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| Earline floating in the Dead Sea in Israel |
It was after a morning swim on the last day of an awe inspiring convention. The National Black Deaf Advocates Convention had been very taxing mentally, but oh sooooo good. With a strong end nearing, I decided to put my feet up and skip out on the scheduled business meetings at hand.
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| Swimming in the Red Sea (or the Reed Sea) in Israel |
Taking time to sit and Encourage myself in The Lord, while intentionally Adorning myself in the beauty of His holiness thru prayer, reading and meditation sounded like a great idea. After all, I have found these TEA times are vital to my mental, spiritual and emotional health.
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| A GHA Tea Party (see GodsHandsAgency.com) for more Tea Time Photos |
As I gazed out the window of my 7th floor room at The Hyatt in Louisville, Kentucky, I was able to engage in one of my favorite pastimes, people watching. The only thing missing was a cup of coffee, I knew that that would help settle this moment perfectly in my mind.
So, I proceeded to gather the coffee, the creamer and the cup for my 3 step process of tried and true coffee making, but I soon discovered that there weren't any cups of any kind available for this now very weary girl. I searched all over my room, to no avail. There were no cups to be found. No Not One!!! Really, Not even ONE???
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| Coffee with a friend while in Italy ... The Good Life |
Feeling kinda desperate, I took to the hall to see if I could spot a housekeeper's cart, and that too proved to be an unsuccessful venture.
That's when I plopped down in my chair, totally disgusted and randomly did something that in my minds eye was a bigtime time waster. I tweeted my frustration.
Thank God I used nice language. LOL Because within seconds I received a response tweet from The Hyatt's concierge/ customer service department offering to take care of my need for a coffee cup.
It was through this process that God reminded me that He's even better and faster than twitter when it comes to answering my calls, as He answers even before we call, or tweet. As a matter of fact, here's specifically what God has to say about His system.
"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Isaiah 65:25
That's when I plopped down in my chair, totally disgusted and randomly did something that in my minds eye was a bigtime time waster. I tweeted my frustration.
Thank God I used nice language. LOL Because within seconds I received a response tweet from The Hyatt's concierge/ customer service department offering to take care of my need for a coffee cup.
It was through this process that God reminded me that He's even better and faster than twitter when it comes to answering my calls, as He answers even before we call, or tweet. As a matter of fact, here's specifically what God has to say about His system.
"I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!" Isaiah 65:25
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| Follow me on Twitter |
I remember sitting there in AWE of God's grandiose way of so loving the world, so loving me, in that He continues to give of Himself through teaching and demonstrating His Word through things all around us. Sometimes the things He uses are found in nature, and yet other times they are even found in technology. That's love. Seeking to reach us by any means necessary.
So what are you tweeting about these days? Have you been FaceBooking about something, ANYTHING that's pressing on your mind, but have yet to take to God in prayer?
He's your friend you know? And He gets you. He not only gets you my friend, He actually cares about the things that concerns you. Even a coffee cup. LOL
I promise you He does, so go ahead and discuss it with Him today, as He already has a plan in mind, just like He had for for Joseph Scriven. Here's his story.
So what are you tweeting about these days? Have you been FaceBooking about something, ANYTHING that's pressing on your mind, but have yet to take to God in prayer?
He's your friend you know? And He gets you. He not only gets you my friend, He actually cares about the things that concerns you. Even a coffee cup. LOL
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| Beach Front in Haiti |
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Written by: Connie Ruth Christiansen
Irish born Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1896) was 25 years old, in love and to be married. The day before his wedding his fiance died in a tragic drowning accident. Heartbroken, Joseph sailed from his homeland to start a new life in Canada. While in Canada working as a teacher, he fell in love again and became engaged to Eliza Roche,
a relative of one of his students. Once again, Joseph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place.
Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Soon after Eliza's death Joseph joined the Plymouth Brethren and began preaching for a Baptist church. He never married, but spent the remainder of his life giving all his time, money and even the clothes off his own back to help the less fortunate and to spread the love and compassion of Jesus wherever he went.
Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Many years later a friend was sitting with Joseph, as he was very ill. During this visit, the friend was very impressed when he ran across his poems, including What a Friend We Have in Jesus. As a result of this visit, almost 30 years after his letter of comfort to his mother, Joseph's poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, noted musician Charles C. Converse (1834-1918) put music to one of those poems: What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Well-known musician and revivalist Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) was a great admirer of Joseph Scriven. In 1875, Sankey came upon the music and words for What a Friend We Have in Jesus. He included it as the last entry into his well-known publication Sankey's Gospel Hymns Number 1.
After Joseph Scriven's death, the citizens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, where he gave so much of himself, erected a monument to his life. The seemingly sad and obscure life of one man resulted in so many lives being uplifted, both in his own time, and for many years after whenever the beautiful and comforting words of What a Friend We Have in Jesus are sung.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” ( John 15:13)
Thanks for stopping by,
I am Earline Blumhagen ... a Wanna Blogger and a Mess Ministry personified.
Follow Me on FaceBook as I'm trying to Learn and Live. Lead and Love others to Jesus!
a relative of one of his students. Once again, Joseph's hopes and dreams were shattered when Eliza became ill and died before the wedding could take place.
Although one can only imagine the turmoil within this young man, history tells us that his faith in God sustained him. Soon after Eliza's death Joseph joined the Plymouth Brethren and began preaching for a Baptist church. He never married, but spent the remainder of his life giving all his time, money and even the clothes off his own back to help the less fortunate and to spread the love and compassion of Jesus wherever he went.
Around the same time that Eliza died, Joseph received word from Ireland that his mother was ill. He could not go to be with her, so he wrote a letter of comfort and enclosed one of his poems entitled What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Many years later a friend was sitting with Joseph, as he was very ill. During this visit, the friend was very impressed when he ran across his poems, including What a Friend We Have in Jesus. As a result of this visit, almost 30 years after his letter of comfort to his mother, Joseph's poems were published in a book called Hymns and Other Verses. Soon thereafter, noted musician Charles C. Converse (1834-1918) put music to one of those poems: What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Well-known musician and revivalist Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908) was a great admirer of Joseph Scriven. In 1875, Sankey came upon the music and words for What a Friend We Have in Jesus. He included it as the last entry into his well-known publication Sankey's Gospel Hymns Number 1.
After Joseph Scriven's death, the citizens of Port Hope, Ontario, Canada, where he gave so much of himself, erected a monument to his life. The seemingly sad and obscure life of one man resulted in so many lives being uplifted, both in his own time, and for many years after whenever the beautiful and comforting words of What a Friend We Have in Jesus are sung.
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| Earline and Lucinda "Joyce" Ward. A dear family friend. |
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He'll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” ( John 15:13)
Thanks for stopping by,
I am Earline Blumhagen ... a Wanna Blogger and a Mess Ministry personified.
Follow Me on FaceBook as I'm trying to Learn and Live. Lead and Love others to Jesus!
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| A Proud WiFi Pedaler ... doing it afraid at times |
