Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A Fishy First Day of Fall with my Friend

On Tuesday after work, Sandra and I met at White Rock for fish n chips and a walk along the beach. We were wearing shorts and t-shirts and it was 30 degrees out and it was awesome and why does summer ever have to end? It was a perfect evening except for the rats. RATS. In the rocky hillside along the shore. It was on those rocks that we ate our supper. And it was from those rocks that we jumped up very quickly.



Honestly. I've been going to that beach regularly for 30 years and this was the first time I saw a rodent. I hope I forget I saw it.



I brought my camera along (natch) and borrowed Clint's wide angle lens. (My zoom is no longer compatible with my camera. They are divorcing.) I liked it. I hope he forgets he left it here.



Three things I'm thankful for:

1. Summer weather in mid September.

2. Friends whose husbands go away for three weeks at a time, fishing.

3. That I live so close to an ocean.



Everyone needs compassion,
that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.



Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.


Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
is Mighty to save.



Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.


So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.


My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.



Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.


Almighty God,
In this hour of quiet I seek fellowship with you.
From the fret and fever of the day's business, from the world's discordant noises, from the praise and blame of men, from the confused thoughts and vain imaginations of my own heart, I would now turn aside and seek the quietness of Your presence.


All day long I have toiled and striven; but now, in the stillness of my heart and in the clear light of eternity, I ponder the pattern my life has been weaving.
.
May there fall upon me now, Oh God, a great sense of Your power and Your glory, so that I may see all earthly things in their true measure.


Let me not be ignorant of this great thing - that one day is a thousand years with you, and a thousand years as one day.
.
Give me now such understanding of Your perfect holiness that it will make an end of all pride in my own achievements.
.
Grant me now such a vision of Your uncreated beauty that it will make me unsatisfied with all lesser beauties.


I am content, O Father, to leave my life in Your hands, believing that the very hairs on my head are numbered by You. I am content to give over my will to Your control, believing that I find in You a righteousness that I could never win for myself.

I am content to leave all my dear ones in Your care, believing that Your love for them is greater than my own. I am content to leave in Your hands the causes of truth and justice, and the coming of Your Kingdom in the hearts of men, believing that my ardour for them is but a feeble shadow of Your purpose.



O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed




Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!


Thank you God, for loving me this much. Thank you for this season in my life. Thank you for making the day and the night, and calling it good. Thank you for the oceans and the dry land and declaring them good.
Thank you for night walks, friends, children, parents, the color blue, books, forgiveness, music. Thank you for making some people good at writing songs and others good at writing prayers.
Thank you for giving some people the gift of compassion and others the gift of leadership - please help us unpack these gifts and use them as You intended.
God, into your hands I deliver my children. Bring into their lives messengers of Your choosing. Enable them to hear of Your love. Allow them to feel it. Prepare their hearts so that they can respond.
God I pray for my friends. I pray for their marriages. Father? You know. You see. And I know you grieve for the way families are disintigrating in this generation. God I pray in the power of Your sons's name that there will be no divorces amongst my friends and family and all our children. I stand against Satan's attack on the relationships You have declared good.
And God?
I pray for healing for those who are hurting and scared and angry and confused about the illnesses they are dealing with and the diagnoses they are facing. God I pray that Your spirit of peace would gently fall on them and they would be able to rest. God where a miracle is needed, please do a miracle. Comfort those who are hurting. Give strength and encouragement to the caregiver. Give patience to those who don't understand. Restore joy to the lives of those living under the shadow of fear. Embrace those who need it.
.
Holy is Your name.
Amen.
(Mighty to Save, Hillsong)
(John Baillie, Prayer for the morning of the 5th Day)

2 comments:

Tricia said...

The mosaic stairs are beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Thanks Jane,
That was so encouraging.
Marg