It's Different Now

Lately I've had a song in my head.

A song I listened to when I was a child.

I can not for the life of me remember what group sang the version in my head.  It was not this one.. but it's pretty close.  :)

It's different now

I

I once was lost in sin I had no peace within
To save my weary soul I knew not how.
But Jesus came to me and by his grace I’m free
Now it's different oh so different now.

II

I went to church one day to hear them sing and pray
The preacher firmly used the gospel plow
He said you must repent so down the aisle I went
Now it's different oh so different now

Chorus

It's different now since Jesus saved my soul
It's different now since by his blood I'm whole
Old satan had to flee when Jesus rescued me

Now it's different oh so different now.

Thank God it's different now!!

Scripture and a Snapshot

I think I'm in time to link up to Scripture and a Snapshot this week!  :)

First, I'll show you the picture... and then, tell you the story.

A tire, you say?

Yes.

You see.... on Jan. 22, our family was out and about.  Swimming lessons, groceries, etc. etc.

We got home, parked the van in it's usual spot, and carried on.

Jeff went out after a while, and was blowing the snow out of the driveway.

Justin went out to help start the vehicles.

Justin was in the driver's seat of the van, so Jeff hopped in the passenger side, and told Justin to put it in gear, and pull it ahead.  Justin's first "real" driving experience!  :D  (He has driven the three-wheeler/golf cart/lawn mower.)

Justin put the van in gear, and slowly pulled out of the parking spot.

He put on the brakes... and nothing happened.

Jeff told him to press the brakes a little harder.

Justin says "I can't push them any more, the pedal is all the way to the floor!"

Jeff reaches over and pushes the van to neutral.. and then to park.

Gets out.

Has Justin press the brakes again... and sees brake fluid squirting out everywhere.

So, we call our mechanic on Monday morning.  He asks if we can limp it there... and we say no, that the brakes aren't working at all... There's no brakes.  Mechanic replies that that's probably not the case... usually only front OR back go.. not both at once.

He comes and tows the van.

Calls the next day.. and says.. You were right.  *BOTH* brake lines had completely disintegrated.  We had *no* brakes. 

The most amazing part was that the brakes lasted all throughout our busy day.. and even long enough to park our van in our driveway.  I can just imagine the angels riding along, hands gripped around our failing brake lines.

And I'm so so thankful that God has allowed us a few more days in this life.

He knows the number of hairs on my head.

He knows the number of days we'll have on this Earth.

Gives me goosebumps.







P.S. I've entered into this week's i♥faces contest, so if you could vote for my picture - #342 - that would be awesome!!  :) http://www.iheartfaces.com/2011/01/peoples-choice-photo-challenge-best-face-photo-in-january/

Touch-Up Tuesday and more!

I woke up this morning to our first heavy frost.  Definitely a killing frost.  The last of my pink flowers that I took pictures of two days ago are now wilted.

Frosty leaves.

Frosty grass.

Frosty field. (Love the sky! Looking to the west, and the sun is coming up behind me.)

This is the photo I'm using for Touch-Up Tuesday.

In PSE9 I ran Perfect Workflow, then ran PW's Boost and erased the boost levels off of the grass. Really like how it turned out. :)

Poor Mr. T out in the frosty morning. The kittens are living in our basement window well right now, because there was a skunk in the shed that we think sprayed their mom... and they still slightly smell. I felt bad for the sad, meowing kittens this morning, and gave them an old t-shirt to lie on. Yes, I'm a suck for kittens.

And finally, I'm linking this picture to Scripture and a Snapshot. I searched for a verse with "frost" in it, and this one just jumped out at me. It's perfect for us.  "Given birth" reminds me that gestation is nine months long.  Well, we went through nine months of Jeff being laid off from work.  That was really difficult.  But, we know that it came from God.  It was in His plan.  Even the ice and frost and snow comes from God.  He controls the weather, and so controls Jeff's job.  We're *hoping* for lots of ice, because that means that his job will last... but ultimately it's in God's hands.

Have you had any frost in your area yet?

Touch-Up Tuesday and more!

Last night the oldest three kids had karate.  Instead of meeting at the hall where they usually do, they instead had their lesson at a school.

Which gave Michael and Hannah something to do.  :)

Hannah had so much fun on the slide!  She kept going up the stairs, and down the slide.  She and Michael had races.  :)

Here's one of my favourites, SOOC.

I opened it in PSE9. I ran Perfect Workflow, resized, sharpened.

Don't you love her face?? :D

I'm also linking this post to Scripture and a Snapshot. I love this shot, even though it's not "perfect".

I love the reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.




I've been thinking about Jesus a lot today. Five years ago today, my baby girl was born at 20 weeks gestation. Jessica Anne lives in heaven. She has seen Jesus. And, although I miss her terribly, I know she's happy, and free of pain, and in the presence of God. Wow.

Scripture and a Snapshot

We have a Virginia Creeper that grows along our fence.  Every fall, it's leaves turn a beautiful red.  I remembered to go out this year and take a picture... and found a surprise.

Berries!

I didn't know that it produced berries.

I decided to use this picture for Scripture and a Snapshot, because it brought a great verse to mind.

Are you abiding in Jesus?

Mary Did You Know?

This morning, my sister called me to ask the name of a certain song.

It was "Mary, Did You Know?". My absolute favourite version of this song is sung by Kalan Porter, who won Canadian Idol, Season 2.

It gives me goosebumps, and at a particular point in the song, makes me cry. When he sings "when you kiss your little baby boy, you've kissed the face of God" I can't help tearing up. It's even more meaningful now, as I kiss the head of my precious baby girl. I can't imagine how Mary felt, knowing that her son was the Son of God. It's mind-boggling.

Here are the lyrics to one of my favourite Christmas songs:

"Mary Did You Know"

[Originally written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene]

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby boy you've kissed the face of God?

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know
that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know
that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Gianna Jessen: Abortion Survivor

This is Gianna's story. She survived a Saline abortion.

I can't vote in the U.S. election, but I would urge those who can to vote McCain. A vote for Obama is a vote for death. Despite what some may think, this is a one-issue election. And that issue is the lives of the unborn. God will not be mocked.

Copywork

So, I have started doing copywork with Justin and Ethan again. I figured that their printing wouldn't get any better if they weren't actually printing. :)

This morning, I chose Romans 8:28. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."

As I was writing it on the chalkboard, I was blown away yet again. We know that all things work together for good! Wow! What a reminder! Even what we think is a terrible thing, is GOOD.

Hitting two deer 11 days apart? Good! :) Losing a much-wanted and longed-for baby? Good! Job insecurities? Good! Breaking a finger? Good!

I'm so glad that I can say not only do I love God, but he loves me. I am called according to His purpose. Nothing will happen to me or those I love that doesn't fall into His perfect plan.

Isn't that awesome?

Does God see His image in you?

Malachi 3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.
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I know that God uses the trials He sends us to shape us into His image. It's not always easy to remember, but it's true. Have you praised God for holding you in the midst of the fire? Do you thank Him as he 'burns' away all your impurities? Food for thought.