Do the Next Thing

 

From an old English parsonage down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message for me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath, as it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the hours the quiet words ring,

Like a low inspiration: DO THE NEXT THING.

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.

Fear not tomorrows, Child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus. DO THE NEXT THING.

Do it immediately; do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command,

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all resultings. DO THE NEXT THING.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,

(Working or suffering) be thy demeanor.

In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance be thy psalm.

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing!

Then, as He beckons thee, DO THE NEXT THING.

(Anonymous)

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♥

He Giveth More Grace

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I've come across this hymn before when I've listened to singing recordings, but I never really heard the words until a version of it came up in my YouTube feed last week. When I actually read and listened to the message, I felt like I'd been hit upside the head with the incredible and incomprehensible love and care of God. So kind. SO full of care for His children. The idea that His provision multiplies the greater the cross - the harder His child's life, the bigger and more awesome His compassion grows - is so beautiful I have a hard time wrapping my mind around it. The great Creator is also (to quote another hymn) our Savior and Friend, and nothing escapes His care. What incredible, merciful love.

He Giveth More Grace

 

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

Annie J. Flint

'And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.'

2 Corinthians 12:9

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❤

The Sunken Garden | Walter de la Mare

Speak not -- whisper not;

Here bloweth thyme and bergamot;

Softly on the evening hour, 

Secret herbs their spices shower,

Dark-spiked rosemary and myrrh,

Lean-stalked, purple, lavender;

Hides within her bosom, too,

All her sorrows, bitter rue.

Breathe not -- trespass not;

Of this green and darkling spot,

Latticed from the moon's beams,

Perchance a distant dreamer dreams;

Perchance upon its darkening air,

The unseen ghosts of children fare,

Faintly swinging, sway and sweep,

Like lovely sea-flowers in its deep;

While, unmoved, to watch and ward,

Mid its gloomed and daisied sward,

Stands with bowed and dewy head

That one little Leaden lad.

::lavender::

::chamomile::

::lemon verbena::

::rosemary::

::calendula::

♥

Signs of Spring | 2020

Despite the fact that life seems to have stopped in so many routine aspects - God keeps moving the seasons along, reminding me that EVERYTHING has a season. Nothing lasts forever. And there is SO MUCH beauty in that!! ❤

Ya know what they say about April showers ...

Loving the symbolism in this ... all the new green growth coming from the middle of spent, dead stems and flowers. 

Lots of green!

Keeping me company ♥

Yellow.

Roads go ever ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea ...

♥

O Church Arise

.......

O Church Arise, and put your armor on;
Hear the call of Christ our Captain.
For now the weak can say that they are strong,
In the strength that God has given.
With shield of faith and belt of truth,
We'll stand against the devil's lies:
An army bold whose battle-cry is Love,
Reaching out to those in darkness.

Our call to war to love the captive soul,
But to rage against the captor;
And with the sword that makes the wounded whole,
We will fight with faith and valor.
When faced with trials on every side,
We know the outcome is secure;
And Christ will have the prize for which He died:
An inheritance of nations.

Come see the cross where love and mercy meet
As the Son of God is stricken;
Then see His foes lie crushed beneath His feet,
For the Conqueror has risen!
And as the stone is rolled away,
And Christ emerges from the grave,
This victory march continues till the day
Every eye and heart shall see Him.

(Keith and Kristyn Getty)

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You have called me to this passage ...

Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer: A Cappella

Jesus, draw me ever nearer,

As I labor through the storm.

You have called me to this passage,

And I’ll follow, though I’m worn.

Jesus, guide me through the tempest;

Keep my spirit staid and sure.

When the midnight meets the morning,

Let me love you even more.

Let the treasures of the trial

Form within me as I go,

At the end of this long passage,

Let me leave them at Your throne.

May this journey bring a blessing;

May I rise on wings of faith;

And at the end of my heart’s testing,

With Your likeness let me wake.

~ Margaret Becker

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