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Friday, September 23, 2005

~Amazing Grace....Kid Style~

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now am found,
Twas blind but now I see.

As I homeschooled my 4 children this week, we started something new for handwriting. It was a small idea I had. Now, I stand in awe how God has turned it into a beautiful blessing as the week passed on.

Each week we are choosing a hymn or worship chorus for them to learn. We go through the words, usually a verse a day, and discuss what the writer is saying. We learn the history behind the song and the one who wrote it. And we find as many versions to listen to as we can. This week was Amazing Grace. We heard Amazing Grace from versions as varied as Elvis, to a children's choir to a harpist - kinda cool.

It has been such a blessing to hear my children learn the words, and sing the song. Most precious has been hearing them sing the song to themselves as they did their homework, their chores, or, even as they chased each other across the yard with hockey sticks - (now, that was a sight!)

Somewhere along the way, the youngest 2 got the notes a little mixed up. Stop and sing the song to yourself....You know how you go up a couple of notes on ....saved a wretch like me?.....well, they do the same with .....was blind but now I see. But, they belt it out like they belong in the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - and, I know Jesus smiles, 'cause I sure do.

What have I learned? Well, to sing out! My soul lights up and swells with pride as I hear them sing to Jesus and about Jesus. So, how much must He delight when I sing to Him. Now, I must be honest and admit that I whisper during worship in church - because I want the people in front of me to be able to worship - not think about that women sitting behind them who just can't sing.

But, maybe I should care less about them, and more about singing to my Saviour: Maybe, somehow, in my worship, bad notes and all, He is proud and honored: Maybe, I should move to the front row: But, for sure, I need to sing out Amazing Grace - Kid Style!

Friday, September 09, 2005

~Let's Not Forget~

It has been 10 days since Katrina sent her ravaging winds and rain through the Gulf Coast. Have you noticed the conversation surrounding the victims has dwindled? Have you noticed the water cooler discussions are now on to the cost of gasoline? Can we truly return to our normal lives, forgetting the people whose lives were seemingly devestated in less than 2 weeks? By the looks of things, I do, sadly, believe so.

We, who live far away from the wreckage are able to make it seem like it is happening in another country, much like the Tsunami last December - but, it is our American family that has been torn apart. Have you truly stopped for even 5 minutes to think what it will be like for these people? I don't know that I have either.

They have lost their homes, pictures, clothes, churches, friends, pets, lifestyle and favorite grocery store. Not only have they lost things and people, they have lost what was normal everyday life to them. Some grew up on this street, got married in that church, broke their leg on this tree and hit their first home run on that field. In many ways, their history is destroyed.

I just finished watching Oprah's show from the Katrina devestation. I have to say that I cried through most of it - and, felt shame at my selfishness during this time. There were people whose stories I will never forget, and images I will never loose. We did not see the true travesty on the news-we only saw a measly portion of the reality. Visit Oprah's link below to get a small portion of her report, and then, if you haven't donated, yet, do that next. http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200509/tows_past_20050906.jhtml

I am not trying to be dramatic or pull at heart strings - I am only speaking to us all, including myself, that we can not just return to normal life without remembering these people with our financial gifts and prayers. These people are souls for whom Christ died. Our prayers for them must be more passionate and sincere than our prayers for our next pay check or our "Lord please give me-s". American Christians have an opportunity to make some eternal differences if we pray this storm be used for the Lord's glory.

How do we answer the "How could God"s, "Why did God"s or "Where was God"s?....We don't. We can only say what we know....He is an all-knowing, all-powerful, and yes, all-loving God, that can not be explained or validated. Past that, I don't know why's and how's - I am not God. But what I do know is that I am blessed beyond what I deserve and must continue to remember these people and our nation in prayer.

He will rebuild their lives. He will rebuild their cities. He will rebuild our nation. We must rebuild through prayer~Let's not forget.

Victims of Katrina, I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Jeremiah 31:4

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

~Tongue-Twistin' & Shoutin'~

If you were to visit my house today - you would hear some strange chants....my son got us tongue-twistin'!

It began as a challenge to mom and dad-"Betcha can't read this". Well, of course, mom and dad had to prove they could do it, and, better than the other. Within a couple of days, we were all tongue-twistin'. In fact, I had to giggle yesterday, as I unlocked my door, and, found myself saying "Who saw Esau sitting on a see-saw - E saw Esau sitting on a see-saw".

Why tell you? Because it is a simple thing in life, that, I am sure it's been a while since you have tried. We have had fun doing it, and, it is good practice at memorization and pronounciation for the little ones. It has become a treasured time of giggles and fun for us that we can do on our way to the store, library, or anywhere.

So, nothing too deep today ya'll - just a little bit of family fun, which, we all need to add to our often too busy and stress-filled lives.

Do a search of tongue twisters, or, try these few - and, before you know it you will be Tongue-Twistin' and Shoutin' with a smile on your face, and that red light won't irritate you so much!

**A skunk sat on a stump and thunk the stump stunk, but the stump thunk the skunk stunk.

**A big black bug bit a big black bear, made the big black bear bleed blood.

**I am not the pheasant plucker, I'm the pheasant plucker's mate. I am only plucking pheasants' cause the pheasant plucker's running late.

**Friendly Frank flips fine flapjacks.

**Fat frogs flying past fast.

And, the family favorite: Who saw Esau sitting on a see-saw, E saw Esau sitting on a see-saw.

Friday, September 02, 2005

~There, But By the Grace of God Go I~

As I woke this morning, I heard Third Day's new song, "Cry Out to Jesus", but the radio station had a version with audio clips from Katrina. Wow, if that doesn't wake you up with appreciation for everything in your life, I don't know what will.

I have to admit that I was critical and disappointed this time yesterday as I heard and watched a small handfull of survivors behave in a manner that is usually seen only in other countries. In many conversations, I had my comments that I threw out in judgement - but - then, this morning I humbly realized, there but by the grace of God go I.

It is only through God's grace that I have a home, my family, my education and a few dollars in my purse. I was born bent to sin, just as those small few were - and, at the foot of Jesus' cross - I look just like them - I am just as ugly and sinful as those few. And, it is only because of God's indescribable and beautiful grace I am sitting at this computer and not on a bus on my way out of the dome. Who am I to stand and say I would not act like that? Who am I to watch and shake my head in judgement? Who am I to sit in my dry, clean home and think that those people should know better?

While I hope and pray I would not hurt others through my pain if I were in the same situation, don't I, like they, know how to behave better. Don't we all know better than to behave and think the way we do? Isn't my dirty look at the woman who just cut me off just as sinful? Isn't my impatient answers to my children just as sinful? While my behavior may not be looting, rioting or raping - my behavior, just as theirs, nailed Jesus to the cross.

Probably every blogger will have a comment about Katrina and the aftershock. Some will be in criticism of leaders, some will be in criticism of the surviviors, some will be policitically driven, and, some will be words of comfort and prayers for the people who have suffered. But, what each of us have to remember is that we are not walking as they are - we can't say how dare they, when we can't know how feel they.

So, what can we do as we watch America be portrayed on TV as lawless and loveless? We can remember a few things - We must help:

1) Help with our prayers of redemption and healing, physically and emotionally. Those we see on TV are souls Jesus loves and died for - just as for as you and me. The power of fervent prayer can bring miracles that will draw many to Christ. We just never know what souls will be in heaven from this event.

2) Help with or pocketbooks - even if it is only $1.00. The estimated American population is 290, 809, 777. You do the math - that's a lot of money! Skip eating out for lunch and give to the red cross.

3) Help by realizing America has never had a disaster of this magnitude. Just as with September 11, our lives will never be the same. This is not a racial, economic class or political party issue. This is a path we have never been down - and a hard one that is going be filled with mistakes. Let's not turn on each other but towards each other.

4) Help by remembering that the media is loving the drama of the looting and 'newsworthy' behavior. I know there are stories of heros and miracles - where are they? The media is focusing on a small few that are acting out, instead of focusing on the many who are helping out. Find the stories of our true human hearts and share them - we can not forget there are only a few that are doing these acts, the large majority are just trying to survive. I found examples of Americans stepping up:
**MoveOn.org Civic Action, which set up HurricaneHousing.org on Thursday, said its Web site listed offers for 50,950 beds on Friday afternoon, and the number was climbing by more than 1,000 per hour.
**Red Cross support rescue and relief efforts.
291,020 Donors: $41,919,550 Raised (I saw this amount increase by over 1 million over 2 hours!)
**DuPont to Donate $1 Million to Help Communities Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
5) And, mostly, help by humbly remembering...There but by the grace of God go Us!