God doesn’t do or say things capriciously. He always has a reason for every word, every action, and creation certainly is no exception. God began the cycle of a new day in the evening because He wanted us to understand the need to rest BEFORE beginning our activities. We, on the other hand, have turned it around so that we do our “busy work” first, and then fall into bed, exhausted and in need of rest. Wouldn’t it make more sense to follow God’s pattern of resting first—drawing on His strength—and THEN going out to do whatever it is He has called us to that day?
When Mary and Joseph noticed their twelve-year-old son, Jesus, was missing, they returned to Jerusalem and found Him in the Temple. “Didn’t you understand that I must be about My Father’s business?” was His response to their concern.
The Father’s business. Isn’t that what we are to be about as well? Isn’t that how we are to spend our days? But how can we do so if we haven’t first spent time with Him, as Jesus made a practice of doing regularly—listening for His voice, His Word, His direction, communing with Him, and learning to rest. For it is as we rest in Him that we understand what He has purposed for us to do and are enabled to respond accordingly.
Too many times we run ourselves ragged during the day—working, playing, serving, ministering—all in our own strength. And we wonder why have no feeling of lasting accomplishment when we’re done and why all we want to do is sleep and recover from the day’s activities. Perhaps it’s because we have it all backward. Why not try turning things around by first thinking of your day as beginning at night, when you go to bed to rest. Spend some time communing with God—before you fall asleep, the moment you wake up—and then, rested and refreshed, continue the day in His strength, rather than your own. Chances are you’ll accomplish a lot more of the Father’s business.
***Please take a moment to visit my website at www.kathimacias.com to sign my guestbook or leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win one of my new books. Please check out my new blog as well: http://kathieasywritermacias.
***Also, please visit www.setfreetoday.com, where I serve as Spiritual Director. Come as you are…leave with a new beginning! Drop us a note or prayer request while you’re there.
Communicating the vision… (Hab.2:2)
alandkathi@ca.rr.com
www.kathimacias.com
Multiple Streams of Contentment
By Karen Whiting
My mother didn't smile on my wedding day. She spent the day overwhelmed with sadness although she loved me and loved my fiancé. He was everything she wanted in a husband for me. The wedding stayed within budget and everything went off fairly smoothly. My extended family all attended, everyone got along, and tried to cheer her up. Yet, my wedding photos will always show her sad expression.
The day before the wedding my mentally handicapped brother had lost his little job of waiting on tables at a school cafeteria. Although social workers could easily place him in a new position, mom remained discontented and focused on that problem the entire day. She made the mistake of magnifying one problem, so that it robbed her of joy on such a happy occasion.
Many people let one problem override all the blessings in their lives. It steals their contentment. They forget to trust their anxieties to God and rejoice in the blessings he has given them.
Some people fixate on something until it changes their personality and fills them with negative emotions that spill out in sin. Herodias, in Matthew 14, is an example of a person whose discontent led to a life of sin. She had a husband but chose the sin of adultery. She must have been discontent with her husband. She felt more discontent at hearing John the Baptist speak of repentance and point out her sin. That led to her plotting the murder of John the Baptist. She trampled over people and even used her beautiful daughter to get her way. She ignored John's calls to repent, the one action that would have healed her heart and given her joy. Her bad choice snowballed into disaster for many.
In contrast, Paul spoke about contentment, in Philippians four, and said that he had learned to be content in prosperous circumstances and impoverished situations. His circumstances could not rob him of his joy or peace. It is very seldom that every detail in life is perfect because we live in a fallen world, but we can make choices that help us remain content despite our circumstances.
My mother finally discovered how to be content after a stroke left her partially paralyzed. She started to listen as we expressed gratitude for her life and what she could still do. When she complained that she could no longer do crafts, I mentioned that with her good hand she could write letters, a lost art, to grandchildren away at college and to her friends. She struggled to use a walker and spent much of her time in a wheelchair, but she spent time thanking God for her blessings of family, the patient care-giving of my father, the use of one hand, and a new ministry of writing letters of encouragement to family and friends. She realized that joy came as she filled her life with multiple streams of contentment.... (for rest of the article click here.)
By: Sharon Lovejoy Autry and Laurie Lovejoy Autry
There we sat at dinner - a time that, in my mind, is supposed to be calm and non-stressful. (I've heard food digests better.) But, after a draining workday, little things can seem huge. The kids were planning yet another summer business endeavor which crawled all over my husband. He began lecturing the negatives of such an endeavor...point 1, point 2...I felt like we were in a business meeting. I must have rolled my eyes. I glanced at my daughter who wasn't listening to her father. She was looking at me. Her response to point 1 and 2: rolling her eyes.
Children do what we do . . . Boy, that's a scary thought for me. How do you treat your husband? Do you respect him with your words, actions, attitudes, eyes? I struggle sometimes when I feel so justified in my disrespect. Can you relate? I think the best thing we as moms can do to help our children to respect their dad is to treat him with respect ourselves. Here are some Father's Day (and everyday) tips to help our children respect their fathers:
1. A compliment a day goes a long way! Brag on your husband in front of your children (and in front of him).
2.Show me the love! Let your children know how much you love their daddy. Show affection in front of your children. They may say, "Yuck!" but it provides much needed security for their lives.
3.Instead of being put-out -Pray! Include your children in praying for dad's job, leadership, etc.
4.Give him grace . . . Show him grace even when he doesn't deserve it . . . remember, neither do we. Nehemiah 9:17b says "But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love."
5.Phone Manners. Next time you are in the middle of something and your husband calls you on the phone, be aware of your tone of voice, are you respectful? . . . little ears may be listening and learning.
6."Daddy's Home!" Be as excited to see your husband when he comes home from work as your children are! Make yourself stop what you are doing to greet him.
7.Choose your battles -When you think your husband is being unfair (and it's a battle you need to fight) talk to your husband in private; listen first and speak last. Psalm 141:3 "Set a guard over my mouth O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips."
Try these no-cost (big rewards) Father's Day gift ideas and see if it proves to be the gift that truly keeps on giving!
About the Authors:
Laurie Lovejoy Hilliard and Sharon Lovejoy Autry are wives, moms, sisters and great friends. They are the founders of Mom and Loving It Ministries whose mission is to provide hope for families by encouraging and equipping moms. After these sisters and their families toured 40 states speaking and singing to thousands of moms, they settled in the North Texas area near their hometown of Whitesboro. They've been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and have written Mom and Loving It: Finding Contentment in REAL Life, and Hold You, Mommy: Moments with God for Moms on the Go. Their musical CD, Hold You, Mommy has encouraged thousands. Laurie and her husband Charles, have four children, Sharon and her husband Pat, have three.
This twosome inspires audiences at their Mom and Loving It Conferences to move from simply enduring motherhood to enjoying it. Through their genuine hearts and relatable stories, moms are put at ease and challenged to be a "Mom and Loving It!"
To find out more about using their books as studies in your ladies group, having them for a conference or to sign up for a free monthly Mom-e-Moment visit them at http://www.momandlovingit.org/
KCWC is currently scheduling speaking events and interviews for Laurie and Sharon. Please contact Kathy Carlton Willis at WillisWay (at) aol (dot) com. for more information.
Summer Survival Tips for Moms
Mom and Loving It! Author Offers Timely Tips for Summer
(Northeast, Texas) - The dog days of summer are upon us and with that brings bored kids, frustrated moms and endless hours of television. Why not make this summer different? Take the opportunity to let your readers cool off with the creative tips and suggestions offered by Mom and Loving It! co-author Sharon Lovejoy Autry. She's compiled a list of low-cost summer ideas that will have kids and parents wishing the summer would never end. Below is the free content article Saved By the Bell.
A Summer to Remember
Sharon Lovejoy Autry
Maybe as summer has begun, you've found yourself resentful and angry because your children constantly "interrupt" your schedule. If that's how you're feeling, you're normal.
But, wait. We wanted these kids, right? Are they really interruptions or blessings in disguise? How can we move from simply surviving the summer to making it a summer to remember?
Here are a few ideas to get you out of the summer survival rut:
1. Realize they won't be this way forever. What is it about your kids that you won't have in two years? If you are a parent of:
* Preschoolers: Look at their hands and notice how tiny they are. Enjoy that.2. Say "no" with a smile. It makes you and your child feel better. They know you have some regret at having to say no. You are on their team.
* Elementary children: When you're away from home, call them. Their voices sound small on the phone. That always reminds me to enjoy their innocence rather than expecting them to act like little grown-ups.
* Tweens: Laugh at and enjoy their giggles (usually girls) and the fascination they have with being gross (usually boys)! Hopefully that won't last forever!
* Teens: Even if they are driving you crazy, make your home the safe place. I still remember the fun place our parents created at home. It was our refuge. Let kids feel safe in your home by cutting down on the criticism and looking for ways to build them up. Mom and Dad's secret was a ping-pong table. We spent hours there.
3. Play music. Anger and music don't usually dance. Movie soundtracks, praise songs, music from my teen years or even classical stations. I rarely find myself upset with my kids when we have music playing in the background.
4. Go outside. Sometimes taking a walk or bike ride with the kids can do wonders to change everyone's perspective.
5. Things aren't always as they seem. Remember that the way you are seeing things at this moment is probably not how it will look in a couple of hours. Frustrations can build and dissolve quickly when you have kids.
6. Offer them 30 minutes of your time. After they have helped pick up around the house let them pick what the two of you will do together and watch their eyes light up! For older kids, offer them the day off after helping for an hour.
7. Ask your kids what they think is fun. You might be surprised to find that their idea of fun often doesn't cost any money. My sister was amazed to find that her 7-year-old son's idea of "fun" was playing tag in the front yard with dad, mom and his little sister.
8. Slow down. Successful parenting doesn't mean you have your children involved in every possible extra-curricular activity. Successful parenting means you are there for them. If you've been running all year, it takes "practice" to enjoy staying home. Don't give up. Turn off the computer, TV, cell phone, etc. and read or play games (no matter what the age of your children).
9. Pray. When you are at your wit's end, ask God to help you remember what to do with your kids. On our own, it's hard to enjoy the moments because "life happens." But God has a way of giving us perspective that will slow us down and help us see our families the way He sees them: with love and compassion.
The next time you blow your top or realize you're just surviving your kids instead of enjoying their clumsy feet, silliness, or their constant desire to talk on the phone, stop and think, "one day I'll miss this!" The funny thing is, tomorrow we'll be longing for today. If we choose to think like that long enough, the kids won't be the only ones sad to hear the school bell ring this fall.
Sharon (Lovejoy) Autry, a mom of 3, co-authored Mom and Loving It, Finding Contentment in REAL Life with her sister, Laurie (Lovejoy) Hilliard, mom of 4. http://www.momandlovingit.org/
Edgar Page Stites - Lyrics
1836-1921
Born: March 22, 1836, Cape May, New Jersey.
Died: January 9, 1921, Cape May, New Jersey.
Buried: Cold Spring Presbyterian Church, Cape May County, New Jersey.
Ira David Sankey - Composer
1840-1908
Born: August 28, 1840, Edinburg, Pennsylvania.
Died: August 13, 1908, Brooklyn, New York.
Buried: Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.
HYMN HISTORY:
The author, Edgar Page Stites, was for many years an obscure but active lay-worker in the Methodist Church of Cape May, New jersey. One of his ancestors was John Howland, who came to America on the Mayflower. Stites was also a cousin of the gospel hymnwriter, Eliza E. Hewitt who wrote “More About Jesus.” Mr. Stites served in the Civil War nd later for a time was a riverboat pilot. He also worked for a period as a Methodist home missionary in the Dakotas. Another of Edgar P. Stites’ hymn texts that has enjoyed popularity to the present time is “Beulah Land.” Frequently Stites used the pseudonym Edgar Page on his hymns. He died on January 7, 1921, in the same town where he was born, Cape Mat, New Jersey.
The composer, Ira D. Sankey, is a name well-known to Christians. He has been called the “Father of Gospel Music” because of his many contributions to gospel hymnody during the latter quarter of the nineteenth century. Mr. Sankey has contributed the music to such favorites as “A Shelter in the Time of Storm.” “Hiding in Thee,” and “The Ninety
and Nine.” In all, Mr. Sankey contributed his talents to the writing of more than eighty gospel songs and the compiling of more than ten, important, hymnal collections.
Ira D. Sankey, the composer, relates the following incident regarding the birth of this hymn:
The words of this hymn were handed to Mr. Moody in Chicago, in 1876, in the form of a newspaper clipping. He gave to me, and asked me to write a tune for them. I assented, on condition that he should vouch for the doctrine taught in the verses, and he said he would.
He gave to me, and asked me to write a tune for them. I assented, on condition that he should vouch for the
doctrine taught in the verses, and he said he would.
Trusting Jesus
Simply trusting every day,
Trusting through a stormy way;
Even when my faith is small,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly does His Spirit shine
Into this poor heart of mine;
While He leads I cannot fall;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Singing if my way is clear,
Praying if the path be drear;
If in danger for Him call;
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting Him while life shall last,
Trusting Him till earth be past;
Till within the jasper wall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting as the moments fly,
Trusting as the days go by;
Trusting Him whate’er befall,
Trusting Jesus, that is all.
HYMN HISTORY:
This popular gospel hymn was based on portions of Psalms 119, a chapter of Scripture containing 176 verses, the majority of which the Lord speaks to His children regarding the importance of knowing and obeying the written words of God.
The first stanza of this hymn is based on verse 105:
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The second stanza is based on verses 89 and 90:
For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established
the earth, and it abideth.
The third stanza is based on verses 164, 62, and 44:
Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. At midnight I will rise to give thanks
unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.
The forth stanza is based on verse 41:
Let thy mercies come also unto me, O LORD, even thy salvation, according to thy word.
The chorus is taken directly from verse 11:
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
The author and composer of this hymn, Earnest Orlando Sellers, was born on October 29,1869, in Hastings, Michigan. After finishing high school, he was appointed city engineer and superintendent of public works in Lansing, Michigan. After his conversion Ernest enrolled as a student at the Moody Bible institute in 1895. After his graduation he served at the Lansing Y.M.C.A as secretary throughout the country. From 1908 to 1919, Sellers once again became associated with the Moody Bible Institute as an assistant to Daniel B.
Towner, the first director of the school’s music department. Sellers was also very active evangelizing during this time and also was song director for such well-known evangelists as Reuben A. Torrey, Gypsy Smith, A.C. Dixon, and J. Wilbur Chapman. During the early years of World War I, Sellers served with the armed forces overseas as a special Y.M.C.A. Representative. In 1919, Ernest Sellers accepted the position of director of the Music Department of the Baptist Bible Institute of New Orleans, now known as the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Here he remained faithful until his retirement in 1945. He was a highly respected teacher, song director, the author of numerous articles and poems, and the composer of a number of hymn tunes, including the still popular hymn “Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus!”
Ernest wrote and composed “Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart” in 1908. Its first publication was in the Ideal Song and Hymn Book, compiled by Daniel B. Towner in 1909. It is still one of the hymns most frequently sung by young and old alike concerning the believer’s relationship to the Scriptures.
Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
A light to my path alway,
To guide and to save me from sin,
And show me the heav’nly way.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Forever, O Lord, is Thy Word
Established and fixed on high;
Thy faithfulness unto all men
Abideth forever nigh.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give Thee praise;
For Thou art my portion, O Lord,
And shall be through all my days!
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Thro’ Him Whom Thy Word hath foretold,
The Savior and Morning Star,
Salvation and peace have been brought
To those who have strayed afar.
Thy Word have I hid in my heart,
That I might not sin against Thee;
That I might not sin, that I might not sin,
Thy Word have I hid in my heart.
Webster's Definition: N - act of surrendering
V - hand over; yield
Psa. 146:3-5 - "Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:"
II Cor. 12:9,10 - "9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
Has there ever been a time in your life when you've been called upon to do something you felt unqualified to do? Maybe you felt weak & overwhelmed at the task. This is when we need to rely solely on God. Put our trust in Him and let Him be the power in our weakness. It is at this time my friend we are in total surrender to Him. We are letting Him do His work through us.
We need to rely on God like this in every situation in life. We need to surrender our mind & our will to the Heavenly Father - choose not to rely on our own thoughts and abilities, but His alone.
Isa. 55: 8,9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
God loves it when we come to Him in sweet surrender - anything else we put our trust in will let us down. Sometimes it may seem easier to put our trust in people, relationships, possessions, or money rather than in God. Situations and things change - God never changes.
Mal. 3:6 - "For I am the LORD, I change not;..."
Heb. 13:8 - "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
As we surrender ourselves to Him we can recognize His goodness in our lives.
Take Him at His Word! Surrender to Him today.
Reflections of a Mother
I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.
I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.
I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.
I can take you to church, but I cannot make you believe.
I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.
I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I can not make you beautiful inside.
I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.
I can tell you about drink, but I can't say "no" for you.
I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.
I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.
I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.
I can pray for you, but I cannot make you walk with God.
I can teach you about Jesus, but I cannot make Jesus your Lord.
I can tell you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.
I can love you with unconditional love all of my life
... and I will.
~ Author Unknown ~
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I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you,
which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice,
and I am persuaded is in you also (2 Timothy 1:5).
With Mother’s Day fast approaching, I felt it appropriate to share a bit from my just-released book Mothers of the Bible Speak to Mothers of Today from New Hope Publishers. With several mothers to choose from, I decided to go with Eunice and Lois, who so greatly influenced their son/grandson, Timothy—who, in turn, influenced so many others for Christ.
How many times have we, as mothers or grandmothers, prayed and meditated upon Proverbs 22:6, which says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it,” claiming that great truth and promise for our own children or grandchildren, particularly when they stray from the faith? The key to seeing it lived out in our young ones’ lives, however, is being sure that we have first lived it ourselves—both in word and deed.
How Lois and Eunice must have known and loved the Scriptures to be able to instill that same love in Timothy! And how they must have loved to gather together with other believers to hear those Scriptures preached and taught, to fellowship with others of like faith, and to encourage one another in that faith, particularly as persecution arose and intensified. There was no way these two women could have known what lay ahead for young Timothy, but they were obedient to God’s Word to “train him up” in the love and admonition of the Scriptures, faithfully preparing him for whatever he might face in the days to come.
There is no greater pursuit or purpose to which we, as mothers and grandmothers (or fathers and grandfathers!), can dedicate ourselves than properly training up those little ones who have been entrusted to us, teaching and modeling the only true faith and the way it should be lived on a daily basis. If we have done that, we can be sure that God will honor His Word and faithfully draw our children and grandchildren into service for Him. And regardless of whatever else we may—or may not—accomplish during our earthly sojourn, we can rest assured that when it’s time for us to go home, we will hear our beloved Father say, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Be blessed this day and always, dear moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas, as you fulfill the Great Commission with those little ones God has entrusted to your care!
***SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: My latest release, MOTHERS OF THE BIBLE SPEAK TO MOTHERS OF TODAY, is available at www.cbd.com for Mother’s Day gift-giving!
***Please take a moment to visit my website at www.kathimacias.com to sign my guestbook or leave a comment on my blog for a chance to win one of my new books.
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M-O-T-H-E-R
I've been around the world, you bet, but never went to school
Hard knocks are all I seem to get, perhaps I've been a fool;
But still, some educated folks, supposed to be so swell,
Would fail if they were called upon a simple word to spell.
Now if you'd like to put me to the test,
There's one dear name that I can spell the best!
- "M" is for the million things she gave me
"O" means only that she's growing old
"T" is for the tears she shed to save me
"H" is for her heart of purest gold
"E" is for her eyes with love-light shining
"R" means right and right she'll always be
Put them all together they spell MOTHER,
- a word that means the world to me.
While lying in my cradle, I would try my best to talk;
It wasn't long before I spoke and all the neighbors heard,
My folks were very proud of me for "Mother" was the word.
Although I'll never lay a claim to fame,
I'm satisfied that I can spell the name:
- "M" is for the mercy she possesses
"O" means that I owe her all I own
"T" is for her tender, sweet caresses
"H" is for her hands that made a home
"E" means ev'rything she's done to help me
"R" means real and regular, you see
Put them all together they spell MOTHER,
- a word that means the world to me.
Learning From the Daffodils
Something I noticed about our daffodils is that they are always facing the sunshine. Where the light and the warmth is, there they are, with their bright pretty faces, "looking" towards it, basking in it. No matter what time of the day, their faces gravitate towards the sunshine....(read the rest of the article here.)Webster's Dictionary: Motive (Motivate)
N - the sense of need, desire, fear etc. that prompts an individual to act
AJ - relating to movement
Col. 1:16, 17 - "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
What motivates You? What gets you to act, puts you into motion?
Maybe it's a reward of some kind, or another person says or does something. Or it could b e just that look a person can give you. Parents are known for their looks and that look has a way of giving some motivation.
As a child of God - there is nothing in this world that we can do to help us get more or less of God's love; His love is unconditional. No, strings attached. Our goal in life should be on God, Himself, not on the blessings He'll give us if we do something for Him. We shouldn't focus on if I do this for Him, He'll in turn do this for me. He is the reason we exist--He should be our ultimate goal. I Cor. 8:6 - "But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him."
We need to keep our mind focused on the proper motivation...God
Phil 2:1-5 - "If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:"
What motivates you? I challenge you to read Psalm 119 and then surrender to God's desires.