The Logging Season

 Matthew 7 (ESV) “Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”

It’s time to start my logging season,

and there is certainly a reason.

There is a log than needs removing

if I can ever start improving.

Looking round the log I’ve found

becomes a harder job each time 

I try to fix another’s sin –

 the speck of sawdust digging in.

Instead I find there, close to home

no speck – a log instead – MY OWN!

If I focus on the speck 

and not see you,

I need to think that picture through.

‘cause when I check that speck I see

it’s judgement that’s controlling me.

……

Jesus said that I’m not good

or smart,

or just,

or kind

when I check your specks and not see mine.

And Jesus says that I must trust

His 

judgement to be always just.

He Cares

 Dear ones, 

We’ve heard so many requests for prayer recently, from hurting, broken people.  Sometimes it feels as if there is no reason to praise God.  But the Bible makes it clear that there truly is a reason to praise the God who IS and will always BE.  This little poem speaks of pain and praise.  I pray that it will comfort and encourage you, that you may be assured that the mighty, caring, perfect God loves you dearly.

Sing praise from a heart that is broken.

Sing praise as we honor God's name.

Sing with your voice and your mind and your soul.

Sing praise to our God in your pain.

As tears stain your pillow, rejoice in His care.

When pain lives in your body, clouding your sight,

and worries abound and your sleep doesn’t come,

sing praise to the God of the night.

The earth cries in anguish, bearing sin’s dire strain.

Since the rebellion of man, darkness falls like the rain.

When thorns tear through tendons and weeds become strong,

when earth becomes hardened, and toil causes pain,

when love becomes selfish and right becomes wrong,

God still promises

A new day will dawn, and the old world will fade.

With trumpets of joy, the King will come in.

The thorns will be kind and the trees will bring shade.

God’s sun will shine through, and God’s kingdom will win.

Glory to God in the heavens!

Glory and power and might!

Glory to Him who designed all creation.

Glory to the Jesus – the Light.

Sing praise to the Father Almighty!

Sing praise to the Son, who defeated sin’s power.

Sing praise when we hear Him, the Spirit of life.

Sing praise in each restless hour.

Rest!  He Cares.

Happy New Year

 

 

A new year has come!  It's 2024!
Things to help me remember:  2+0+2=4,  
even numbers help me to calculate ages, and printing 2024 is prettier than 2023.    

Remember when a “New Year” was pictured as a little child with a banner across his middle?  It was a picture of new beginnings, fresh and clean.  I think I will try to picture 2024 that way – at least for a little while.

So little new year, 

I’ll try to care for your days gently.
I’ll try to greet your minutes well.
I’ll value all the good you bring me,
and words of hope and joy I’ll tell. 

Because I know each year is given from
my Father’s powerful hand.
Because with every new day’s dawning
I see His glory in the land.

 So, I’ll smile at wind and weather.
I’ll rest and sleep 
when black the night.

And when the morning ends my slumber
I’ll greet
"The Everlasting Light.” 

Thank you, Father, for another year of life. 
I pray that my ways, in these days, will be pleasing to You. 

Diane