Friday, April 23, 2010

Guide Me, Lord

"We know not what a day may bring forth, but if we are following our Leader we know that we shall be led.

Great Leader, Guide me by cloud or fire;
Let me be loyal to Thy heart's desire.
And lest I falter if the way be long,
O let Thy joy be strength to me and song!"

Amy Carmichael

Psalm 25:4,5

"Show me your ways, O Lord;
Teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior,
and my hope is in you all day long."

Thursday, April 15, 2010

You know you're getting older when...

Today in class at snack time, one of my boys sitting next to me kept hitting my arm! I turned to him and said, in my firm teacher voice, "Logan (name changed to protect his parents!) please stop hitting me. It is NOT okay." He smiled up at me and quipped, "But your arm jiggles. I like to see it jiggle!" What a kid! He makes me laugh every day! (And my arms do jiggle!)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Music Speaks to Me

I love old hymns. I like comtemporary praise songs, too, but hymns speak to me in a different way. Perhaps this is a reflection of my upbringing. I grew up singing hymns in church; I enjoyed singing hymns with my father as he played the piano; and, many of the records played on the stereo were collections of hymns. I especially like hymns (and praise songs, too) based on scripture. One of my favorites (and there are many!) is "Great Is Thy Faithfulness."

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father.
There is no shadow of turning with thee.
Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not:
As thou hast been, thou forever wilt be!

Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness,
Morning by morning, new mercies I see;
All I have needed thy hand hath provided;
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide,
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow;
Blessings all mine with ten-thousand beside!
(Words and music by Thomas O. Chisholm and William M. Runyan, 1923)

I am especially fond of that last verse. The words bring me comfort and encouragement, and they remind me that I am blessed to be forgiven and that I live in His presence! Praise Him! My life is a testimony of God's faithfulness to me, and this hymn says it so much better than I!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Cottage Cheese

We served cottage cheese for snack in my Kindergarten class last week. Who knew kindergartners would have such strong opinions about cottage cheese! Apparently, either you like cottage cheese a lot or you don't like it at all! After a lively discussion about just what cottage cheese is, one sweet little girl said in a very matter of fact voice, "Cottage cheese is just milk with bumps in it!" How's that for an explanation?!!