Praise God for His mercy!

"Have mercy upon me, O God." - Psalm 51:1

When Dr. Carey was suffering from a dangerous illness, the enquiry was made, "If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage would you select as the text for your funeral sermon?" He replied, "Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached, let it be from the words, 'Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." In the same spirit of humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone: -

WILLIAM CAREY, BORN AUGUST 17th, 1761:

DIED - -

"A wretched, poor, and helpless worm

On Thy kind arms I fall."

Only on the footing of free grace can the most experienced and most honoured of the saints approach their God. The best of men are conscious above all others that they are men at best. Empty boats float high, but heavily laden vessels are low in the water; mere professors can boast, but true children of God cry for mercy upon their unprofitableness. We have need that the Lord should have mercy upon our good works, our prayers, our preachings, our alms-givings, and our holiest things. The blood was not only sprinkled upon the doorposts of Israel's dwelling houses, but upon the sanctuary, the mercy-seat, and the altar, because as sin intrudes into our holiest things, the blood of Jesus is needed to purify them from defilement. If mercy be needed to be excersized towards our duties, what shall be said of our sins? How sweet the remembrance that inexhaustible mercy is waiting to be gracious to us, to restore our backslidings, amd make our broken bones rejoice!

Charles H. Spurgeon

I'm learnin'!

Keaton's new words:

Pu-pu (puppy)
Da-da (daddy)
Ma-ma (mama) :)
Uh-huh (uh-oh)
Ah -dah (all done)
bu-bu (bye-bye)
Mmmm (in answer to "what does a cow say?" Moooo)

You should hear him. It's more than adorable!

Our little boy is not so little anymore... Our sweetie is growing fast and is turning out to be a smart boy. Thank you, God, for your grace on his life!

We love you, Keats!

Not so lonely...

Yea! My sister is coming this weekend after all! I am so excited for when she comes. She will be staying through the middle of next week, so that will make my time away from Aaron that much easier! God is gracious and good. Even though I thought it was hopeless to see my family this month, He provided a cheap ticket for her to come! I am so grateful. You can bet we will make the time special!

cUtE kID QuOte

We went to McDonald's drive-thru for lunch. Alex chose to have fries. We sat down to eat. She took a fry.

Alex: Cough, cough.

Mom: "What's the matter, Alex? Why are you coughing?"

Alex: "I have salt on my sound effector."

Family Worship

We are learning Romans 8:1 for our family memorization. Brianna's almost got it (with a little help). "Romans 8:1. There is therefore number one condemnations for those who have animals." We're so proud of her and the things she's learning!

Can't believe it's almost here!!!

Just opened another box of school books...

I can't believe it's almost school time again! I am getting kind of excited, though. We are trying a lot of new curriculum this year for Alex and Taylor. It looks really good! The girls are going to love it. I think I will really love the Science I chose this year. We will be studying Astronomy more in depth all year - I am so excited! I love that stuff. I told Aaron a nice "going-back-to-school" gift would be a telescope. :) That would be sweet! We'll see what happens...

I'm trying to find some cool stuff to keep Brianna (and Keats, for that matter) busy during school hours. I got some great ideas from a friend (thanks, Shannon!) that I am going to try. I also have a little preschool fun book for her to try, too. She loves it!

I pray I can stay this excited about the year. God's grace will have to be in huge supply (I know He will supply all that I need!) to keep my selfishness at bay and to keep the focus of teaching and raising my kids up for Him! Please do that, Lord!

A few weeks left of summer... I am so very thankful for that, too!

Praise God He is Sovereign!

"The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice." - Psalm 97:1

Causes for disquietude there are none so long as this blessed sentence is true. On earth the Lord's power as readily controls the rage of the wicked as the rage of the sea; His love as easily refreshes the poor with mercy as the earth with showers. Majesty gleams in flashes of fire amid the tempest's horrors, and the glory of the Lord is seen in its granduer in the fall of empires, and the crash of thrones. In all our conflicts and tribulations, we may behold the hand of the divine King.

"God is God; He sees and hears

All our troubles, all our tears.

Soul, forget not, 'mid thy pains,

God o'er all for ever reigns."

In hell, evil spirits own, with misery, His undoubted supremacy. When permitted to roam abroad, it is with a chain at their heel; the bit is in the mouth of behemoth, and the hook in the jaws of leviathan. Death's darts are under the Lord's lock, and the grave's prisons have divine power as their warder. The terrible vengeance of the Judge of all the earth makes fiends cower down and tremble, even as dogs in the kennel fear the hunter's whip.

"Fear not death, nor Satan's thrusts,

God defends who in Him trusts;

Soul, remember, in thy pains,

God o'er all for ever reigns."

In heaven none doubt the sovereignty of the King Eternal, but all fall on thier faces to do Him homage. Angels are His courtiers, the redeemed His favourites, and all delight to serve Him day and night. May we soon reach the city of the great King!

"For this life's long night of sadness

He will give us peace and gladness.

Soul, remember, in thy pains,

God o'er all for ever reigns."

Spurgeon