Making Your Home a Haven, Week 2 - Music

 

It's week two of the Making Your Home a Haven challenge.  Hosted by Courtney at Women Living Well. 

 

Have you been lighting your candle?  We have - the boys are taking turns each morning lighting the candle and praying for peace in our home before we begin family worship time.  We've read Romans 12:9-21 a few times over the last week. 

 

My Holiday Spice Yankee Candle is just about  burned through and before weeks end I'll need to get another.  ☺  I'm not sure if I'll get the same scent or look for a new one. 

 

 

Over the last few months I've purchased a few new cd's and I've been playing those throughout the day.  In years past (and still) I've enjoyed listening to George Winston but I recently found Paul Cardall and downloaded a selection of his music as well as some Fernado Ortega from Amazon and onto my cloud storage.  I can play it through an app from either my computer or my iPhone which is nice because because its mobile and I can listen to it whenever and wherever I want.  :)

 

 I also have two cd's that I purchased from the Revive Our Hearts ministry with Nancy Leigh DeMoss that I love!  The first is a cd collection of Hymns.  The cd title is Be Still.  The second is Hidden in My Heart:  A Lullaby Journey Through Scripture.   Don't let the lullaby part fool you.  These are beautiful Scriptural truths set to music that are soothing to any age.

 

This summer I watched a talk by Michelle Duggar.  She opened by having everyone sing (a capella) a beautiful hymn titled A Christian Hymn.  I am not sure where this hymn originated but over the summer I've taken it as my own and have sung it to the Lord and a prayer for my family and home.

 

 

A Christian Home

(sung to Be Still My Soul)

 

O give us homes built firm upon the Savior,

Where Christ is head and counselour and guide;

Where every child is taught His love and favor

And give his heart to Christ, the crucified:

How sweet to know that , tho' his footsteps waver,

His faithful Lord is walking by his side!

 

O give us homes with godly fathers, mothers,

Who always place their home and trust in Him;

Whose tender patience turmoil never bothers,

Whose calm and courage trouble cannot dim;

A home where each finds joy in serving others,

And love still shines tho' days be dark and grim.

 

O give us homes where Christ is Lord and Master,

The Bible read, the precious hymns still sung;

Where prayer comes first in peace or in disaster,

And praise is natural speech to every tongue;

Where mountains move before a faith that's vaster,

And Christ sufficient is for old and young.

 

O Lord, our God, our homes are Thine forever!

We trust to Thee their problems, toil and care;

Their bonds of love no enemy can sever

If Thou art always Lord and Master there:

Be Thou the center of our least endeavor

Be Thou our guest, our hearts and homes to share.

 

 

Isn't it lovely?!  May God bless you this week as you work towards building a haven for your family.

 

Making Your Home a Haven - Week 1 was the #1 read post at the So Much at Home Link up!  How fun and welcome to all the new readers who came through the link-up.  I hope you'll stop by again, leave a comment so I can return the visit.  Please click below to visit and read the posts submitted to this week's link-up. 

  

This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making Mondays, Marriage Monday, Titus 2sdays, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Raising Homemakers, Wise Woman Link Up, Coffee and Conversation, So Much at Home, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Hearts for Home Thursdays, Growing in Grace Link-up,  Front Porch Friday Blog Hop, Simple Meals Friday, Making Your Home a Haven,  Thank you to each of the lovely ladies listed above for hosting.

 

Daybook

For Today

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

 

 

Outside my window... the sun has risen but it is somewhat overcast.  There is a breeze, strong at times, rustling the leaves.

 I am hearing... the hum of the fish tank and a car traveling down the gravel road.

 I am thinking... the sign of the covenant and Abraham’s name change in Genesis 17 and the truths of it in my own life.

 
I am thankful... for the amazing sunset last night.  A big bright, perfect orange circle.  I pulled over on my drive home to watch the sun set and praised God the rest of the way home for the beauty He placed all around me.
 

I a wearing... my jammies.  Can you tell I write my posts in the early morning?  J

 

I am creating... I gave up on the slipper pattern from last week… at least for now.  I was having trouble following the pattern and will take a look at it another time.  I’ve been working on my Autumn Sunburst afghan.

   I am going... to begin shopping for clothes for two of my boys that have switched sizes and need new clothes for winter.

 

I am wondering...  what colors to coordinate for our family pictures.

 I am reading... through the Bible with my Good Morning Girls group.  I read Genesis 17 this morning.  I am also reading an old book by Ruth Bell Graham.  In it she shares some experiences from her life.  Short little thoughts, perfect for reading a few before bedtime.  I’m also reading The Tanglewoods’ Secret aloud to the boys.

I am hoping (trusting God)... for the salvation of some very precious loved ones and for my older children to be led by God in all areas of their lives.

 
In the learning room...  As mentioned above we are reading the Tanglewoods’ Secret.  We are a bit behind.  Andrew is reading the Little House on the Prairie series and also Christian Liberty Nature Readers.  We are finishing up our last week on Ancient Egypt.  Yesterday Andrew had to draw his name in hieroglyphics.  We are reviewing 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and the OT books of the Bible once a week now and have moved on to memorizing the Ten Commandments.

 Around the house... the basement is in various stages of getting cleaned.  It is un-used for the most part and so it because a huge catch-all.   

 In the kitchen... the kids are pretty sure we are in a famine since I’ve been trying to use up everything we have in our cupboards and freezer.  It’s amazing how many odds and ends meals I’ve been able to throw together and saved grocery money last week by not shopping for more.  J

I am learning… to let go and let God.  It is best to be taught by Him.

 A favorite quote...  in the book by Ruth Bell Graham she tells the story of a young man who went to a delightfully sane bishop to confess he had lost his faith.  The bishop’s reply was interesting.

“Nonesense!  You’ve lost your parents’ faith.  Now go out and get one off your own.”   

 A few plans for this week:  piano lessons, errands, library trip.  We will be picking up my husband’s new semi and stopping on the way home to pick up my niece who will be coming to stay with us for a couple of days.  We also plan to visit Nelson’s Farm.

 A peek into one of my days...

 

 

The sunset on the way home - honestly the picture doesn't even come close to it!  I was using my phone camera. 

 

 

I wasn't the only one who noticed the beauty of it.  My 15 year old captured this picture on his iPod.  The Sun had slipped below the horizon but the light was still AMAZING!

 

 

 

Visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's blog to read daybook entries from this week.

 

 

 

The Good Shepherd

 

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."  Isaiah 40:11

 

Jesus, Our Good Shepherd

 

"I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."  John 10:11

 

 

The following is an excerpt from a book I'm reading to the boys in the morning.  It is called The Tanglewoods' Secret and if you haven't read it to your children, could I please encourage you to?  Be sure to have a box of tissues within arms length though.  We just got to chapter 9 this week and this is where the story begins to get good.  Little Ruth, in a fiery temper runs away and spends the night in a church in a small village.  The next morning, the Vicar of the church finds her and brings her to his study.  He leaves Ruth in his study while he goes to telephone her aunt.  It is here that Ruth has her first life changing encounter with Christ, although she doesn't yet know it or understand it. 

 

"I wandered around the room looking at the pictures.  They were mostly photographs and not very interesting, but there was one I liked so much that I moved my chair over in front of it so that I could gaze at it. 

 

It was the picture of a sheep lost on a rocky mountainside.  Overhead hovered a fierce bird, waiting for it to die, and the sheep looked up and cried to be rescued.  Someone had heard its cry, for the shepherd with his crook was leaning over the edge.  In another moment he would pick it up and carry it safe home in his arms."

Oh how I want to go on and share it all with you but I fear I would ruin it for you.  Ruth and the Vicar have a very serious talk about the little lamb and the Shepherd...  He asks Ruth some very thought provoking questions and shares Jesus Christ with her. 

Quick - add it to your list books to read or better yet, order it now so you don't forget.  Amazon currently has paperback version for $4.42.  It is also available on Kindle!  ☺

We read the story two years but my youngest only remembers a very little bit of it so I'm glad we can re-visit again.  After the first reading I took the above image and printed out a copy onto cardstock and then laminated it for a bookmark for each of us.  I still have mine in my Bible. 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever." 
Psalm 23