O Lord my God,
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all
The works Thy Hand hath made,
I see the stars,
I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow'r throughout
The universe displayed;
When through the woods
And forest glades I wander
I hear the birds
Sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down
From lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook
And feel the gentle breeze;
When Christ shall come,
With shouts of acclamation,
And take me home,
What joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow
In humble adoration
And there proclaim,
"My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul,
My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul,
My Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art!
How great Thou art!
Lyrics Carl Boberg
English Translation Stuart K. Hine, 1899
I don't have any specific reasons for it, but I keep singing this song in my head all day. Since I happen to consider this as being one of the greatest hymns of all time I rather enjoy it. Beats the heck out of having some other tune rattling around inside the mind.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Blueprint for Life
Sitting in the cab of a dump truck can give one a lot of time for reflection. Something that crossed my feeble mind this morning is how like driving a dump truck can be like my life.
We are moving dirt (today) from what will become a settling pond to what is now a low spot that has to be raised. We dump the dirt, just plain brown subsoil with rocks ranging up to about 1.5 feet in diameter, and then drive over it. Occasionally, a big dozer then runs over it, evens it out a bit, then a compactor goes over it. But most of the time it is a VERY bumpy ride, and you have to go very slowly and hang onto the steering wheel.
The thing is, I don't know the exact extent of the area that needs to be raised, nor how high. I just dump the dirt where they tell me. I could go look at the blueprints. I grew up around construction, and I know just enough to be dangerous, so I might be able to figure the prints out. Then again, I might read them wrong. So, I keep my eyes on the foreman when I'm bringing a load in. If he doesn't direct me, I use my best judgment and place the load where I think it goes. If he directs me, I place the load where he wants it.
The point? The Bible is our blueprint, and God is the foreman. God appoints others to act in His place to give us direction (a couple of times I have relayed messages from the foreman to the other volunteer drivers) or He may give us explicit directions, or He may expect us to use our best judgment based on our understanding of the plans. But we do need to look at the plans, and we do need to keep our eyes on the Foreman so that He can direct us. And we seldom have a view of the overall plan. I keep wishing that the dozer operator would come over and smooth us out a road, but that is not in the plans, and the dozer has other things to do that are in the plans.
I have to accept that the foreman knows what he is doing. I have to accept that God knows what He is doing. I have to understand that I do not have the full set of blueprints, just the part of them that is important for me to know. And I need to work at understanding the ones I have, and rely on God to direct me in the parts where I don't have or understand the plan. And sometimes that means I will be driving over a VERY bumpy road, and the steering wheel might kick back sometimes, and my head might bounce off the ceiling and my butt off the floor.
But God has the plans. THAT is the important part.
Update, a few days later:
I did go read the plans, and actually spent some time with the excavator operator measuring and marking. I learned that after the foot or so that we had already raised we still needed another 1-1/2 feet of fill. And that's exactly what we need to do, spend some time with someone who is willing to teach us, and be teachable, and learn what the Bible means. And then go follow the directions!!!
We are moving dirt (today) from what will become a settling pond to what is now a low spot that has to be raised. We dump the dirt, just plain brown subsoil with rocks ranging up to about 1.5 feet in diameter, and then drive over it. Occasionally, a big dozer then runs over it, evens it out a bit, then a compactor goes over it. But most of the time it is a VERY bumpy ride, and you have to go very slowly and hang onto the steering wheel.
The thing is, I don't know the exact extent of the area that needs to be raised, nor how high. I just dump the dirt where they tell me. I could go look at the blueprints. I grew up around construction, and I know just enough to be dangerous, so I might be able to figure the prints out. Then again, I might read them wrong. So, I keep my eyes on the foreman when I'm bringing a load in. If he doesn't direct me, I use my best judgment and place the load where I think it goes. If he directs me, I place the load where he wants it.
The point? The Bible is our blueprint, and God is the foreman. God appoints others to act in His place to give us direction (a couple of times I have relayed messages from the foreman to the other volunteer drivers) or He may give us explicit directions, or He may expect us to use our best judgment based on our understanding of the plans. But we do need to look at the plans, and we do need to keep our eyes on the Foreman so that He can direct us. And we seldom have a view of the overall plan. I keep wishing that the dozer operator would come over and smooth us out a road, but that is not in the plans, and the dozer has other things to do that are in the plans.
I have to accept that the foreman knows what he is doing. I have to accept that God knows what He is doing. I have to understand that I do not have the full set of blueprints, just the part of them that is important for me to know. And I need to work at understanding the ones I have, and rely on God to direct me in the parts where I don't have or understand the plan. And sometimes that means I will be driving over a VERY bumpy road, and the steering wheel might kick back sometimes, and my head might bounce off the ceiling and my butt off the floor.
But God has the plans. THAT is the important part.
Update, a few days later:
I did go read the plans, and actually spent some time with the excavator operator measuring and marking. I learned that after the foot or so that we had already raised we still needed another 1-1/2 feet of fill. And that's exactly what we need to do, spend some time with someone who is willing to teach us, and be teachable, and learn what the Bible means. And then go follow the directions!!!
Psalms 139:1-24
You have looked deep into my heart, LORD, and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.
I can't understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there. Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me. Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over." But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.
Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.
How I wish that you would kill all cruel and heartless people and protect me from them! They are always rebelling and speaking evil of you. You know I hate anyone who hates you, LORD, and refuses to obey. They are my enemies too, and I truly hate them.
Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.
So Be It!!
You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.
I can't understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight? If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there. If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there. Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean. Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me. Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over." But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
You are the one who put me together inside my mother's body, and I praise you because of the wonderful way you created me.
Everything you do is marvelous! Of this I have no doubt. Nothing about me is hidden from you!
I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed.
Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do.
Your thoughts are far beyond my understanding, much more than I could ever imagine. I try to count your thoughts, but they outnumber the grains of sand on the beach. And when I awake, I will find you nearby.
How I wish that you would kill all cruel and heartless people and protect me from them! They are always rebelling and speaking evil of you. You know I hate anyone who hates you, LORD, and refuses to obey. They are my enemies too, and I truly hate them.
Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.
So Be It!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Job Search
As of 7:30 AM local on the State Employment website there are 468 new listings TODAY in the "Computers" Category, of which I qualify for 36. That is the most I have seen at one time, and especially lately when it seems there have only been one or two postings daily. I'll be busy filling out forms for a while today.
Later: took until 11:30 PM, but 30 applications, resumes, and cover letters are done. Pray that one of them is the one I'm looking for. That is more apps in one day then I think I've had the opportunity to submit in any week ever. 5 of the postings were already closed by the time I got to them.
Later: took until 11:30 PM, but 30 applications, resumes, and cover letters are done. Pray that one of them is the one I'm looking for. That is more apps in one day then I think I've had the opportunity to submit in any week ever. 5 of the postings were already closed by the time I got to them.
Psalm 46:1-3
God is our mighty fortress, always ready to help in times of trouble.
And so, we won't be afraid!
Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains.
I must remember that God is always ready to help so I don't need to worry about the future.
And so, we won't be afraid!
Let the earth tremble and the mountains tumble into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam, and its raging waves shake the mountains.
I must remember that God is always ready to help so I don't need to worry about the future.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Psalm 42
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
I MUST ALWAYS maintain my focus and my hope on my living God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?
My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng.
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of the Jordan, the heights of Hermon--from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.
By day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me-- a prayer to the God of my life.
I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?"
My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
I MUST ALWAYS maintain my focus and my hope on my living God.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Covenant
The Church I attend has started a new building project, all volunteer, so, of course, I have volunteered to move dirt.
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