The Song

I adjust my black sweater

And fold my hands on my black-and-white skirt,

Wonder if I should pass a few more tissues to the row in front of me.

A man in the aisle

Hands out sheets of paper,

And one makes its way to me,

At the opposite end of the row.

I look at the sheet music which has found its way to my lap,

Resting on the black-and-white fabric.

I read the title and the words,

Then decide that maybe I need one of those tissues myself.

It's not one of my absolute favorites -

Actually, I associate it with one other, and I like the other better -

But I do love this song,

And I can't read these words

And not be touched by what they mean -

And be touched all the more by the fact that they meant so much to her.

It isn't until the end that he asks us to sing it,

A cappella in the absence of an instrument.

No accompaniment,

No harmony,

Just a few voices, 

On a hill far away
Stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame.
And I love that old cross
Where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
'Til my trophies at last I lay down.
I will cling to the old rugged cross
And exchange it someday for a crown.

A lot of eyes in the room aren't dry anymore.

As we leave, I make my way to the weeping with lingering hugs.

We move out toward the car.

She tells me it was the Lord's Prayer that did it for her.

He won't say.

I tell them it was that song - the moment they put it in my lap.

Nothing that was done or said meant more to me than that.

Reasons 4335-4346 today,

Just ten -

It's been a struggle lately to find the time -

But I have to keep coming back to this

Because He's all I have,

All I can cling to:

4335. Unless He builds the house, the builders labor in vain (Psalm 127:1)
4336. Unless He watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain (Psalm 127:1)
4337. He grants sleep to those He loves (Psalm 127:2)
4338. Children are a heritage from Him (Psalm 127:3)
4339. Offspring are a reward from Him (Psalm 127:3)
4340. All who fear Him are blessed (Psalm 128:1)
4341. Those who walk in obedience to Him are blessed (Psalm 128:1)
4342. He has cut His people free from the cords of the wicked (Psalm 129:4)
4343. With Him there is forgiveness (Psalm 130:4)
4344. With Him there is forgiveness so that His people can, with reverence, serve Him (Psalm 130:4)
4345. With Him is full redemption (Psalm 130:7)
4346. He Himself will redeem Israel from all their sins (Psalm 130:8)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community:



 

She Sat Next to Me

I'm not sure why,

But she sat next to me.

I've only known her a couple of weeks,

And I tend to be so shy around people I don't know.

She was probably taking a risk,

Knowing that there might not be much to talk about

And we'd both sit there feeling awkward,

Not having much to say to one another.

She probably figured that, since she was close to my age,

And I don't really know people very well yet . . .

Or maybe her parents suggested it to her

Or she suggested it to them.

I don't know.

But she came

And she asked

And she sat next to me,

And,

When it was all over,

We talked.

We talked about evangelism and our struggles with it

And about things that had happened in my life;

About memorizing Scripture

And favorite pastors.

We talked about the state of the world today

And the state of our own hearts.

We ended up confessing sin and struggles,

The two of us, who have only known each other for a few weeks,

Only seen each other on Sundays for a few hours,

And, when we finish, I tell her it's been awhile.

Here, away from school,

Away from the friends I usually talk about all those things with . . .

It's been awhile.

I don't tell her

(And I suppose I should've)

That I am so blessed

That God has put me somewhere where I can talk to people like that,

And that I am blessed

Because He brought her into my life,

Because she sat next to me.

Even though it was risky.

She sat next to me.

Sorry, no reasons again this week.

The insanity of the last few months continues.

If anyone else wants to share, though?

 Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community:


 

A Moment to Pause . . .

As I move on to other things

Which I ought to have accomplished long ago

And really shouldn't put off any longer

(And really don't want to!),

A moment to pause . . .

And praise!

Reasons 4313-4334 today,

Trying to remember to

Just

Breathe

This:

4313. His people lift their eyes up to Him (Psalm 123:1)
4314. He sits enthroned in heaven (Psalm 123:1)
4315. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, so His people's eyes look to Him (Psalm 123:2)
4316. As the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so His people's eyes look to Him (Psalm 123:2)
4317. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, so His people's eyes look to Him until He shows His people mercy (Psalm 123:2)
4318. As the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress, so His people's eyes look to Him until He shows His people mercy (Psalm 123:2)
4319. If He had not been on His people's side when other people attacked His people, the other people would have swallowed His people alive (Psalm 124:2-3)
4320. If He had not been on His people's side when other people attacked His people, the other people would have swallowed His people alive when their anger flared against His people (Psalm 124:2-3)
4321. If He had not been on His people's side when other people attacked His people, the flood would have engulfed His people (Psalm 124:2-4)
4322. If He had not been on His people's side when other people attacked His people, the torrent would have swept over His people (Psalm 124:2-4)
4323. If He had not been on His people's side when other people attacked His people, the raging waters would have swept His people away (Psalm 124:2-5)
4324. He did not let His people be torn by the teeth of other people (Psalm 124:6)
4325. His people's Help is in His Name (Psalm 124:8)
4326. He is the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8)
4327. Those who trust in Him are like Mount Zion (Psalm 125:1)
4328. Those who trust in Him are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever (Psalm 125:1)
4329. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so He surrounds His people (Psalm 125:2)
4330. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so He surrounds His people both now and forevermore (Psalm 125:2)
4331. Those who turn to crooked ways He will banish with the evildoers (Psalm 125:5)
4332. He restored the fortunes of Zion (Psalm 126:1)
4333. It is said among the nations, “He has done great things for His people” (Psalm 126:2)
4334. He has done great things for His people, and they are filled with joy (Psalm 126:3)

 Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Sylvia's already made it to - past - 10,000!  So amazing to think of who He is like this!)

<a href="http://maryschieferstein.blogspot.com/search/label/10000%20Reasons" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitidrfBKBWTHSBiWyh3WMRKjHFgYKk-RxjYB9-uePQb1-uI3t3bjysPnR65zloJJ0LgTqhT5kW70Rk8VOC2utXFUWhGRPIxNCqzZ_9YQryYPMJdj2XpiX0oawLUiMnmxFOeMkmjk3IIA/s320/10000ReasonsButton.jpg" /></a>

Counting in community: