How Beautiful Is the Handiwork of God

On the way to work this morning, I was drawn to the corrugated beauty of the cirrostratus clouds while going towards the lake before I got on US 23.

God's canvass always evokes wonder, and is always changing

Terrific Tuesday

Thanking God for the cooler temps this morning, after a muggy last four days. Tonight will dip into the 30s and me thinks I will cover the vegetables and herbs.

Wifey and I joined forces to put together a crock pot of taters, carrots, mushrooms, and a pork roast. I can smell it cooking on low right now ( I think) from 15.6 miles away (12.1 as the crow flies).

Survivor 30 final episode is tomorrow night.

Tigers lost by a run to the lowly Brewers last night - ARGGGGGGG^#@☄☢

Working on loans to-day for Tito, Currant, Cramer, Witty, Nest, Paterno, Slam Dunk, Hoag, Ham, OH - get to order the Paterno appraisal right now...

Yeah!

I lost my fantasy Week 6 so I dropped to 4-2. Then, in a late night fog, I started a pitcher that I really didn't want to have in the lineup this week. Lesson learned.

Our rep from Plastered Home Mortgage will be here soon and we thinks she will buy us pizza.

We just got a Wholesale Agreement Termination Notice from FLIRT meaning we no longer can send them loans. Well, there was alot of changes at that bank and we have only sent them two loans in the past twelve months... oh, I guess they're not doing retail lending any more! OK, I will update my Daily Rate Sheet as well as my Lender Information notes...

If you can't say nothing good, don't say nothing at all

This is Nothing at All by Third Day, from their self-titled album released in the spring of 1996. I was introduced to them by my students at the West Highland Christian Academy in Milford, MI, the finest school I was ever a part of. Or maybe I heard them on the radio. I can't remember.

But I do remember playing their second album -  Conspiracy #5 (the tape, actually) - over and over while my wife and I painted the house we were living in at the time.

Tuesday Thoughts...

Finally got to talk to my sister a bit over the weekend and I am thankful.
Warm and muggy all weekend with the potential for storms but we were spared what other parts of the country were not. Windy last night and the temps dropped - I am in my sweater (with the windows open though) and it is a comfy 50 degrees at 8:00 am.
The Tigers lost 2 of three to the Royals and the manner in which they lost that third game is more distressing than the fact that they lost another home series. Poor managing decisions, poor batting decisions, and leaving guys on base led to a tenth inning loss Sunday night (Monday morning, actually). They did not play Monday night, so I was forced to play spider solitaire while my bride enjoyed DWTS.


Thank You, Lord, for this new day
For time to work and time to play
For people in my path to love
For endless blessings from above.

Your peace, so sweet, it calms my fears
Your grace, so needed, brings me tears 
Your love of us, so undeserved
Your aim is true, You are unswerved

Lord let me love like You to-day
Change my heart for now and alway
That I might love with all my soul
And carry on with self-control.

All praise to God Who reigns above
Who showers us with endless love!
All praise to Christ, God's only Son
And praise the Spirit, Three in One.
 

Our First Ever Whitmore Lake Tavern Pizza Wednesday

Last night's Survivor episode on CBS was another gem. I'm a very visual person and I'm sure a big draw for me to this show is the fantastic scenery shots of and around the island containing the contestants. The colors of the animals and the plant life and the ocean are gloriously beautiful!

A beautiful Survivor wave, with an accompanying bird

Another aspect that draws me to this show is the competitions: folks having to work together to accomplish a goal - either quicker than or more accurate than the other group - with the winner receiving some type of reward. The reward last night was a trip to an orphanage to deliver gifts of toys, bikes, school supplies, games to the kids, and then enjoy fellowship and food with the students and staff there.

 

This segment brought tears to my eyes - to see the joy on the faces of those kids, and to see how blessed the castaways were to be sharing the day with them. 

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Easter

To-day's gospel reading is from John (14:27-31A), who I confess I find St. John extremely difficult to understand at times.


Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”


In Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, the Lady Galadriel gave the Fellowship encouragement after the fall of Mithrandir. When they first entered Lorien, she greeted them with Christ's words: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled'.

Monday Morning Storms

Dear Lord, 

Thank You for this new day; for the beautiful sunshine early, and now the dark blues and purples of the storm. Protect us all, blessed be Your Holy Name!!

I pray for those who are struggling with weighty decisions this day - be their Peace

I pray for those who are sick and with dis-ease to-day - be their Healing

I pray for those who know You but who don't yet submit themselves fully to Your loving care - be our Sufficiency

I pray for the children all over the world - come to them in brilliant ways to-day

I pray for those who harbor hate and angst and division in their hearts - be their Love


I thank You for this new radio station I found to listen to at work. I thank You for all the blessings you continually shower upon us: our lives, our loves, our joys and sorrows, ...

Be glorified in even the ugly events to-day, Lord; by Your grace heal our world.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, all creatures here, below
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
 


 
 

Musings

Much on my mind tonight..

Earthquake shook the bed i was napping in early afternoon and woke me up. This is only relevant because we live in Michigan and earthquakes here are very rare. I remember my sister as a kid waking up and telling us to stop shaking her bed - that was the tremblings from a quake in Idaho in the mid-70s that was felt in Detroit. #earthquake

My sweetie is home from her second day working in abusive conditions (having to walk all day on ground up stone with no restroom or water facilities) and her body is sore... #prayerrequest

The Tigers are up 2-0 on the Royals in KC  bottom of the seventh with one out and nobody on.
Victor Martinez is hitting just north of two hundred with no homers@Tigers

Ninotchka (1939 - Hollywood's greatest year) on TCM right now with Queen Christina (1933, following at 10:00 #TCM

Full moon tonight; why does it look so huge out my front door and then so small in a photo?!?

Elton John's Blue Moves album running through my head tonight, particularly the above song from that 1977 album I bought during the summer before my freshman year in high school.


Why was Gose called out?

Three more episodes left in Season 30 Survivor. Two voted out each of the next two episodes, and then the final episode - including the reunion which is live and everybody is all gussied up and not looking too island-ish. #SurvivorWorldsApart

I wonder about many things.

First hummingbird visited our feeder yestreday on 1 May 2015!! He's been back to-day so I'm thinking the nectar is ok, even though i put it out last weekend #Hummingbirdmigration

The catmint is already dark green and shaped like a huge afro. The hostas are just starting to burst through last years growth. The lilac has huge leaves already and the (?) plum tree has beautiful white flowers:

Dear Father, I need You, your strength my heart to mend
I want to try harder every new day again
+Five Iron Frenzy

If murder is the taking of a life, why do we still actively pursue and allow it????

Even through a windshield desperately in need of cleansing, ...

the glory of God shines!!

1. All praise to God, who reigns above,
The God of all creation,
The God of wonders, power, and love,
The God of our salvation!
With healing balm my soul He fills,
The God who every sorrow stills,--
To God all praise and glory!

2. What God's almighty power hath made
His gracious mercy keepeth;
By morning dawn or evening shade
His watchful eye ne'er sleepeth;
Within the kingdom of His might
Lo, all is just and all is right,--
To God all praise and glory!

3. I cried to Him in time of need:
Lord God, oh, hear my calling!
For death He gave me life indeed
And kept my feet from falling.
For this my thanks shall endless be;
Oh, thank Him, thank our God, with me,--
To God all praise and glory!

4. The Lord forsaketh not His flock,
His chosen generation;
He is their Refuge and their Rock,
Their Peace and their Salvation.
As with a mother's tender hand
He leads His own, His chosen band,--
To God all praise and glory!

5. Ye who confess Christ's holy name,
To God give praise and glory!
Ye who the Father's power proclaim,
To God give praise and glory!
All idols under foot be trod,
The Lord is God! The Lord is God!
To God all praise and glory!

6. Then come before His presence now
And banish fear and sadness;
To your Redeemer pay your vow
And sing with joy and gladness:
Though great distress my soul befell,
The Lord, my God, did all things well,--
To God all praise and glory!

"All Praise to God, Who Reigns Above"
by Johann J. Schuetz, 1640-1690
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #19
Text: Deut. 32:3
Author: Johann J. Schuetz, 1675, cento
Translated by: composite
Titled: "Sei Lob und Ehr' dem hoechsten Gut"
Composer: Melchior Vulpius, 1609
Tune: "Lobet den Herrn, ihr"

Prayer

Dear Lord,

I come to you this afternoon with a heavy heart; and so I commit to you the following people and situations. YOU know all and can change what You will, but please be glorified through each and every situation.

For my mom and dad and the new excitement in their lives
For my sister and her kids and the new rift in their lives
For my beautiful wife and all she desires for her siblings and parents
For the good folks in the Baltimore area and the thugs burning and hurting and taking
For the Christians in Libya and Ethiopia, and wherever they are in danger
For all children everywhere, I pray for protection
For Francis and all the priests and bishops
For Tiger Kirk Gibson, as he struggles with this new disease
For the people who drive on the roads of our fair State, that they would not be so angry
For my boss and his family
For all the people involved in the mortgage loans I am working on
For all those who don't yet know You
For those who know You and who have chosen to reject Your love


LORD, in Your mercy
                    Hear our prayer.

Amen and amen
 

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

We sang this in four part harmony in high school...

1. Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is Thy Health and Salvation!
Join the full throng:
Wake, harp and psalter and song;
Sound forth in glad adoration!

2. Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things so wondrously reigneth,
Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth.
Hast thou not seen
How thy desires all have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief
Ever hath failed of relief?--
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

4. Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee,
Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee.
Ponder anew
What the Almighty can do,
Who with His love doth befriend thee.

5. Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen
Sound from His people again;
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

"Praise to the Lord, the Almighty"
by Joachim Neander, 1650-1680
Translated by Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878


The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #39
Text: Neh. 9:6
Author: Joachim Neander, 1679
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Lobe den Herren, den maechtigen"
Tune: "Lobe den Herren, den"
1st Published in: _Erneuertes Gesangbuch_
Town: Stralsund, 1665

Living the Life

I have captured an image of Otis the Quat basking in the late morning sunlight on this beautiful morning. He is resting after running a few laps around the house and then diligently watching the birds frolic outside.

I Have Asked God For A Truck

'04 Chevy S-10 with 115,000 miles and new tires and brakes. 6 cylinder, four-wheel drive; owner says it runs good, and the exterior is pretty clean.

I have asked God for that truck.

I know His power has no limits; I know He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

Praise be the Lord!

Name That Picture

yes, i'm sure I read that somewhere

...we were o-kay...

I like me; my customers like me; my wife likes me...

Show Dick some respect!

Rusty, do not eat the family truckster

We are Groot

'Someday' is a very dangerous word - it's codeword for 'never'

Scared, Major?

And he smells like strawberries!

♪ I've got eyes that can see right through le--ee--ad

You know how to get to Carnegie Hall don't ya? Practice.

I'm not a damn spy.

Monsieur le Maire!

Jupiter 2 at the Sci-Fi Air Show

Wonderful Wednesday

De Colores!

De Colores
De Colores the fields love to dress in all during the springtime
De Colores
De Colores the birds have their clothing that comes every season
De Colores
De Colores the rainbow is vested across the blue sky
De Colores and so must all love be
of many bright colors
to make my heart cry
De Colores and so must all love be
of many bright colors
to make my heart cry

 

Sings the rooster
Sings the rooster with his kiri kiri kiri kiri kiri
And the cluck hen with her cara cara cara cara cara
And the baby chicks
And the baby chicks with their pio pio pio pio pi
De Colores and so must all love be
of many bright colors
to make my heart cry
De Colores and so must all love be
of many bright colors
to make my heart cry.

... Monday ...

Emotions running all over, coffee may help, tired, scared, wounded, worried, joyful, angry, loving, loathing, contrition, praise His Name!, hating evil, confused, sad, remorseful, strength from above, rise up, Golden Rule, glory to God, He is King of kings!, needing forgiveness, envious, hesitant to forgive, yearning for intimacy, anticipation, food cannot continue to replace the Comforter, good deeds?, good movies, good bourbon, good Tiger wins, ugly Tiger wins, un-husbanded garden, un-husbanded wife, vehicle troubles, late bills, Monday Monday, all about that bass no trouble, nice people on the phone, that daily damnable slam downstairs, peace?, forgiveness!, love...




Love





Love!





Love conquers all!!





LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!





This day, I choose to love; praise God!


 

Sacred Saturday

The smells of this time of year in south-east lower Michigan are distinct; I am again reminded of renewed life, growth, and hope.

The hummers end their long journey north and visit our feeder with peeps of joy and satisfaction.

The perennials begin pushing out of the ground, the bees surround the small dappled willow leaves, the buds are large on the plum tree – and small on the lilac.

And even in this time of brightening colors and sounds, I am sad and worried…

When families are being torn apart, I know God weeps with us.

When the rent is three weeks past due and the car needs huge parts and repairs, I know God will guide us and lead us through this. He will provide!

When we owe so much to so many people and there does not seem to be a way ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! … … … I know we are not alone, I know the situation is not hopeless.

In the midst of troubles, God is our ever-present Help.  

Thank You, Father, for being our Sustainer, our Provider, our First and Last. I praise Your Name on this beautiful morning.

Forgive my distress. Forgive my lack of faith – Father, increase my faith!

I pray for those who have it far worse than us this morning…and let me never forget Christ’s sufferings and death.

Thank God It IS Friday!!