Thy Word is Like a Garden Lord

"Thy Word is Like a Garden Lord"

Thy Word is like a garden, Lord, with flowers bright and fair;
And everyone who seeks may pluck a lovely cluster there.
Thy Word is like a deep, deep mine; and jewels rich and rare
Are hidden in its mighty depths for every searcher there.

Thy Word is like a starry host: a thousand rays of light
Are seen to guide the traveler and make his pathway bright.
Thy Word is like an armory, where soldiers may repair;
And find, for life’s long battle day, all needful weapons there.

Oh, may I love Thy precious Word, may I explore the mine,
May I its fragrant flowers glean, may light upon me shine!
Oh, may I find my armor there! Thy Word my trusty sword,
I’ll learn to fight with every foe the battle of the Lord.

-Edwin Hodder (1863)

"Your Words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."  Jeremiah 15:16

"As for God His way is perfect; The Word of the LORD is proven: He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18;30

"Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesian 6:17

"Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path." Psalm 119: 105

"Silent Night"

It was Christmas Eve in the Austrian Alps. At the newly constructed Church of St. Nicholas in Oberndorf, a Tyrol village near Salzburg, Father Joseph Mohr prepared for the midnight service. He was distraught because the church organ was broken, ruining prospects for that evening’s carefully planned music. But Father Joseph was about to learn that our problems are God’s opportunities, that the LORD causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him. It came into Father Joseph’s mind to write a new song, one that could be sung without the organ. Hastily, he wrote the words, “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright…” Taking the text to his organist Franz Gruber, he explained the situation and asked Franz to compose a simple tune.

That night, December 24, 1818, “Silent Night” was sung for the first time as a duet accompanied by a guitar at the aptly named Church of St. Nicholas in Oberdorf.

Shortly afterward, as Karl Mauracher came to repair the organ, he heard about the near-disaster on Christmas Eve. Acquiring a copy of the text and tune, he spread the hymn throughout the Alpine region of Austria, referring to it as “Trioler Volkslied.”

The song came to the attention of the Strasser family, makers of chamois-skin gloves. To drum up business at various fairs and festivals, the four Strasser children would sing in front of their parents’ booth. Like the Von Trapp children a century later, they became popular folk singers throughout the Alps.

When the children- Caroline, Joseph, Andreas, and Amalie- began singing “Trioler Volkslied” at their performances, audiences were charmed. It seemed perfect for the snow-clad region and perfect for the Christian heart. “Silent Night” even came to the attention of the king and queen, and the Strasser children were asked to give a royal performance, assuring the carol’s fame.

“Silent Night” was first published for the congregational singing in 1838 in the German hymnbook Katholisches Gesang- und Gebetbuch fur den offentlichen and hauslichen Gottesdienst zunachst zum Gebrauche der katholischen Gereinden im Konigreiche Sachsen. It was used in America by German-speaking congregations, then appeared in its current English form in a book of Sunday school songs in 1863.

Were in not for a broken organ, there never would have been a “Silent Night.”

From “Come Let Us Adore Him” by Robert J. Morgan

Dress shown above is now available through our Etsy shop.

Laura Ingalls Wilder

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Timothy 3:16-17


As a child, Laura Ingalls memorized more than one hundred Bible verses to win a competition in church. These and other scriptures became the stabilizing force in her life for the years ahead.

To supplement her family’s scant income, Laura, at age twelve, took a job caring for a sick neighbor. Away from home for the first time, Laura became homesick. Encouraged by scripture to bring every need to God, she prayed and felt “a hovering Presence, a power comforting and sustaining me.”

Laura also needed comfort from God’s Word when her sister Mary lost her eyesight. She leaned on Bible promises when her family moved seven times in ten years. She required divine wisdom when she took her first teaching job at age fifteen. Later came the loss of a child and a home destroyed by fire. In 1911, at age forty-four, she leaned on God’s Word as she began writing for publication. The scripture verses learned as a child profited Laura her entire life.

God never intended for you to face the unknown future without help. He has given the Bible for your profit. It is not too late to begin hiding scripture verses in your heart. In the years ahead, you, too, will need the comfort and help God’s Word offers.

From “Daily Devotions for Women” by Jewell Johnson

What Sanctifies Our Offerings?

“And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the LORD.” Leviticus 4:7


The altar of incense is the place where saints present their prayers and praises; and it is delightful to think of it as sprinkled with the blood of the great sacrifice. This it is which makes all our worship acceptable with Jehovah: He sees the blood of His own Son and therefore accepts our homage.

It is well for us to fix our eyes upon the blood of the one offering for sin. Sin mingles even with our holy things, and our best repentance, faith, prayer, and thanksgiving could not be received of God were it not for the merit of the atoning sacrifice. Many sneer at “the blood”; but to us it is the foundation of comfort and hope. That which is on the horns of the altar is meant to be prominently before our eyes when we draw near to God. The blood gives strength to prayer, and hence it is on the altar’s horns. It is “before the Lord”, and therefore it ought to be before us. It is on the altar before we bring the incense; it is there to sanctify our offerings and gifts.

Come, let us pray with confidence, since the Victim is offered, the merit has been pleaded, the blood is within the veil, and the prayers of believers must be sweet unto the Lord.

From "Faith's Checkbook" by Charles H. Spurgeon

Come and Coming

"Blessed is he who waits." Daniel 12:12

The prophet Daniel never put up a Christmas tree, never lit an Advent wreath, and never sang a holiday carol. But he celebrated Christmas anyway. He anticipated the coming of the Messiah, and his whole life was lived against the backdrop of Christ's appearance. It gave him daily encouragement. In Daniel 7:13, he said: "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, [was] coming."
For us, too, the promise of His coming imparts optimism. Our attitude is that of Revelation 1:7: "Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him."
Imagine how excited you'd be if your loved one were returning after a tour of duty in a war zone. You'd be almost giddy with excitment, straightening the house, planning a menu, calling friends, and preparing for the long-awaited reunion.
How wonderful that Jesus came, clothed in humanity, born of a virgin, laid in a manger. How wonderful that He is coming again, clothed in triumph, descending with angels, crowned with glory.
Celebrate Christmas this year with both a backward glance and forward look. Rejoice! Our King is coming.
From "Turning Points" by David Jeremiah

Happy Thanksgiving

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." Psalm100:4&5

"Alas! how we forget that we are but strangers and pilgrims on the earth; that we are journeying to our eternal home, and will soon be there!" Octavius Winslow

The Divine Light in Darkness

“For thou wilt light my candle.” Psalm 18:28

It may be that my soul sits in darkness; and if this be of a spiritual kind, no human power can bring me light. Blessed be God! He can enlighten my darkness and at once light my candle. Even though I may be surrounded by a “darkness which might be felt,” yet He can break the gloom and immediately make it bright around me.
The mercy is that if He lights the candle none can blow it out, neither will it go out for lack of substance, nor burn out of itself through the lapse of hours. The lights which the LORD kindled in the beginning are shining still. The LORD’s lamp may need trimming, but He does not put them out.
Let me, then, like the nightingale sing in the dark. Expectation shall furnish me with music, and hope shall pitch the tune. Soon I shall rejoice in the candle of God’s lighting. I am dull and dreary just now. Perhaps it is the weather, or bodily weakness, or the surprise of a sudden trouble; but whatever has made the darkness, it is God alone who will bring the light. My eyes are unto Him alone. I shall soon have the candles of the LORD shining about me; and, further on in His own good time, I shall be where they need no candle, neither light of the sun. Hallelujah!
From “Faith’s Checkbook” by Charles H. Spurgeon
Here is a beautiful song that my sister Hannah wrote. The LORD has truly gifted her with song writting, singing and playing guitar.

Creativity

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands; just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. “ 1 Thessalonians 4:11&12

When we look around we see God’s creation everywhere. His magnificent creation of roses, cats, stars, trees, mountains… all remind us of His infinite creativity.
God’s most precious creation is us, the human race. Genesis 1:27 tells us that God created us in His image. That means we have characteristics like our creator, one is a desire to be creative, and the ability to create.
All of us have skills God has given us; everyone’s skill is different and special. When God called the Israelites to build the tent in the wilderness He filled a young man, Bezalel, with His Spirit and gave Bezalel skill, ability and knowledge in many crafts. Bezalel was skilled in working with wood, engraving gold, embroidering, and more.
Bezalel was not the only Israelite given a gift in creativity. Many of the women spun blue, purple and scarlet wool (Exodus 35:25), others wove linen, embroidered curtains, men built and carved all for the glory of God! They would bring there products to God as an offering, and God would bless them with more skill.
So today let’s just take a moment to thank God for His amazing gift of creativity and think of new ways to use our gifts, talents and time to bring Him glory! Maybe you do not feel like you are a very creative person but would like to learn how. Pray as the Psalmist David did: “May the favor of the LORD our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands. “ Psalm 90:17
Thank you Heavenly Father for your gift of creativity!

Man of Contrasts

Devotional below from "Our Daily Bread".

"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!" Matthew 21:9
On that first Palm Sunday, one might have expected Jesus the King to enter Jerusalem on a mighty steed. But He chose instead a lowly donkey. Before He could come as a King to reign, He had to come as a savior to die. Throughout His life on earth, Jesus was a man of striking contrasts- reflecting both His genuine humanity and His full deity.
Someone once wrote this about Jesus: "He who is the Bread of Life began His ministry hungaring. He who was the Water of Life ended His ministry thirsting. Christ hungered as a man, yet fed the hungary as God. He was weary, yet He is our rest. He paid tribute, yet He is the King. He was called a devil, but He cast out demons. He prayed, yet He hears our prayer. He wept, and He dries our tears. He was sold for 30 pieces of silver, yet He redeems sinners. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, yet He is the Good Shepard. He gave His life, and by dying He destroyed death. "
We would expect to find such a contrast in the life of One who was fully God and fully man. Jesus, who is the soveriegn Lord of the universe, became a man to provide for our redemption. But one day He will return as King of kings. Jesus, the God-man, deserves all our praise.- RWD
All glory to Jesus, begotten of God,
The great I AM is He;
Creator, sustainer- but wonder of all,
The Lamb of Calvary.- Peterson

The lowly carpenter of Nazareth was the mighty architect of the universe.