I See Red

                                     No, not the red of anger but, rather, the red of blessings.
                                                 Red roses from my DH on my birthday...

Red cherries from my grocery store on two occasions (when the price was right)...

Both very beautiful, both brought me joy, both were just a couple 

of the many "pink roses" I enjoyed during this busy month of July.

Blessed be the Lord,

 who daily loadeth us with benefits,

even the God of our salvation.

(Psalm 68:19)

Rose Show Album

Instead of posting many photos of the rose show I went to last month, I'm experimenting and posting an album of it! Hope it works for you here, courtesy of Shutterfly.

Click here to view this photo book larger

Build your own high-quality photo books at Shutterfly.com.

He Gives Me Joy

Several years ago I heard this song and fell in love with it. It is sung by the John Marshall family and without instruments. Perhaps it came into my life at a time when I was more spiritually sensitive and hungry for a deeper joy and so impacted me in a greater way. For sure, only those who have experienced the joy that Jesus Christ gives are capable of truly appreciating this beautiful and touching music.

 "...for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10b)

    "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)   

Sunday Song: I Know Whom I Have Believed

I am being blessed these days as I read through a hymn-history book I bought a couple weeks ago, mentioned in this post. A certain hymn was brought to mind recently and I wondered about the story behind it. It wasn't in my book so I researched and found it on various sites. If you love knowing the history behind songs you will enjoy reading this one. For those who are voracious readers, they also elaborate on the truths expressed in this hymn.
And for those who just love to read the lyrics, here they are. They are totally Bible-based which, of course, is what we need for our spiritual knowledge and growth.

        I Know Whom I Have Believed

1. I know not why God's wondrous grace 
   to me he hath made known, 
   nor why, unworthy, Christ in love 
   redeemed me for his own.

  
Refrain:
   But I know whom I have believed, 
   and am persuaded that he is able 
   to keep that which I've committed
   unto him against that day. 

2. I know not how this saving faith 
   to me he did impart, 
   nor how believing in his word 
   wrought peace within my heart. 
 
3. I know not how the Spirit moves,
   convincing us of sin, 
   revealing Jesus through the word, 
   creating faith in him.

4. I know not when my Lord may come, 
   at night or noonday fair, 
   nor if I walk the vale with him, 
   or meet him in the air. 
     -Daniel Webster Whittle

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God...

For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (II Timothy 1:8,12)