I is for It Is Well With My Soul

It is hard to believe that we have been doing this for 11 days.  Today my letter is I, I think I am finally on track...and I actually have a song and a piece of one.  This post is a little longer than any of the others so far because I have two songs for you.  I will start out with my piece and tell you about the Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida drum solo.  If you are/were a drummer you should know this song.  Driving down A-1-A in South Florida as a teenager it definitely got my motor running.  Please don't cut out on me after this one....I have saved the best for last.

 

When I was in high school I had a good many drummer friends and we would ride down the A-1-A or US 1 blaring the drum solo into the night.  Great memories.  I always envisioned myself growing up and learning to play the drums.  Did not happen!  Ok, enough on Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida.  It is time to move on to the meat of my post, It Is Well With My Soul!

 

My most favorite song was actually my father's favorite song.  My cousin, Amanda and I sang it at his funeral.   When I am in a funk I will play this song and sing it to the top of my lungs.  When it is not well with my soul I pull it out and play it.  When I bought my new car I bought a Soul....it is a great reminder.  No matter what happens...."It is Well with my Soul." This hymn was written after traumatic events in Spafford's life. The first was the death of his son at the age of 2 and the 1871 Great Chicago Fire, which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer and had invested significantly in property in the area of Chicago that was extensively damaged by the great fire). His business interests were further hit by the economic downturn of 1873, at which time he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the SS Ville du Havre. In a late change of plan, he sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sea vessel, the Loch Earn and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone …". Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died^.

I Am Struggling With Forgiveness

My scripture today is from John 21:9-19.  One of my favorite comedians is Garrison Keillor who is the host of the Prairie Home Companion on Public Radio.  In one of his skits he tells of a man in Lake Wobegon who was saved 12 times at the altar of a Lutheran church that never gave altar calls. He would come to the altar time after time and weep buckets and buckets of tears and come back the next Sunday and do the very same thing. Larry Sorensen kept repenting and repenting but somehow he couldn’t get beyond the repenting stage. Pretty soon even the “fundamentalists got tired of him.” Larry couldn’t believe that Jesus could totally forgive him; and the guilt of all he had done caused him to be unable to forgive himself. Instead of being free to move on, he came to church week after week constantly feeling guilty and trying to get back on track over and over again.   Today’s scripture points to a person who Jesus had called to be a fisherman of people. He got off track lots of times--he was always blurting out things without thinking, He was always taking some hasty action he regretted later, but the worst thing was when he denied Christ. He said he never would. But he did. He blew it big time. He thought he was disqualified from ever doing the Lord’s work again.  At the beginning of this chapter Peter says, “I’m going fishing.” He was really saying, “What is there left for me but to go back to my old job. I’ve got to do something. I have totally failed the Lord. I feel guilty about it, but I can’t forgive myself.” He goes off with the weight of guilt hanging heavy on his shoulders, back to his old job. He struggles with where do I go from here? What do I do now? I blame myself over and over for what I did. I can’t do anything about it. He probably replayed the tape over and over from the time he denied Christ, but it didn’t do any good. He could not forgive himself and maybe he wasn’t sure if the Lord could even forgive him. It seemed just too difficult.

There’s a man trying to cross the street. As he steps off the curb a car comes screaming around the corner and heads straight for him. The man walks faster, trying to hurry across the street, but the car changes lanes and is still coming at him.  So the guy turns around to go back, but the car changes lanes again and is still coming at him. By now, the car is so close and the man so scared that he just freezes and stops in the middle of the road. The car gets real close, then swerves at the last possible moment and screeches to a halt right next him.  The driver rolls down the window. The driver is a squirrel. The squirrel says to the man,  "See, it’s not as easy as it looks, is it?"  Does this sound familiar to you when trying to forgive yourself for something? At times there are certain things you look back on in your life that you punish yourself over and over for just like Peter did. It seems impossible to overcome. What can this scripture say to us today that will help us to get past the things that are keeping us chained to the past?

1. Jesus Walked Into Peter’s Life: Jesus wasn’t far from Peter although he thought he was. In fact that day on the beach Jesus invited Peter and the other disciples to a carry in breakfast. He said, “come and have breakfast and bring some of the fish you have just caught.”  Jesus took the initiative to invite Peter to breakfast.  Most of the time we do not pick up on the invitation. We don’t hear Jesus say to us, “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT) because we are so busy struggling and beating ourselves up over the past. We are still stuck in our guilt. Jesus is saying, “Come to breakfast.” Bring some of the fish you’ve caught. You are included.” We all want to be included but we have a hard time breaking through our own barriers. Jesus says, “Come on. Don’t just sit there. Let’s enjoy the morning.” We say, “but Lord, I’m not deserving. I can’t forget what I have done in the past. I can’t get over it.” Jesus is saying, “You’re invited. Come on.”  Should Peter risk it? What if Jesus didn’t REALLY mean it. What if I BLOW IT again? What if I MESS UP and say the wrong things? Peter might have been a little apprehensive about accepting the invitation. He thinks he has been disqualified.  When we are faced with the invitation to come to Jesus we often are afraid to accept it. The biggest obstacle to self-forgiveness may be the tendency to wallow in our own guilt. It’s not that we feel bad because we know we’ve done wrong but we draw those feelings up around us like a blanket and cover our heads. We refuse to push the stop button on our wailing just like Larry did at Lake Wobegone. According to one psychologist when we refuse to forgive ourselves it’s a “crazy form of penance.” Many people decide to punish themselves for the rest of their lives by feeling miserable day after day. The decision to feel miserable for the rest of your life can have tragic consequences because it affects everyone around you.  Peter could have refused the invitation to breakfast. He could have said, “I’m going to stay right here. I’m not going to risk it.” But he didn’t. I think we need to be more like Peter--a risk taker. See what happens.  After all Jesus said, “Come on over for breakfast. It was His idea.”  The disciples took the bread and the fish that Jesus gave to them. It was what they all needed that day--not just Peter alone. Jesus offers to us exactly what we need in our current situation just as he did to them that morning, but he had a greater purpose in it for Peter. He had a special job for Peter to do and Peter wasn’t doing it. Peter had to move on. To get unstuck from all of the barriers that were hindering him. We need to deal with our past and experience not only the forgiveness that Jesus brought to us on the cross but to understand that his grace is enough to cover forgiving ourselves as well. It is a part of the package.

2. More Than Breakfast: After breakfast Jesus singled Peter out and asked him a question. “Simon, do you truly love me more than these?” He could have been referring to Peter’s fishing boats, his job as a fisherman, or he could have been referring to the others in the group. Jesus is trying to find out what the depth of His love for was for Him. Was it just a shallow, superficial love or was it rock solid like his name--Cephas the Rock as Jesus had called him in John 1:42.  A man took his son fishing one day. After a few hours in the boat with not much to do, the son started asking his father some questions. "How does the boat float?" he asked. The man thought about the question, then said, "I don’t really know, son."

"Well, how do fish breath underwater?" The man scratched his head. "I guess I don’t know the answer to that one either.""Why is the sky blue?" the boy persisted. The father replied, "I really don’t know, son." The boy started to worry that his father was getting upset at all the questions. "Do you mind me asking questions, Dad?" His father immediately reassured him. "No, of course not, son! If you don’t ask questions, you’ll never learn anything!"

Jesus got better answers than this little boy did. Peter answers, “Yes, Lord you know that I love you” Jesus presses Peter more in the next question and the next.. After each of Peter’s responses, Jesus gave him an assignment. After the first he said.  vs. 15 Feed my lambs --the young Christian believers.  vs. 16 Take care of my sheep--be a shepherd to my sheep. Look after them. Keep them safe from harm. vs. 17 Feed my sheep. Take the sheep to pasture where they are fed.  Jesus is looking for a total renewal of his loyalty and a reaffirmation of his responsibilities.  Follow me and keep on following me. Jesus knew that if he could get Peter to move away from his guilt over the past and to get him to not only follow him but to keep following him that Peter would become a productive person again. He would find his own healing as he reached out to others. Jesus is telling him “I’ve got work for you to do. If you really love me you are going to feed my lambs. You’re going to help these new Christians. You are going to get the focus off of yourself. You are going to be involved in helping other people….and Peter says, “OK, I’ll do that.”  Jesus asks the second time, “Peter do you truly love me?”  Peter says, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  “Then if you do,” ‘Take care of my sheep,’ replied Jesus.  The third time Jesus asks him, “Simon do you love me?” Peter was getting agitated by this same question. He says, “Lord you know all things. You know that I love you.”  Then Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.”   What good did these questions serve? Jesus wanted Peter to really look at his feelings. He wanted  him to get over the past and now it was time to experience total forgiveness, to be able to get on with his life and the responsibilities Jesus had called him to. He couldn’t be an effective shepherd to the young Christians or to the established Christians as long as he remained in a state of not forgiving himself for denying Jesus. Jesus parallels Peter’s denial with three questions of restoration. Do you love me--then do this assignment. Do you love me--then feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep. The breakfast had fulfilled its intended purpose for Peter. A restoration and a re-commission.

3. It’s time to push the Stop Button: For Peter this breakfast was the turning point. It was time to push the stop button on the guilt. Self forgiveness is a tool with which we face what we’ve done in the past, acknowledge our mistakes and move on.  This is exactly what Peter had to do when Jesus was questioning him. If he truly loved Jesus he had to realize that the guilt and self punishment had to go. The grace of God covers a multitude of sins. True forgiveness is found in allowing Jesus to do his work in our lives.Hit the stop button. Replaying over and over again in your head is not going to help you any. Listen to yourself. Every time you catch yourself rehashing your sins, stop and refocus on what Jesus did on the cross for you. His forgiveness covers it all. Let go of it and decide to move on to more productive things. If you need to go back and apologize to someone you’ve hurt, do it.

Begin to repair the damage you may have done in the past by giving out good to others around you. Some things you can’t change. You can’t always make it up to someone in the past, but you can do some helpful things to people now. Peter could not go back and undo a lot of those foot-in-the mouth statements he made or those impulsive actions. But he was facing a new day with new opportunities to help people in the future--the lambs (the new believers--the sheep (the more established believers). There were abundant opportunities before him. Jesus was saying, “Peter, you have been re-commissioned. Don’t spend your time repenting and repenting over and over again. Get with the program. You’ve got lots of work to do.  Guys….Don’t beat yourself up over the past. Jesus says to us, “I have forgiven you totally. His forgiveness is all inclusive. That forgiveness includes forgiving yourself.” 

For The Children: Breakfast With Jesus

 

Did you know that following Jesus brings great rewards.

My scripture today is: He called out to them, "Friends, haven't you any fish?" No," they answered. He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. John 21:5-6 (NIV)

How many of you have ever gone fishing?  Do you enjoy fishing? I have heard some people say that they enjoy fishing even if they never catch a fish. They say that they just enjoy the peace and relaxation of fishing. I will have to confess, it doesn't sound like much fun to sit in a boat holding a fishing pole without ever catching any fish. How about you? Imagine that you have been sitting in a boat fishing all night without catching a single fish. As the sun begins to come up you can see someone standing at the edge of the water.

"Hi!" he calls out. "Have you had any luck?"

"I haven't caught a thing," you answer.

"Well, if you would put your fishing pole on the right-hand side of the boat, you would catch a lot of fish."

Would you try it, or would you say to yourself, "That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. What difference does it make which side of the boat I am fishing from?"

Well, that is almost exactly what happened in our Bible lesson for today. Several of Jesus' disciples were gathered beside the Sea of Galilee. The group included Simon Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, and James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

Suddenly, Peter said, "I'm going fishing." "We'll come too," the others said. So they got in the boat and they fished all night, but caught nothing."

As the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn't make out who it was. Jesus called out to them, "Have you caught any fish?" "Not a thing," the disciples called back.  "Throw your nets on the right-hand side of the boat and you'll catch some!"

Did they do it? Yes they did! Did they catch any fish? They caught so many fish that they couldn't even pull the net into the boat!

Then the disciple that Jesus loved said to Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Peter heard that, he jumped into the water and headed for shore. The others stayed with the boat and dragged the loaded net to the shore. When they got there, they found Jesus cooking breakfast -- fish over a charcoal fire and some bread.  "Bring some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus said. Peter dragged the net to the shore and there were 153 large fish. "Now, come and have some breakfast," Jesus said. Then Jesus served them fish and bread.

How cool is that….. Breakfast on the beach with the risen Lord! What would have happened if the disciples had refused to throw their nets on the right-hand side of the boat? They would have missed out on a wonderful breakfast on the beach with Jesus. What happens when you and I refuse to do the things Jesus has called us to do? We miss out on the wonderful blessings that he wants for us!

H Is For Is Eye Is On The Sparrow

 

Today is Saturday, Day 8  so my letter must be H.  I had a hard time choosing an H song because I love quite a few.  To narrow down my choices I decided to use a song I love to sing.  H is for His Eye Is On The Sparrow by Larnelle Harris.  I love stories about hymns and songs I sing and so today I want to share with you just how this amazing song came to be.

The theme of the song was inspired by the words of David in the Psalms and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye (Psalm 32:8). "Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Matthew 6:26) and "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows" (Matthew 10:29–31).  It was Civilla Martin, who wrote the lyrics, said this about her inspiration to write the song based in the scriptures outlined above,

Early in the spring of 1905, my husband and I were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheel chair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. One day while we were visiting with the Doolittles, my husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle's reply was simple: "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." The beauty of this simple expression of boundless faith gripped the hearts and fired the imagination of Dr. Martin and me. The hymn "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" was the outcome of that experience.

— Civilla Martin

His Eye Is On The Sparrow

 Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows come?
Why should my heart be lonely and long for heaven and home?
When Jesus is my portion, a constant Friend is He,
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy;
I sing because I'm free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.
Let not your heart be troubled; these tender words I hear;
And resting on his goodness I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy;
I sing because I'm free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me.
Whenever I am tempted; whenever clouds arise;
When songs give place to sighing; when hope within me dies;
I draw the closer to Him; from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.
I sing because I'm happy;
I sing because I'm free;
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me...

G Is For Georgia On My Mind

 

I got ahead of myself because I was so excited to be doing the A-Z Challenge and did a post for Sunday.  So today I am back on target with the letter G.  I live in the South and one of my favorite songs was done by Ray Charles, a native of Georgia.  It is called Georgia On My Mind.   The lyrics are simple, yet they definitely touch the heart strings of any southern child.  "Georgia on My Mind" is a song by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell. It became the official state song of Georgia in 1979.  Although it is frequently asserted that the lyrics were written not about the state of Georgia, but rather for Carmichael's sister, Georgia Carmichael, Hoagy Carmichael himself contradicted this view with his recounting of the origin of the song in his second autobiography Sometimes I Wonder. Carmichael wrote that the song was composed when bandleader Frankie Trumbauer suggested that he write about the state of Georgia. According to Carmichael, Trumbauer also suggested the opening lyrics should be "Georgia, Georgia ...", with the remaining lyrics coming from Gorell. Carmichael made no mention at all of his sister in his telling of the song's genesis.  The song was first recorded on September 15, 1930, in New York by Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra with Bix Beiderbeck on muted cornet and Hoagy Carmichael on vocals. It featured Eddie Lang on guitar. The recording was part of Beiderbecke's last recording session.  It is a sulty, soulful song that brings back many memories of days gone by.  There video I chose is actually of Ray Charles and the Queen of Soul - Ms. Aretha Franklin.

 Michael Buble also does an amazing version of the song so I thought today I would give you a twofer.

Georgia On My Mind

Georgia, Georgia, the whole day through.
An' just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
Georgia, Georgia, a song of you,
Comes as sweet and clear as moonlight through the pines.
Other arms reach out to me;
Other eyes smile tenderly.
Still in peaceful dreams I see,
The road leads back to you.
Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find.
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
Instrumental break.
Georgia, Georgia, no peace I find.
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
Just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind.
On my mind.
On my mind.
On my mind.
On my mind.
On my mind.
On my mind.
On my mind.

Forever My Little Girl

About The Book:  Even when children grow up, they always remain our little ones.
All the sweetness, challenges, and thrills of parenting are lovingly shared in this heart-touching poetic short story by bestselling fiction author Karen Kingsbury. Karen Kingsbury is a top inspirational novelist, and she imbues both nostalgia and inspiration in this sentimental book for parents of girls.  From playing princess to school dances, first steps to tea parties, a lifetime goes by in the blink of an eye. This book celebrates all the ups and downs of parenting a little girl and will be a cherished keepsake for any parent.  This book offers a short story paired with prayers and Scripture about how quickly time goes by and the special bond between a mother or father and daughter.
About The Author:  New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury is America’s favorite inspirational novelist with over 20 million books in print. Her Life-Changing Fiction™ has produced multiple best sellers including Unlocked, Leaving, Take One, Between Sundays, Even Now, One Tuesday Morning, Beyond Tuesday Morning, and Ever After, which was named the 2007 Christian Book of the Year. An award-winning author and newly published songwriter, Karen has several movies optioned for production, and her novel Like Dandelion Dust was made into a major motion picture and is now available on DVD. Karen is also a nationally known speaker with several women’s groups including Women of Faith. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, Don, and their five sons, three of whom are adopted from Haiti. Their daughter Kelsey is married to Christian artist Kyle Kupecky.
About The Illustrator:  Joanne Lew-Vriethoff is an illustrator and graphic designer born in Malaysia and grew up in Los Angeles. She graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1995. Right after, she worked as a character and concept illustrator for clients pitching television shows. She later spend a few years in New York working as an Art Director and designer before she moved to Amsterdam. For the last 15 years, her passion for illustration has given her the opportunity to illustrate picture books such as Peace Baby and Punctuation Station to Middle grade-novels such as Summerhouse Times and Dancing Pancake. Besides illustrating books, she also illustrates funky websites and product branding for toy companies. Below are some of her most recent projects, Family Grandstand and Family Sabbatical both written by Carol Ryrie Brink (Two Lions), Another Day as Emily by Eileen Spinelli (Random House), Reindeer Dust by Kate Dwyer (Reindeer Dust Inc), Joey Daring Caring and Curious: How a Mischief Maker Uncovers Unconditional Lov by Marcella Marino Craver (Magination Press), Beneath the Bunk by Laurel Snyder (Pearson Digital Studio), Peace, Baby! by Linda Ashman (Chronicle Books LLC), Do You Know Dewey?: Exploring the Dewey Decimal System by Brian P. Cleary (Lerner Publishing Group), The Dancing Pancake by Eileen Spinelli (Yearling), The Punctuation Station by Brian P. Cleary (Lerner Publishing Group), Summerhouse Time by Eileen Spinelli (Yearling) and I'm Big by Milton Schafer (Dial). 
My Thoughts On The Book:   I have to be honest, I was drawn to this book because Karen Kingsbury is one of my most favorite authors, and because the little girl on the front cover reminded me of my redheaded daughter.   This story is a parent's perspective from the birth of their daughter through the milestones of life.  It is a precious story and the book would make a great baby shower gift, or even a sweet girl to your grown daughter.  I loved the scripture references for each segment, loved the illustration, and the ease of reading.  I read the book in one sitting and have reread it two more times to make sure I did not miss one morsel of the delight and wonderment of being a parent.  A sweet, sweet book and a must read!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Book Look Bloggers
as part of their Blogging Review program.   I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!   

F Is For, For All We Know

My theme is Songs....some my favorites....some not so much.  Day 6 is the letter F and it is for the Carpenter's song, For All We Know.  This is a song I have sung countless times at weddings....especially during the 70's.  It was a very popular love song.    This song, along with We've Only Just Begun, were the most requested wedding songs of the decade.  I loved both of them.   Can you remember this song?  Was it sung at your wedding?  Let me hear some feedback on the tune.  Happy Tuesday!

For All We Know

Love, look at the two of us

Strangers in many ways

We've got a lifetime to share

So much to say and as we go on from day to day

I'll feel you close to me

But time alone will tell

Let's take a lifetime to say

I knew you well

For only time will tell us so

And love may grow for all we know

Love, look at the two of us

Strangers in many ways

Let's take a lifetime to say

I know you well

But only time will tell us so

And love may grow for all we know