Heart Reflections Live

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Rachel Halliday from "Uncle Tom's Cabin"



"She might be 55 or 60; but hers was one of those faces that time seems to touch only to brighten and adorn. The snowy lisse crape cap, made after the straight Quaker pattern- the plain white muslin handkerchief, lying in placid folds across her bosom, the drab shawl and dress- showed at once the community to which she belonged. Her face was round and rosy, with a healthful downy softness, suggestive of a ripe peach. Her hair, partially silvered by age, was parted smoothly back from a high-placed forehead, on which time had written no inscription, except peace on earth, goodwill to men, and beneath shone a large pair of clear, honest, loving brown eyes; you only needed to look straight into them, to feel that you saw to the bottom of a heart as good and true as ever throbbed in woman's bosom. So much has been said and sung of beautiful young girls, why don't somebody wake up to the beauty of old women? If any want to get up an inspiration under this head, we refer them to our good friend Rachel Halliday, just as she sits there in her little rocking chair. It had a turn for quacking and squeaking- that chair had- either from having taken cold in early life, or from some asthmatic affection, or perhaps from nervous derangement; but, as she gently swung backward and forward, the chair kept up a kind of subdued "creechy crawchy" that would have been intolerable in any other chair. But old Simeon Halliday often declared it was as good as any music to him , and the children all avowed that they wouldn't miss of hearing Mother's chair for anything in the world. For why? For 20 years or more, nothing but loving words, and gentle moralities, and motherly loving kindness, had come from that chair- headaches and heartaches innumerable had been cured there, difficulties spiritual and temporal solved there- all by one good, loving woman, God bless her!"

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 9:24 am 0 comments

Monday, September 24, 2007

God's Wondrous Grace



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.


I know not how this saving faith

To me He did impart,

Nor how believing in His Word

Wrought peace within my heart.


Refrain
I know not how the Spirit moves,

Convincing us of sin,

Revealing Jesus through the Word,

Creating faith in Him.


Refrain
I know not what of good or ill

May be reserved for me,

Of weary ways or golden days,

Before His face I see.


Refrain
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.


Refrain

At our last Bible study, we were looking at the words of this beautiful hymn, and learning a little of the man of God who penned them- Major Daniel Webster Whittle. Below is a very interesting quote from him, especially in the light of many of the new worship songs coming out of churches today.
In speaking of his hymns he once said, "I hope that I will never write a hymn that does not contain a message — there are too many hymns that are just a meaningless jingle of words; to do good a hymn must be founded on God's word and carry the message of God's love." He also felt that the dignity of a gospel hymn deserved the best he could give, not only in material but in construction, and no rules of metre or rhythm were disregarded; he admired greatly the old church hymns and considered them a standard for all hymn writers. He composed about two hundred hymns. Mr. Moody said, "I think Major Whittle has written some of the best hymns of this century."
There are really only a few modern hymns and choruses that I really like today. So many have watered- down doctrine, and many more just sound like a secular love song. You can't beat the grandeur & doctrinal teaching from a great old hymn- I can't get enough of them!

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 1:55 pm 2 comments

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

The Myth of the Perfect Family


Stacy Mcdonald, authoress of "Raising Maidens of Virtue" has written an excellent article on "The Myth of the Perfect Family" on her blog, Your Sacred Calling. Read it here.http://yoursacredcalling.blogspot.com/2007/09/myth-of-perfect-family.html


Stacy Mcdonald is a great example of a Titus 2 woman. We need to be grateful for the families God has placed us in, bloom where we are planted, and seek to glorify God in all we do.


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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 12:56 pm 0 comments

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Where We've Been...



We're back home now after going back and forth between my parents' place and our local hospital for the last couple of days.

Our daughter, Talitha came down quite sick on Sunday, and ended up being admitted to the hospital Sunday night with a viral pneumonia.

We were just as shocked as everybody else, as it took hold so quickly. She had a slightly sniffly nose since Friday, but played normally and ran around as usual. Sunday morning, as we were getting ready for church, she started to complain of a sore belly, so I grabbed an ice cream container to take with us "just in case". She fell asleep on my lap in Church and vomited after lunch while we were at my Mum and Dad's place. A couple of vomits later, we were wondering if she had picked up a gastro bug. She got worse towards evening and we became concerned, as her chest was really starting to heave with her breathing.

None of the doctors surgeries were open at that time, so just to be sure hubby took her down to the Emergency section of the hospital, as it's only a few minutes away from my parents. They were there all night. A couple of phone calls later, confirmed Zara & I would be staying at Mum and Dad's that night and the next.

The hospital was great and looked after her wonderfully. With a playroom and free individual pay TV's she was set for a happy stay!! They even had inhouse school teachers visiting the children, and doing crafts or schoolwork with them. The Chaplain put her on the prayer list and gave her a lovely Teddy Bear and a toy for Zara as well.

We brought her home today and she's full of energy again! We'd like to thank our friends and her school for lifting her and us up in prayer over the last couple of days. Prayer works!! Thankyou with all our hearts!!

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 9:42 pm 2 comments

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Take Time to be Holy


Be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. Lev. 20:7
Take time to be holy, Speak oft with thy Lord;
Abide in Him always, And feed on His Word.
Make friends of God's children; Help those who are weak;
Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
Take time to be holy, The world rushes on;
Much time spend in secret with Jesus alone;
By looking to Jesus, Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
Take time to be holy, Let Him be thy Guide,
And run not before Him, Whatever betide;
In joy or in sorrow, Still follow thy Lord,
And looking to Jesus, Still trust in His Word.
Take time to be holy, Be calm in thy soul;
Each thought and each motive Beneath His control;
Thus led by His Spirit To fountains of love,
Thou soon shalt be fitted For service above.
by William D Longstaff (1822-1894) and George C Stebbins (1846-1945)
These words are timeless and soooooooooooo relevant in this age of technology and rush hours. Take time to be holy today.

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 9:57 pm 2 comments

Thursday, September 06, 2007

These Are a Few of My Favourite Things...


In over a year of blogging, I don't think I've ever done a "getting to know me" type post- so here you are!
Here are some of my favourite things- are they some of yours too?
-A well-worn, well-thumbed, and well-marked King James Bible, of one long in the faith.
-Museums and Antique shops
-Amish culture, their wooden handicrafts & quilts (esp. the triple wedding band pattern). One day I might try to find one- or make one, if I ever get around to brushing up my dormant sewing skills- I'm sure I will- and get motivated enough!
-Having beautiful Hymns or classical musical, as a backdrop to much of our life.
-Being home
- Staying with my hubby in a cozy bed and breakfast in the mountains, while the rain softly falls
-Cuddling & reading to our children
-Being indoors on a cold, rainy day
-Family heirlooms
-Passing stories of our family heritage on to our children
-Being in Church
-Family photos- both old & new
-Old Books. I enjoy building up our family "library" when I can.
-Second-hand bookshops- the mustier, the better!
-Front porches & verandahs. Our current home boasts a 1970's sunroom, which is a lovely place to sit and enjoy the ocean views
-The country -not the city
-The hills- not the beach
-Lamplight
-Home-baked cookies
-wearing aprons
- Family Devotions-hearing our little one's questions and prayers
-Family breakfasts and dinners together-hearing our daughters say Grace
-Get togethers with our extended family from near and far
-Love songs from the 1930's to 50's- a little Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby etc
-Clean family movies- It's a Wonderful Life, The Sound of Music, Bambi, Old Greer Garson Movies & some vintage Disney stuff
-watching Shirley Temple clips on U-Tube with the girls, enjoying the simple innocence of it & to see them mimic her & learn the happy little ditties.
-watching my husband enjoying his gardening
-Having the girls knock on the door, with flowers from the garden for Mama
-Watching my parents enjoy their Grandchildren
-Drinking tea from a cup and saucer. Is it just me or does it taste better?
-Using our good china, crystal etc
-Our rare family holidays away together
-Listening to Talitha reading and speaking French
-School concerts and mother's night
-Our girls laughing on the swing Daddy made outside
-Reading silently and reading aloud.
-Seeing our children gaze in awe at the beautiful old pictures in "Uncle Arthurs Bedtime Stories"-my husband and I both enjoyed them as kids.
-Blogging!
These are just a few of my favourite things!

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 10:45 am 1 comments

Monday, September 03, 2007

What Books are You Enjoying at the Moment?



What books are you reading & enjoying ( or not enjoying), at the moment? Blogs are a great way to compare notes on what is worth looking at or not.

Here is our current list:

Me:

-King James Bible (Bible in a year program)

-Uncle Tom's Cabin- by Harriet Beecher Stowe

-All of Grace- by Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Just As I Am- by Billy Graham

-Holiness- by J C Ryle ( soon to begin)

Hubby:

-King James Bible

-A John Bunyan biography

-The Master's Indwelling- by Andrew Murray

Children's Devotions:

-Leading Little Ones to God- Marion M Schoolland

-Volume 2 The Bible Story- by Arthur Maxwell (We work through this set slowly. Some nights we leave it out if the girls are too tired. Occasionally they pick a story from another volume. I love the reverent art work in these books, but they are S.D.A denomination, so if you get them, there's the occasional spot where you may have to alter something.)

Family Read-a Loud:

-Anne of Green Gables- by L M Montgomery

Plus numerous just for fun books, old fashioned children's books, library books etc.

What's in your reading pile at the moment?

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posted by Father's Grace Ministries at 11:23 am 4 comments