Psalms 8

Well I am back to my scheduled bible reading in the Psalms as of today. It has been a couple of weeks since I had been in the Psalms I think. I am reading a Psalms a day, or every couple of days depending on the time I spend in each chapter. Although, I have not been reading in the Psalms the last couple of weeks I have been in the bible in other places.

I had it on my mind all day today, to post the song "How Excellent is Thy Name" by Bro. Tom Hayes that he wrote on this Psalms. Well I am not a You Tube video creator and I was hoping someone else would have made a video to this song that I could post. Well I could not find one, so I will just post the scriptures.


Psalms 8
O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!

I like to read this chapter in the bible from time to time, and dwell on how big God is and how small man is, and I wonder why God would put us into His plan.

In, With, Through Christ
Joan

Broken Appliances

In the last month the appliance repairman has been at our house 3 times(twice to work on the fridge)hopefully it is fixed this time. The first time my refrigerator went on the blink, I lost everything in it(freezer and refrigerator). The first part did not fix it, only temporarily, and we knew that it might only be a temporary fix, so in about 10 days it began defrosting again. So he came back out and changed another part.

I was actually washing a load of clothes while he was here working on the refrigerator and he finished up and went on his way. My load of clothes did not spin out correctly. I proceeded with the next load and thought it might just be that load, in the midst of the first spin out cycle of the second load of clothes it made an awful noise, much worse than an out of balance load, but I rearranged it and proceeded with this load of clothes. But, by the time it was finished you could smell rubber burning. Alan and I thought maybe a belt just burned into. Not so. It has taken us almost a week to get our schedule and the repairman's schedule to jive, and yesterday he came to visit us once again and the washer is not fixable.(Ya)

So we got to purchase a washer, well I wanted them to match so I got a dryer also.Ouch, but they are pretty and red and the are the front load style.I had been wanting for several years the new front load matchable washer and dryer but was waiting patiently until mine broke.The time had finally come and Lowe's is here now installing them. I have not washed clothes in several days so I get to see if I like my new purchases. However, I did get them on clearance and since I was actually buying the floor models, I got another 10% off. Yipeeeee!!

We have a couple in our church getting married in July so they get the dryer, that I just had worked on also while the repairman was here working on the refrigerator the first time. Lord willing no other appliances of ours will be in need of our handy repairman again anytime soon.

Even though all my appliances seem to be on the blink right now I can still rejoice because God has been good to me and has forgiven all my iniquities. Appliances are just earthly things that do no matter in the grand scheme of things. Christ is all that matters and my walk with HIM. I am glad I can echo what the Psalmist said in Psalms 103:1-5.

Psalms 103:1-5
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

In, With, Through Christ

He Says It Best

Psalms 32:7
Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Psalms 31:3
For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me.

Psalm 17:8
Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings

Psalms 63:7
Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice

Psalms 91:2
I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Psalm 18:2
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold

The scripture list could go on and on about the Lord being MY ROCK, what are some scriptures that you like.

In, With, Through Christ
Joan

I'm Tired Today

Today, I am physically tired and because of that I don't have much on the schedule today. But I was wondering what Gods word said about us being tired and this is what I found.

Psalms 73:26
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

Oh, I am so glad and thankful that God is my Strength and my Strong Tower, My Rock, My Shield, My Deliver, My Redeemer. The list could go on and on of what He is to me, and what the scriptures says that He is. Even though I am physically tired my heart rejoices in God, and what all God has done for me.

So I think the rest of the day may be a Karen Kingsbury book, "Like Dandelion Dust" or just whatever I can get into.

In, With, Through Christ

Johannna's Prayer

Today, Lord our precious granddaughter is layed to rest. You knew this day was coming before the foundation of the world. You knew she would have only 63 minutes on this earth. You fearfully and wonderfully made her this way for your own reasons. I don't understand why, I want to. But I can rest in the fact that you and you alone know what you are doing and what was best for Johanna and for Nikki, Chad, Clayton, her grandparents, her aunts and uncles and all the others touched by her life. Forever my life has been changed by her life, ever so sweet, so precious, tiny and perfect. I wanted to buy her dresses, toys, play together and just spend hours and hours together doing grandmotherly things. But you had and have a bigger much better plan.

She has been rejoicing with you for 3 days now as we see it on earth. Oh, I wonder what heaven is like, what she is doing along with her other brother or sister. I like to imagine that they are together at your feet, or roaming all over heaven together praising you for who you are and for what you have done.Thank You Lord, that Johanna will miss heartaches, miss all the effects of sins, that she is with you forever. Thank You for chosing me to be your child and to be Johannas "Gram" and one day I can be with you forever, and there will be Johanna and we will an eternity together with YOU.

Hugs and Kisses to Johanna for me.

Your child
Joan

63 Precious Minutes

Johanna, our precious granddaughter was born Friday and lived 63 precious minutes on this earth. Although her time was short here we have an eternity to spend together, because we can echo what David said.

II Samuel 12:23...
... I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Although we would have liked to had a lifestime of doing the spoiling of a granddaughter, she is forever in the presence of the Lord. And we rejoice for her.

A friend commented to Alan if her life can touch so many in her short span on this earth what could we do with ours. Oh, my what a thought.

Lord help me to live cleaner, holier, and closer to you. And thank you for allowing us to be blest with Johanna's life and forever be changed because of her.

In, With,Through Christ
Joan

He Knows My Name....

Isaiah 43:1

But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.



In, With, Through Christ

I Stand Amazed...

In less than 48 hours we should have meet our granddaughter "Johanna". As one set of her grandparents we are looking forward to this, although we know not what the Lord had in store for her.

As time grows closer I stand amazed at Gods people how many are concerned for our little family. WE are just sinners saved by God's amazing grace trying to serve Him. But God's people have been so amazing and caring during this time. Bloggers all across the land are praying and concerned, doctors are being touched by Johanna's life, preachers, churches all around are praying for Gods will to be done Friday in Johanna's life along with Nikki, Chad and the rest of the family.

However, for me it is amazing to see God work in my child, Nikki's life and her husband. I feel honored and humbled all at the same time that God choose this course for her and her family. Although difficult and not what anyone of us would have choose, God and God alone knew and knows best for all involved. God could have choose anyone to have blest with this journey but He choose our family. Although growing closer to the Lord is sometimes difficult and painful it is the storms that should bring us closer to God. It is in the valleys that we learn a little more about God and who He is and how He loves us.

I stand amazed at the Fathers love to me, How he could love a sinner like me.
Psalms 89:6a
For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD?




I thought the song by Chris Tomlin was fitting for the day. I hope you enjoy.

In,With, Through Christ

Psalms 23

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in greenpastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever

Today this Psalms has been on my mind and I am reminded of My Shepherd. Because of His saving grace extended to me I can call Him Mine.And you can to if you have ever acepted Jesus as your Saviour.

But I also want you to notice how many times that the Lord is mentioned in some for or the other.

In, With, Through Christ

Finally...

This is the week that we all have waited for, for 6 months in the Carr/Carswell home. Although the arrival of Johanna is scheduled for Friday the 23rd we face it with many different emotions.

If you are new to the blog,or would just like an update Johanna in my granddaughter who is scheduled to make her earthly appearance on Friday Oct 23, 2009 weighing in around 5 pounds. Ms. Johanna was created by God with full Trisomy 18.

Psalms 139:14
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Although this diagnosis is not what Nikki and her husband Chad wanted or would have ever desired. Nor is it what we would have wanted for our daughter and her family but it is what pleased God.

Psalms 115:3
But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

There have been emotions for all those close to Johanna, some moments are wonderful knowing she is going to be with Jesus soon and very soon, and that she will miss out on sin, and heartache. Some moments are just okay, and everyone gets by in their own way. And then their are moments that overwhelming sadness full all our hearts.

But God, is still God and He and He alone knows best for Johanna, Nikki, Chad and Clayton, her grandparents, and her aunts,uncles, the doctors, along with anyone else that has forever been touched and changed by her life.

In, With, Through Christ

Good versus Bad

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

I ran across this scripture last night and God broke my heart over something I have been dealing with for sometime. Although this scripture did not pertain to what I was seeking from God, He used this verse to speak to me in a way that I had been praying for months.Thank You God!!!

Amidst difficulty or heartache God does not mean what we go through to hurt or harm us. He means it for peace, hope and only for our good.
Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

In, With, Through Christ
Joan

Liquid Prayers

Since Thursday Night I have been reading Psalms 6 and I have been trying to get my mind around this Psalms. I have read it several times a day and pondered on it and have also done some other commentary reading.

This is waht I have discovered thus far. Psalms 6 is one of the first of Davids penitent(repentant) psalms. There are 6 more of these Psalms 32,38,51,102,130,143. Pslams 6 is divided into two parts,veres 1-7 and it is Davids brokenheartedness over his sin, verses 8-10 his mood changes and he has declared God has heard him and delivered him from his troubles.

As I was reading after Charles Speugeon in his "Treasury of David" along in verses 6 & 7 David is weeping, he is so broken that he is weeping and groaning out to God. What I ran across was Spurgeon calling these tears "Liquid Prayers". Oh my, I had not really thought about them as liquid prayers. I know that God takes our groanings and utterance to Him and transposing them into what we need to pray and He knows our heart and what we are seeking better than we do ourselves.

But "Liquid Prayers"!!!I will not forget that one. How many times lately have I went to God with my liquid prayers and not even able to utter words, all I could do was weep. I'm of the opinion that our tears are probablby better than our words.

In, With, Through Christ
Joan

I'm So Ready...

Alan has been in Florida, all week preaching and I am so ready for him to be home. He left Sunday night after church and drove to Macon and spent the night and drove on into the panhandle(Perry Co.) of Florida Monday. I normally go with him, to his out of town meetings.

But I was not able to go this time, I was going to see my granddaughter "Johanna" in an ultrasound today, but it was rescheduled due to the flu in the ultrasound technician's family. Oh Well, maybe Tuesday.

But I am so ready for my husband to be home. The house is to quiet, and to lonely. Sometimes all the noise in the house, is Mattie "the dog", or the tv, or the dishwasher. And Wednesday and tomorrow the noise will be Clayton and Mattie and whatever we can get into. I had so much that I was going to get done this week, and not a fourth of it has gotten done. However, I have been busy all week and the time has passed by fairly well.

I was going to go see my parents, and that did not work out, I was going to clean the house from top to bottom, I got a little of it cleaned, I was going to do some painting, did not attempt that, I was going to clean out the room that my computer is in, I did get some of it done, I was going to catch up on some computer work, and get way ahead. That did not get done. I was going to watch some chick flicks, I have watched 1. I was going to go to the gym every day, I did make it 2 days, I was going to do a lot or reading, I have read some. I was going to spend a lot of time in the bible studying and praying. I have done this. I was going to go to Charlotte and exchange a shirt for my son, because I bought the wrong size, I did get that done. I was going to vacuum my car out, I didn't get that done. however, I have been busy all week. But I am still ready for the hubby to back at home with me, or me with him. Either way would be fine. For you see he is my BFF (Best Friend Forever) and I have missed him a lot this week.

Until Next Time
Joan

Psalms 1-5

I am on a mission to read a psalms a day, or should I say every couple of days. I get to reading and studying them and I tend to stay in a psalms more than 1 day. And since it is my bible studies and time with the Lord I imagine that I can spend as long as I need to or want to in each one.

I have made it to chapter 5, and I must say that I am really enjoying each and every psalms. Each one is packed full of nuggets.

Psalms 1 - Blessed is the man that walks with the Lord, and he will be like a tree panted by the water.(strong & nourished,and not blown away with the first hint or wind - trouble)

Psalms 2 - Kings and Rulers think have it going on, but God is really in control and they will one day know this.

Psalms 3 - Many are against me, and trouble is all around for David and for us also, but God is our shield and He holds us up. David found such peace in God in the midst or turmoil and trouble because God was his shield that he could lay down and go to sleep. What peace, I'm not always there but I'm striving.

Psalms 4 -David was bold, when he told God to listen to him when he prayed. I'm not that bold or brave yet. How about you? But I most definitely do want God to hear me and listen to me. Because of turmoil or distress, David was made larger(enlarged) by God. When God apply's the pressure and we go to God and let him work, and we walk in close communion with Him we become larger and do not even know it. But others can see it in out lives. God has blest me and been better to me than the harvesters when they are harvesting their corn and grain in their best season ever.OH My!!!Again we see that we can lay down and sleep because of the peace God gives.

Go read these 4 psalms for yourself and let me know what you glean from them, I am not through with psalms 5 yet so I am not posting about it today.

In, With, Through Christ
Joan

29 Years Ago Today

29 years ago at the age of 18 and barely out of high school on a Friday afternoon I married the man that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. And 29 years later I am still married to the man that I want to spend the rest of my life with. 2 grown children, and 1 grandson, and 1 granddaughter due at the end of the month where has the time gone. There was not a church wedding, or we did not go to Gaffney as so many people did at that time when you did not have a church wedding, we just went to the courthouse in Marion where we both lived and was married by the magistrate.

The magistrate was setting at one desk in the corner of the room and in the other corner of the room was a highway patrolman booking a gentlemen in hand cuffs that we went to school with. However, they did stop long enough for us to get married, and the guy in the handcuffs congratulated us and shook our hands while still in hand cuffs.(Funny) We are still married and I wonder what has happened to all of them. It is not the ceremony that makes the marriage.

Al, you are more than wonderful to me. You are many things to many people. You are a great Dad, an amazing loving grandfather, my favorite preacher. I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are a good teacher to your students at W. Lenoir. I can see it when the talk of your classes. You are a compassionate, caring pastor that loves his flock that God has given you.

But to me you are my best friend, always there to listen when I need to talk,and even ready to take action on my behalf if it is warranted. You are my husband, and my rock, my constant no matter what. I am so very thankful, that God put us together, I could never imagined the life that we have together. God has truly been good to us and I count it an honor to be your wife.

I look forward to many more years together and beside you to serve HIM!!!
I Love You, Al...
Joan