What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

How Firm a Foundation

The hymn “How Firm a Foundation” has an interesting and somewhat mysterious history. It first appeared in 1787 in a hymnbook edited by John Rippon, titled A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors¹ ². The authorship of the hymn is uncertain, as it was originally attributed only to “K—,” which many believe refers to Robert Keene, the music leader at Rippon’s church ¹ ².

The hymn has been cherished for its comforting and encouraging lyrics, which are deeply rooted in biblical promises. It was notably sung at the deathbed of President Andrew Jackson and at the funerals of Robert E. Lee and Theodore Roosevelt ¹ ². An inspiring story from the Spanish-American War tells of soldiers from both the North and South singing it together on Christmas Eve in 1898, symbolizing unity and hope ².

Being Wise in the Spirit

1 Corinthians 2 New International Version

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

⁶We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”^[b]—
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

¹⁰these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.¹²What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.¹³This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.^[c] ¹⁴The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness,and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵The person with the Spirit makes judgements about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgements,¹⁶for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”^[d]

But we have the mind of Christ.

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”

And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

Surprised by Wisdom

“It seems like the older I get, the wiser you become. Sometimes when I talk to my daughter I even hear your words coming out of my mouth!”

My daughter’s candor made me laugh. I felt the same way about my parents and frequently found myself using their words as I raised my kids. Once I became a dad, my perspective on my parents’ wisdom changed. What I once “wrote off” as foolishness turned out to be far wiser than I had thought—I just couldn’t see it at first.

The Bible teaches that “the foolishness of God is wiser” than the cleverest human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:25). “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness” of the message of a suffering Savior to rescue “those who believe” (v. 21).

God always has ways of surprising us. Instead of the triumphant king the world would expect, the Son of God came as a suffering servant and died a humbling death by crucifixion—before He was raised in unsurpassable glory.

In God’s wisdom, humility is valued over pride and love shows its worth in undeserved mercy and kindness. Through the cross, our unconquerable Messiah became the ultimate victim—in order to “save completely” (Hebrews 7:25) all who place their faith in Him!

1 Corinthians 1:18–25

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness^h to those who are perishing,ⁱ but to us who are being saved^j it is the power of God.^k 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;

the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^c ^l

20 Where is the wise person?^m Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age?ⁿ Has not God made foolish^o the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world^p through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save^q those who believe.^r 22 Jews demand signs^s and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified:^t a stumbling block^u to Jews and foolishness^v to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called,^w both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God^x and the wisdom of God.^y 25 For the foolishness^z of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness^a of God is stronger than human strength.

I Love to Sing

1 I love to sing of the Saviour
Who gave his life for me;
He fills my spirit with gladness,
For service sets me free.

Refrain:
How I love to sing,
How I love to sing,
How I love to sing of Jesus!
How I love to sing!

2 I love to sing of his beauty,
His greatness and his love,
A theme that thrills all creation
In earth and Heaven above.

3 I love to sing of his virtue,
His all-transforming might;
To sing of his great salvation
Be all my heart’s delight.

Food

What food would you say is your specialty?

By speciality I don’t have one but for eating I have several from fish and chips to Christmas dinner and my wife makes a wonderful salad. I could go on.

The Wondrous Love of Jesus

The hymn “Sing the Wondrous Love of Jesus,” also known as “When We All Get to Heaven,” was written by Eliza E. Hewitt in 1898. Hewitt, a Philadelphia native, collaborated with composer Emily D. Wilson to create this uplifting gospel song ¹ ².

Eliza Hewitt was a schoolteacher who turned to hymn writing after a severe spinal injury left her bedridden for an extended period. During her recovery, she found solace in writing hymns and became an active participant in her church’s Sunday school and other religious activities ².

The hymn reflects the revivalist spirit of the late 19th century, capturing themes of hope, faith, and the promise of eternal life. It was often sung at Methodist camp meetings and other revival gatherings, where it inspired many with its message of joyous anticipation of heaven ¹

I heard God laugh – Reblog

I heard God laugh;

And sunshine broke into a thousand pieces

To plunge into the hearts of men,

Earth pored out her singing into mountain’s crystal silences,

Trees pulled their ancient roots and danced for joy

Flowers sang, birds and bees understood

And stopped, in listening wonder:

Shuddered the old, old fears to vanish into living light

And man, set free at last from all the weariness of doubt,

Ran to gaze up into the eyes of heavenly reason,

In the sudden knowledge that in the true centre

Love breathes on life, healing and making whole.

God the begining, God the victorious end.

The Lithurgy of Life

An Almighty Hand

“It Takes an Almighty Hand” is a song by Ian White, released in 1987 under Little Misty Music and administered by Integrity Music ¹. The song is often associated with harvest celebrations and has been performed in various church services ¹ ².

The lyrics reflect themes of gratitude and recognition of divine power in the natural world, emphasizing the belief that it takes an almighty hand to create and sustain life. This song is particularly popular during harvest festivals, where communities come together to give thanks for the bounty of the earth ².

Harvest

Deuteronomy 24:19-21

“When you reap your harvest in your field and have forgotten a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. “When you beat your olive tree, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow. “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not go over it again; it shall be for the alien, for the orphan, and for the widow.

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

The sun comes up
It’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

You’re rich in love
And You’re slow to anger Image result for Harvest

Your name is great
And Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

Bless You Lord

And on that day
When my strength is failing
The end draws near
And my time has come
Still my soul will
Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
And then forevermore
Forevermore

Bless the Lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship His Holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name

Yes I’ll worship Your Holy name
I’ll worship Your Holy name

Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I’ll worship Your Holy name
Jesus I will worship Your Holy name
Worship Your Holy name

Today we celebrated Harvest at our church and surprisingly enough although we have had a lot of sun this summer and very little rain, the Lord still provided and the table was full.