Sunday Songs of Grateful Praise - I Will Not Be Afraid

I learned a little hymn when I was a child.  The story and song have stayed in my heart through the years.  It was true back then - and it's true now.

This hymn was written in Occupied China during World War II.  It came from the Bible House in Tientsin, China.  Before long both Chinese and foreigners in that city began singing it.  Then it reached Free China and soon the Christian students and soldiers began singing it, and even the non-Christians took it up.  It is said that the soldiers marched to it and the students sang it as they went to school.  The song reached American and brought inspiration where it went.

I will not be afraid,

I will not be afraid,

I will look upward, 

And travel onward

And not be afraid.

He says He will be with me.

He says He will be with me.

He goes before me,

And is beside me,

So I'm not afraid.

His arms are underneath me.

His arms are underneath me.

His hand upholds me;

His love enfolds me.

So I'm not afraid.

His Word will stand forever.

His Word will stand forever.

His truth it shall be

My shield and buckler,

So I'm not afraid.

He will give grace and glory.

He will give grace and glory.

His cross before me,

His banner o'er me.

So I'm not afraid.

He says He will do marvels.

He says He will do marvels.

Above our asking

Or even thinking

So look up and praise.

So we go singing onward.

So we go singing onward.

We're pressing upward,

We're marching Homeward

To Him, unafraid

"We take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, 'The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid.  What will man do to me?'" Hebrews 13:6 (Amplified)

Song: 'Unafraid'
Music: see photo above
Reprinted from : Christian World Facts

With A Grateful Heart,
Adrienne

Sunday Songs Of Grateful Praise

Quite a few months ago I heard this song and it immediately spoke to my heart.  The words are so true of my life. I've seen the evidence of God's goodness all over my life - through the years and seasons of my life - in good times and bad. There has been attempts to spread fear throughout the world over the past year and a half but I refuse to be afraid. Because God's goodness is all over my life. He is my strength, no matter what happens and there is no reason to fear.  His promises are true and they always will be.

He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down (relax My hold on you)! Assuredly not!  Hebrews 13:15b  (So why should I fear?)

All throughout my history

Your faithfulness has walked beside me
The winter storms made way for spring
In every season, from where I'm standing

I see the evidence of Your goodness

All over my life, all over my life

I see Your promises in fulfillment

All over my life, all over my life

Help me remember when I'm weak

Fear may come, but fear will leave

You lead my heart to victory

You are my strength and You always will be

I see the evidence of Your goodness

All over my life, all over my life

I see Your promises in fulfillment

All over my life, all over my life

See the cross, the empty grave

The evidence is endless

All my sin rolled away

Because of You, oh Jesus

I see the evidence of Your goodness

All over my life, all over my life

I see Your promises in fulfillment

All over my life, all over my life

So why should I fear?

The evidence is here

Song: "Evidence"
Written by: Josh Baldwin, Ethan Gregory Hulse, Edward Martin Cash

You can listen to the song here:  

With A Grateful Heart,
Adrienne

Change

It's been a long time since my last post and a lot of things have changed. So much has happened in all of our lives - and our world - and the word 'change' has become a way of life for all of us. I've missed being here and I plan to begin bringing my blog back to life again.

In the middle of the craziness of the past year and a half my sweetheart and I have had moments to get away and times when we stayed home to 'keep the home fires burning'. We've flexed and changed and made plans for changes yet to come.

We are grateful that we have stayed healthy and have found ways to make the most of the changes that were required in all of our lives. While at home we've been working on projects to simplify life and get ready for more changes ahead. When things were shut down from our normal routine we quickly realized what was really important in life. That led to setting some new priorities, changing some of our involvements and praying about and looking forward to changes yet to come.  In time I'll share more about that and what we've been doing since I was last here, but for now, it's good to be back again.

With A Grateful Heart,
Adrienne

Sunday Songs Of Grateful Praise - I Know Who Holds Tomorrow

Through these past days - in this time when normal isn't normal anymore - this song has been on my mind. If you could stop by my house (and I wish you could!) you might hear me singing these words. They were written when I was a little girl but they are true - so true - today. I'm not living in fear because I know Who holds tomorrow - and I know He holds my hand. No matter what may come. My prayer is that these words will bless and comfort your heart.

I don't know about tomorrow

I just live from day to day

I don't borrow from it's sunshine

For its skies may turn to grey

I don't worry o'er the future

For I know what Jesus said

And today I'll walk beside Him

For He knows what lies ahead

I don't know about tomorrow

It may bring me poverty

But the one who feeds the sparrow

Is the one who stands by me

And the path that be my portion

May be through the flame or flood

But His presence goes before me

And I'm covered with His blood

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic . . . for the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT)

You can listen to this song here.

With A Grateful Heart,
Adrienne

Song: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow
Words and music by Ira F. Stanphill

Catching Up And Looking Back

Good intentions are always at the top of my list but the reality is that the best of intentions don't usually take priority when life requires a change of plan. That's what has happened here. I have great intentions and then the unexpected - not always bad - comes along and switches my plans. And so, my best laid blog plans have taken a back seat.

My sweetheart and I will be leading a group of volunteers to Paradise, California next month. Fifteen months ago the town of Paradise was almost completely destroyed by the worst wildfires in California's history. Rebuilding and recovery has begun and we are going to help wherever we can.  Recruiting for the team and the initial planning is over. Now we are in the middle of the paperwork part - reams of paperwork, or so it seems. There are a lot of forms for every one of the twenty-two team members to complete and return to us in time to meet the deadlines needed by the volunteer center in Paradise. Finances are being raised by team members and from donors, plus there are the unending logistics for getting us there and back again. And there are the details to consider for our 'down' time when we're not working on projects on location. I will share more about our plans, our destination, what we will be doing and give you some background about this soon.

We spent a week at a favorite RV park on the Oregon Coast to celebrate our forty-eighth anniversary last month. This seems to have become an annual tradition for us. When we check out at the end of the week my sweetheart reserves our favorite spot for the next year. Our anniversary trip was great this year, even though we had very strong winds that made we wonder at times if we would set sail for parts unknown. The tides were very high and we were all warned to stay off of the beaches for most of the time we were there. Not a problem! We were snug, safe and warm in our cabin-on-wheels and we were happy. 

A few days after we returned home from the coast we got a call we knew would be coming soon. Our oldest granddaughter, Abigail, was in the hospital in labor. Her precious baby girl arrived three weeks early. Safe and sound and absolutely wonderful! We headed to the hospital a couple of hours later to meet our first great-grandchild, Miss Riley Suzanne! This picture was taken when she made her debut in the world outside the hospital the next day on her way home.

So many more things are happening as they do in all of our lives. Things routine and unplanned and things that surprise and bring joy to our days. There is so much more I want to share with you. Places we've been, things we've seen and experiences we've had. I truly hope I can get back into a regular pattern of sharing here because I have millions of thoughts - and perhaps even more photos - to share. I truly hope it can happen. Honestly, I do.

With A Grateful Heart,

Adrienne

Sunday Songs Of Grateful Praise - Thank You, Lord

During this month of Thanksgiving my heart turns to songs of thanksgiving and praise. Through the last year I have come to realize in new, deeper ways how many blessings God has given me - things I took for granted. How can I not say thank you? I've been singing this song as I count the blessings of His grace and goodness to me.

 I come before You today
And there's just one thing that I want to say
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

For all You've given to me
For all the blessings I cannot see
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

With a grateful heart
With a song of praise
With an outstretched arm
I will bless Your name

Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

For all You've done in my life
You took my darkness and gave me Your light
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

You took my sin and my shame
You took my sickness and healed all my pain
Thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

With a grateful heart
With a song of praise
With an outstretched arm
I will bless Your name

Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord
I just want to thank You Lord
Thank You Lord

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! 

 His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1

Song: 'Thank You, Lord'
Written by Don Moen

You can hear this song here.

With A Grateful Heart, Adrienne

Sunday Songs of Grateful Praise - Great Is Thy Faithfulness

 

cross carved from burned tree at Paradise, California church

mobile home park destroyed by fire in background 

I have always loved this song. It speaks to my heart and calls me to remember the abundant blessings God has showered on me. Three weeks ago today my sweetheart and I stood and sang this song with a small congregation in a church building surrounded by devastation in Paradise, California. Nearly a year ago most of the town was destroyed by the largest, most destructive wildfire in the history of California. This was our second trip to Paradise since the fire but our first chance to join in worship with dear folks who survived.  Nearly all of the people in that congregation lost everything they owned - their homes and all of their belongings. Their stories of escaping while raging flames and thick, blinding smoke nearly engulfed them is almost too much to comprehend. Yet, that day as we stood together they sang from their hearts, 'Great Is Thy Faithfulness...all I have needed Thy hand hath provided'. It was hard to hold back my tears. How could I ever complain? How could I not praise God for His blessings to me?  The words of this old hymn took on new meaning. Every Sunday morning since I remember and I wish I could be there with them again.

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.

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,

Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

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!

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!

Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion', says my soul, 'Therefore I hope in Him!'  Lamentations 3:22-24

Song written by Thomas Chisholm, 1925
You can here the song here.


With A Grateful Heart,
Adrienne