Strive for full restoration and the 5 common topics

  You may have noticed that it's been nearly a month since my last post.  School's back in session here in the Russell household, and we're learning how to order our days to get it all in!  In the process, we've been having morning Bible studies focusing one one character quality a week, finding a Bible verse about that and studying it together using the 5 common topics - I'll show you what I mean.  It's been a great exercise for me to really understand what a verse or passage is saying, and one verse that we studied keeps stirring in my heart and mind, calling me deeper still: 2 Corinthians 13:11  "Finally, brothers and sisters, Rejoice!  Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace and the God of love and peace will be with you."
   You've probably heard it said as well as I that the last, the final words, of a person are usually the most poignant - the point they most want you to grab hold of.  And so, here it is: Rejoice - live in joy, choose joy which generally falls into a choice of gratitude (tying into our verse about doing everything without complaining and arguing).  Then, we pulled apart "strive for full restoration."  The first of the 5 common topics is Definition, so we defined strive as: work hard at, fight for it, give yourself fully to; full restoration as complete, no hidden areas of brokenness or discord.
     The next topic is Comparison: what is this the same as: everything is resolved and there is peace and love restored to a relationship with no anger or awkwardness, no thinking badly of the other person or holding anything against them. It is seeing how you offended or hurt someone, being broken and repentant about your role in it and physically and verbally forsaking that wrong and doing whatever it takes to demonstrate that you're sorry and repentant of your wrong.  What is this different from?  This is different from mumbling or even yelling angrily (so that mom knows we're "making it right" and doesn't need to intervene or discipline - lol) "I'm sorry."  It's different from sorry plus a lot of excuses why the action was done.  It's different from "sorry" and there's still anger, hurt feelings and resentment.
     Circumstance: under what condition is this needed?  What led up to the decisions?  We need full restoration both when we have offended/wronged someone as well as when we have been wronged or have angst in our relationship with someone else.  Having a good understanding of what brought us to this place of broken relationship, owning our part in that and confessing it, goes a long ways in helping restore relationship.   This topic also looks at what else might be going on around our outside of the direct situation: what's going on in the other person's life?  What's going on in my life that might be contributing to greater discord, irritability or an offensive nature?
   Relationship:  How is this affecting my relationship with this person?  With other persons?  With the body of Christ?  How is my reaction and involvement in this representing the name of Christ? In what ways might this reveal how I'm treating others maybe unconsciously or on a regular basis? Have I done everything in my power to fully restore this relationship?
   Testimony: Who is the leading authority on this?  Christ, when He made restitution for our sin and died for us, didn't leave some of our sin, maintain some anger and frustration with our brokenness or depravity. He gave all of Himself, emptied Himself that we might be so fully restored to God that not only were we made right with Him, we have become His sons and daughters - bestowed with the same authority, inheritance and affection of the SON.  WHAT??!?  Did you really get that?  Do I believe that deep down and live under the glory of that truth?  He not only fully restored the relationship that, like Adam and Eve, we might walk and talk with Him, He made us heirs, the bride of Christ - He went above and beyond all that was necessary to bring full restoration.  In a word: REDEMPTION.  But even that word that I love isn't enough to capture the fullness of abundant restoration plus, plus.  I'm not sure language can capture the extent of what He did in and for us through the cross.
   It would seem that breaking down just these four little words: "strive for full restoration" is enough for today, and so we went through each phrase like this, talking about what it means to encourage one another, be of one mind - one over-arching goal/vision which by it's very nature produces a life of peace and when all of that happens the nature and evidence of Almighty God and His great love and peace overflow in our home.  Lord, do it.  Let it be with us, that we might be ones who live out Your Word.
  I Will Sing of My Redeemer
I will sing of my Redeemer,
  And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
  From the curse to set me free.


  Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
  With His blood He purchased me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
    Paid the debt, and made me free.
2
I will tell the wondrous story,
  How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
  He the ransom freely gave.
3
I will praise my dear Redeemer,
  His triumphant pow’r I’ll tell,
How the victory He giveth
  Over sin, and death, and hell.
4
I will sing of my Redeemer,
  And His heav’nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
  Son of God with Him to be.

Song - modern version
Song - Fernando Ortega
Story behind the hymn
 

On breaking waves and more

There's a fire in the sky this morning as day breaks glorious on the Gulf of Mexico and the waves never tire of declaring God's faithfulness and endless love.  And there's a marvelous peace - a peace with God knowing that He is in control of every breaking wave and that He has removed my sins as far as the East is from the West and laid them to rest in the great deep.  He Himself has truly removed all barriers between me and Heaven - the heart of a God so vast (my God box has exploded again as I ponder that He holds the universe in the palm of His hand).  This seemingly endless ocean, mesmerizing, beautiful, only an image, a fragment of an expression of the love of God poured out.
   My 3 year old picks up shells in the early morning where the faithful waves meet their Creator's barrier.  Small, large, broken, variegated - he doesn't care.  He finds beauty, a treasure in the smallest broken piece as much as the intact one lying right next to it.  I'm reminded again of the love of a Father who sees even and especially those who have only tiny fragments of themselves left, so broken by wave after wave of life that they feel beyond notice, beyond worth in the midst of what looks like a shoreline of whole people, those who seem to have it all together.  Maybe that's why we're called to have faith, eyes like a little child, a child who prefers the sizes and shapes and colors of broken things, sees the beauty and value of the broken thing and wants that.  After all He's the God who leaves the 99 for the lost, broken one.  And I marvel that He who treads the sea, who looks down upon earth whose inhabitants are like grasshoppers, He bends low in His vastness to receive praise and even enter into relationship with the grain of sand that I am.  Is this for real?  Why engage so small, so insignificant a thing?  Because He's a God of small things, delighting to fill them with His greatness - He is the only Significant and all else receives significance from Him.  
   Job 38:4- “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?
“Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’?
“Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,
that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
“Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?
Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this.
“What is the way to the abode of light? And where does darkness reside?
Can you take them to their places? Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
Surely you know, for you were already born! You have lived so many years!
“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail,
which I reserve for times of trouble, for days of war and battle?
What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed, or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?
Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain, and a path for the thunderstorm,
to water a land where no one lives, an uninhabited desert,
to satisfy a desolate wasteland and make it sprout with grass?
Does the rain have a father?  Who fathers the drops of dew?
from whose womb comes the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens
when the waters become hard as stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen?
“Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades? Can you loosen Orion’s belt?
Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons or lead out the Bear with its cubs?
Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you set up God’s dominion over the earth?
“Can you raise your voice to the clouds and cover yourself with a flood of water?
Do you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?
Who gives the ibis wisdom or gives the rooster understanding?
Who has the wisdom to count the clouds? Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens when the dust becomes hard and the clods of earth stick together?

   Waves break over and over, one right after another - some heavy, strong enough to knock one over, others small, just noticeable.  Waves can be fun to play in, riding one change or variable - especially if you go with the flow and let them carry you, but if you're swimming or fighting against them to move out from under their breaking, it can wear down your strength fast.  Having one wave after another crash over you, relentless, saps you of all strength.  Then, as strength ebbs, fear enters in.   Will this ever end?  I can't go on like this! Desperation to get out, to have a break - peace, relief from the crashing, the weight and power of one wave after another beating down till you have nothing left, weary wondering if God will come through and when.  Will there be anything left of you when He does?  And if the waves hit long and hard enough...what will life even look like if you do make it out of this alive?  The waves, they crash hard in the shallows, along the shoreline where it seems safest.  We feel like can fight the onslaught better in our own strength, on our own feet in the shallows, but if you can get out, you have two choices - to run away and stay on dry ground, away from the risk, away from the everlasting fluctuations and changes or you can go deeper.  Deeper where the waves still come but more gently or with greater ability to ride above them rather than be crushed under them, where one must rely on ANOTHER's strength, rising and falling in His arms cause your feet can't quite touch the ground but faith runs deep and peace means abiding in what you know of His strength, laying aside fears of what lies beneath the waves, where the waves may carry you or how the changes may shape you.  For, He is the great potter, giving the waves and changes for a purpose, shaping with intention not on a whim or with carelessness.  We know this to be true.  We have seen it.  Experience has proved it.  Yet, how many times like Peter do we forget that His hand is securely upholding us ON TOP OF THE WAVES? - it's really happening right here, right now, but we look down, around, don't see it, give in to fear and come crashing down.  We see something big coming or are in the midst of such change and uncertainty that we look down rather than up and get overwhelmed by the waves once more.  Are you there?  Tumbled under, scared, overwhelmed, needing to see some blue sky and smoother waters?  He's there too.  Reach up, recenter your heart on TRUTH.  Circumstances lie.  Our emotions play games with us, but His TRUTH abides forever. He hasn't abandoned you, lost track of where you're at or what you  need.  As the song says - "when you can't see His hand, trust His heart" and look up. 

Remix version of song
Beautiful violin solo rendition
Story behind the hymn

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
1. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward
To Thy glorious rest above!

2. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth,
Changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches over His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth,
Watcheth over them from the throne!

3. O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best!
Tis an ocean vast of blessing,
Tis a haven sweet of rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to Thee!

Rest for the weary

Matthew 11:28-30 " Come to me all you who labor and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
   With a week full of very late nights and so much to do, feeling pulled in a million different directions,  I come to the Father desperate to know what this verse means, how to apply it to my life and live it out.  Come to Me, You say?  Here I am before You, for who else has the words of Life?  "...all who are weary and heavy burdened"?  Yup, that's me right now - oh, so weary, doing so many different things that I wonder if I'm doing anything well, thoroughly, with grace, being fully present. "...and I will give you rest."  not might, not could, not if you try hard enough, work hard enough, act good enough, position yourself just right.  No, just come...and I will give REST.  Isn't that a beautiful, inviting word?  REST - invites a deep breath, shoulders drop, heart settles, hope enters, corners of the mouth lift in relief. 
     "Take My yoke upon you..."  Wait.  What?!?  What was all that about REST?  Doesn't He carry the Universe?  Sounds like more than I've got on my shoulders now!  But maybe, maybe if it's shared, if I can just slip in and have Him at my side, know that we're in this together and nothing can separate us...  "And learn from Me" -  He will show how to carry that yoke.  That there might just be the key to it all.  He had late nights, many demands, people pulling him in a million different directions, but He wasn't driven by these external commands, he was led by His time hearing what the Father was saying and doing that, and the voice and guidance of the Father sustained Him.  In a yoke, there are 2 oxen - generally a well-trained strong one on the outside, who carries the bulk of the burden and directs or guides/sets the direction, and an ox in training who is on the inside, strapped in mostly for the ride and training - learning how to take direction, follow commands and do the job.  The lead ox can either be rough, jerking the newbie around and inflicting suffering when he doesn't do it right, or he can be "gentle and lowly in spirit", coming alongside, picking up the slack of our mistakes, faithfully demonstrating over and over in gentleness and humility how to walk with ease under the guidance/authority of the Father and let perfect obedience to and unity with the Master's will make the yoke easy and burden light.  Rather than fighting the yoke, learn to submit to it, making the journey restful, peace deep down in the soul.
Come to Me
Refrain 

Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened,
And I shall give you rest.
Take up my yoke and learn from me,
For I am meek and humble of heart.
And you’ll find rest for your souls,
Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

1. The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall never be in need,
Fresh and green are the meadows where he gives me rest.

2. Beside peaceful waters you restore my true self;
There you lead me to walk in the path of new life.

3. Should I be surrounded by the shadows of death,
I will not fear, for you are steadfast in your love.

4. Before my deep hunger you spread out your feast.
My skin you anoint with the richest oil.

5. Pursue me, O God, with your fathomless love,
In your tent let me dwell all the days of my life.

Text: Paraphrase of Psalm 23 
Composer: Gregory Norbet (1971, revised text 1994) 

Song

A torn veil

In the midst of a most holy moment of worship at church, I see.  The veil is split and the light of the glory of God is breaking through this full length tear in the veil - a light that called out deeply for one to step right through.  This is a blinding, all-consuming light that gives focused vision and in whose light all else fades away.  My mind says the veil between this heaven and that is oh so thin, much thinner than we realize if we but had our eyes wide open.  Yet, the truth of the Scripture is this: the veil isn't thin, it's torn.  Once, for all, intentionally torn from top to bottom that we, with intention, might step into that light and glory day by day.  Stay, remain in that place that this light and glory might be revealed in us to a dark and broken world.

    I saw myself standing on this side of the torn veil, peering in to the beauty, drawn with inexpressible desire to step through to the other side but somehow unable to take that step.  There was a calling from deep within, an invitation to step across the threshold.  It took all my will and desire to lift my feet which seemed rooted to the ground and I pushed past all the resistance, desperate to enter into that blood-bought place of fellowship with the One seated on the throne, and as I stepped in, gazing more fully at unsurpassed beauty, all I could say is holy. It is beyond comprehension to grasp that we are invited in to FELLOWSHIP beyond that veil with the Most Holy, the One above all things - more than mind can comprehend.   And it is not into a temple made with hands but into the very Presence, a sovereign Presence in which nothing else matters and everything matters.  Because He is in all things and over all things and works through all things, there's nothing I need do but take the next step in faith, trusting, resting in all that He brings and the steps He directs.  And, because He directs every step, every step matters, every moment is a most holy moment.  Every action and reaction ought to be an act of worship, an act of love, flowing out of an overwhelming sense that He is Holy, altogether other.  And walking in the light of His presence and awareness of that, our steps, behaviors, interactions become altogether other compared to the reactions of this world, such that the world looks on and says, "What is that?" 

1. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
   Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
   Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
   God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
   Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
   Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
   Who was, and is, and evermore shall be.
3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
   Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
   Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
   Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
   All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
   Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
   God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

Story behind the hymn

one man acapella version

Beauty and peace

A solitary, wandering path beckons me into the cool woodland alive with reverberating praise to the Creator who does all things well.  I know a stream lies ahead as I can hear it's soft, musical dance as it plays among the rocks, gliding, leaping, laughing as it follows its course.  Calling to one another in the treetops, feathered friends add their joyful or scolding tunes- perhaps sharing the latest news or reminding each other of the goodness of their loving Benefactor.  I sit on a large mossy rock, allowing the cool water to dance among my toes too, and I drink it all in, drawn into the peace and beauty.
   Sitting on a porch swing in the cool of the morning, the Living Word in my hands, glory gently breaks the Eastern sky in pastels of blue, pink, purple and gold as the heavens revel in their role of majestic repetition greeted by cardinals morning song as the faithfulness, wonder and mystery of the Uncreated One is declared.
   What do these two scenes have in common?  Beauty.   A beauty that beckons, that invites one to participate in its glory, sit a while in it and breathe deeply of the hope and peace.  Beauty is the essence of God which he poured into his creation, and especially into the crown of His creation, and it invites one in to rest, be captivated and have the spirit renewed.  And what is that crown of creation, the breathless beauty, the gift to refresh a weary soul?  A woman.  I have a confession to make.  I fear I have long neglected this creative purpose of being a source of refreshing peace in my home that invites the family in to come and rest a while and drink from hope and peace.  I've been busy working, doing, being overwhelmed with my list or focused on accomplishments or even my spiritual or character growth that I failed to see what creation shouts out daily.  Chaos, anxiety, running from one thing to another, being stressed out, on edge, uncertain, overwhelmed...these are not beautiful, not a welcoming invitation but a flashing light to stay away.  No one wants to be invited into chaos - beauty is attractive, compelling, renewing the body and soul, an invitation to peace and that comes not by doing but by being.
     Pictures, sculptures, paintings capturing the beauty of women do no reflect them working hard, doing things but rather in repose, restful, still - and it draws one in to the beauty  I want to follow this path, walk out this journey of peace that has led me to beauty and instilled in me a desire to be beautiful, a spring of hope, joy, refreshment, peace that all around desire to come and drink deeply from - but the simple steps there just might prove the hardest - slow down and just be.  No, this doesn't mean I now have nothing to do or can neglect duties, but I must learn to do them from a restful state, a soul at peace.  I can and will still work hard, but  I want to learn to do everything with beauty in mind, with a peacefulness that invites wonder and captivates with its joy. (For more on this, read Captivating by John and Staci Eldridge)




Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heav’nly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.

Be still, my soul: the hour is hast’ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well-pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.

Story behind the hymn
Kings College Choir Cambridge

Shalom..it's more than just peace

 John 14:27 (Complete Jewish Bible) "What I'm leaving you with is shalom.  I am giving you My shalom.  I don't give the way the world gives..." Praise God!  Praise God that He doesn't give the way the world gives, with strings attached, conditions, variability, available one moment and not the next.  When He gives, it's for life, it's full, dependent only on the faithfulness of His promise and assurance. 

   I just started reading a book that brings understanding or deeper meaning to Scriptures based on the original written languages and Jewish cultural context.   According to Ray Vander Laan, founder of That the World May Know ministries, the word "shalom" commonly translated as "peace" actually has a much more expansive meaning encompassing the whole character and nature of God, His perfection, His plans.  He leaves us with, gives us the very perfection and nature of God that we might bring God's shalom to the chaos of this world.  And isn't that what we long to be in our homes, families, relationships, work places?  To be conduits of the character- goodness, truth and beauty of the One and Only - bringing the Divine Nature and peace of the Almighty into the chaos around us and even within us? 

Indiana Corn Country

   It speaks to me of the grandest essence of peace with a weight of glory.  "We are supposed to partner with God to bring His shalom to the chaos of this world (Vander Laan)."  Gen 1:2...the Spirit of God hovered over the waters" could be translated "the Shalom of God hovered over the chaos."  I don't know about you, but that's what I need - the Shalom of God to hover over the chaos in my heart, home and work life.  I want the fullness of His nature and character to rest upon, move upon and through my life.  Because what happened when the Spirit of God hovered over the waters?  With intention He spoke, He created beauty, order, creativity, community, sustenance...He imparted Himself into something other, something empty, something incomplete till he spoke, intervened.  The presence of Holy Spirit, the Shalom of God can do nothing else; it does not hover without intention, without a development of beauty, transformation.
  And isn't that the gospel - all of it beginning to end?  God, who imparted Himself into His creation, saw it broken and with intention redeemed it that He might again and with greater depth give us His Shalom - leaving, imprinting, placing within us His perfection, nature, character and creative purpose - to go and change the world.  So, with that, shalom, my friends.  Let the peace that comes with God's perfect nature and intention guard your heart and mind that you might deliver that Shalom, be that Shalom in every place. 
Make me a channel of your peace

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there is hatred let me bring your love
Where there is injury, your pardon Lord
And where there's doubt, true faith in you

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness ever joy

Oh, master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace
It isn't pardoning that we are pardoned
In giving to all men let we receive
And in dying that we're born to turn around

Oh, master grant that I may never seek
So much to be consoled as to console
To be understood as to understand
To be loved as to love with all my soul

Make me a channel of your peace
Where there's despair in life let me bring hope
Where there is darkness, only light
And where there's sadness ever joy

Story behind the hymn
Song

Happy Father's Day -the gift of gratitude

   Col 3:15 "Now may the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were also called in one body, and be thankful."  The peace of God rules, bringing unity of mind and purpose through an overflow of thanks.  When centered on what we are grateful for, those things that make us one and knit us together, we have pace in our relationships.  As a people, we so often focus on the negatives; just watch the news....We se all the little annoyances, nurse our interpersonal wounds, cry out for our own rights and afeel keenly when our expectations aren't met.  We may often feel under -appreciated for all the things we do that go unnoticed, unappreciated.  All these things can break peace and unity, filling us with strife, leaving us wondering what we had in common in the first place.  The road to redemption?  Interpersonal peace and unity?  It's paved with gratitude. 
    Today I want to express thankfulness for the dads in my life.  Just as we moms are often under-appreciated, so are they. First, to my husband... Thank you for your faithfulness, your passion, the fun and laughter you bring to our home, the commitment you have to providing for us, the diligence you put into your work.  Thank you for being the primary trash man, yard maintenance and clean up crew, and for picking up the pieces and managing the household when I'm not around.  Thank you for loving my family and always seeing the value/importance of being there for them.  Thank you for all of the Craigslist and Facebook marketplace runs that extend your day, add in a bit of craziness and leave you running from place to place to meet up with people.  Thank you for being resourceful and for working hard to make our house beautiful.  Thank you for showing our children with your life what it looks like to serve others and make a difference in our community.
 



  To my dad who now walks where anges tread and beholds the glory of the One and Only seated on the throne that is grace: thank you for teaching my construction, for being a good provider and demonstrating the good of hard work.  Thank you for not running out for good when there are times that it would have seemed the easier road.  Thank you for your passion in discipleship and mentoring families.  Thank you for all the times you listened when I talked and gave good advice.  Thank you for opening up your heart to me and becoming not just my dad but my friend.  Thank you for the beds you made me, the playhouses, and the remodeling of my kitchen.  Thank you for showing me what it looks like to grow in Christ, to fail but get up again, leaning hard on the grace and mercy of God. 
   To Jeremiah, who gazes on the Father of Light and delights in his presence, you never got to be an earthly father, through childbearing but you were a father to many - especially to your students. You were intentional in love, service and discipleship and showed the world what it looks like to lay down your life for the sake of the Kingdom and its King.  You had compassion, saw needs and sought to fill them.  Gave yourself with intention to your calling and made the world around you a better place.










  To my brothers: Matt, thank you for your devotion to your family, for giving attention to details and doing your work with excellence.  Thank you for the time and expertise you've given to others.  You've become a Jack of so many trades and grown much in wisdom.  Thank you for filling our lives with good music and the many sacrifices and services you have made/given to your wife in promoting the gifts God has given her as well.  Thank you for the times you would run on Hatcher Pass with me at Sunrise.  Thank you for the guidance you've given me on work projects.  Thank you for your sense of humor.

    Caleb, thank you for your tenderness and gentleness.  Thank you for your many examples of service and self-sacrifice to your own family and to all of us.  You've given many of us the gift of your time, your labor and skillfulness, and your presence.  Thank you for playing games with us, playing with the kids, demonstrating hard work.  Thank you for not being afraid of a job big or small and for helpiug give me a kitchen!  Thank you for your heart to do right and love God deeply.  Thank you for being a peace maker and being a man of faithfulness and dedication.  You don't run off when times get tough and you wait for God's direction rather then pushing for what's easier or convenient.
   Thanks to all the other dad's out there who have blessed me, my husband and my family.  Thank you Bill for being a man of faithfulness, a gentle spirit and a generous man who love a family and children who were not your own and who has consistently loved and been there for your own son through many hard times.  Thank you for being a rock of strength and intention, faithfully, quietly being there, working hard, seeking God and sharing your wisdom. 





Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
Forgive our foolish ways;
Reclothe us in our rightful mind,
In purer lives Thy service find,
In deeper rev’rence, praise.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee,
O calm of hills above,
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity,
Interpreted by love!

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small Voice of calm.

In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord,
Let us, like them, without a word,
Rise up and follow Thee.
Story behind the hymn

Song Cathedral style