Blessed

Dear son is home from college.
It was such a treat to see him last night, hear his voice and watch him interact with his brother and sister, touch his arm and kiss the top of his head, see his smile and look in his eyes.

Listened to him play the piano for a bit this morning and my heart was overcome; all those years of lessons and practice and money and recitals and frustration when he didn't want to play or practice -  it all spilled out into the joyous blessing that he now has chosen the piano and music as his life's work.

Moments shared while cutting his hair, words of understanding, love, and encouragement.  Precious.

Sleep

sleep

i need sleep

laying down in quiet darkness;  protected from the world outside and turmoil within

soft pillow and softer blanket reaching out for me, beckoning, promising peace, a respite from toil and strife

but it is not to be

moments after my head has found its niche in the softness of my pillow, and the blanket has enveloped me within its folds

i'm starting to feel secure - 

i am hit with a weapon of flame, there is no escape

turmoil startles me and peace flees

arrows, without thought, are being flung at me

stealing my security and stirring up thoughts that will keep me from

sleep

i need sleep

Complete in Thee

Complete in Thee, no work of mine
may take, dear Lord, the place of Thine
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me
and I am now complete in Thee

Yea justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified!  Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me
and glorified I too shall be!

Complete in Thee, no more shall sin
Thy grace hath conquered, reign within
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee
and I shall stand complete in Thee

Yea justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified!  Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me
and glorified I too shall be!

Complete in Thee, each want supplied
and no good thing to me denied
since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be
I ask no more complete in Thee

Yea justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified!  Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me
and glorified I too shall be!

Dear Savior when before Thy bar
all tribes and tongues assembled are
among Thy chosen will I be
at Thy right hand complete in Thee

Yea justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified!  Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me
and glorified I too shall be!

lyrics by Aaron Robarts Wolfe (1821-1902)
chorus by James Martin Gray (1851-1935)

God of Heaven

God of Heaven
God of all the earth and sky
Great Creator
Master of all nature
Who gives birth to snow from heaven
  holds the waves at ocean's edge
  gives the orders to the morning
  shows each dawn its place to shine
God of Heaven
God of all the earth and sky

God of Ages
God who wrote the Book of Time
Sovereign Ruler
Alpha and Omega
Saints before he's guided safely
  history's pages signed by him
  author of our days and hours
  things to come are held secure
God of Ages
Alpha and Omega

God of Power
God who breaks the darkness
Righteous warrior
Champion of his children
Goes before us into battle
  good and evil bow to him
  those in bondage freed forever
  victories won at his command

God who Heals us
God who gives us Peace and Hope
God who listens
Carries all our fragile
  dreams and heartaches
  wins and failures
  binds the broken
  hides the weak
  new beginnings freely offered
Who can make us whole again
God who Heals us
    God of Power
        God of Ages
            God of Heaven
                God of all the Earth and Sky